By the summer of 1978, Split Enz had no agent, no manager, and no UK or US record contract, having been dropped by Chrysalis. The New Zealand Arts Council gave the band a grant of $5,000. The grant money was used to book studio time in Luton, England, where the band recorded demos that later became known as the “Rootin’ Tootin’ Luton Tapes”. One of the songs from those sessions was ” I See Red “. Released as a single later that year, “I See Red” marked a significant move away from the band’s early progressive/art rock style, towards high-energy, guitar-based power pop. While “I See Red” did not chart in the UK, where it was released on Illegal Records , it did bring the band critical attention. The single peaked at No. 15 in New Zealand.
I See Red released
Written by
in