In
Phoenix, AZ a red card was a minor
badge of coolness handed out by
KUPD, the local
butt rock radio station, to its loyal listeners. The KUPD Red Card entitled the bearer to various discounts at
head shops,
record stores, and other business establishments at the center of the
stoner universe. During my
junior high years in the early 1980s, nearly every teen and preteen who wore a
mullet and a flimsy, elbow-length
heavy metal concert t-shirt was a proud red cardholder.
In the world of
high school extracurricular activities, a red card was a penalty placed on students who were failing a class that week and were therefore ineligible for that weekend's activity, be it a game, match, debate, trip, concert, or anything else. Yes, even the kids in the
marching band had to be passing their classes or they'd be pulled from the show. My little brother saw a gem of an opportunity in this rule, and used it to get out of drumming at
jazz ensemble concerts when he didn't like the music they'd be performing. All he'd have to do is wait until Monday to turn in his
homework, and he'd have an iron-clad excuse to miss the concert.