The Color Red, in what has become somewhat of a rock and roll ritual, offer a wide range of answers when asked to explain the meaning of their name.

"I try to think of the craziest one, where people just wish they'd never asked," explained singer Jon Zamora. "My dad printed up a copy of what the color red means in all these different religions and all this stuff. Or I just say, 'Come on, it's red, we're hot, just go with it.' "

The Color Red aren't just being sneaky — like, say, Hoobastank — they actually have a legitimate excuse: None of the band's current members was in the band when the name was picked.

"My brother Marc and I joined the Color Red when it was an existing band already," said Zamora, whose other brother, Tye, plays bass in Alien Ant Farm. "What ended up happening was one guy quit, we kicked the other guy out and just kept the name and hired new people. You try to go through all these different names and it's like, 'Why bother?' If Korn can be successful off that name, it shows you it's not the name, it's the music."

The Color Red's music changed from pop and rock covers to Killing Joke- and Cult-inspired metal once Jon and bassist Marc joined eight years ago, although it has since evolved into a more melody-driven, Deftones-like arena rock.

The band, whose major label debut, Clear, is due August 5, spent almost a decade playing and recording around Southern California, trying to break into the music business. The latter years were especially difficult, as onetime Color Red guitarist Tye, who is six years younger than middle child Jon, managed to beat them to the finish line.

"You sit there and say, 'F---, I gotta be supportive,' but the jealous thing does come into play," Jon said. "Me and Marc are so passionate, and we've wanted this for so long. Tye works his ass off, though. He goes into his room and we're like, 'What a f---ing dork.' He's just playing and learning."

About a year ago, on May 24 to be exact, the Color Red signed to Dirty Martini, the RCA Records imprint run by fellow SoCal rockers Lit, ending all jealousy in the Zamora household, or at least that's what they claim.

Nowadays Jon and Marc say they are looking to their brother for industry advice. The Color Red were also scheduled to open for Alien Ant Farm on a tour later this month, though it was canceled after the band's bus crash in Spain last week (see ).

"Tye's like, 'Hey, we got a great attorney. Hook up with him,' " Jon explained. "[Alien Ant Farm tell us] what to look out for, how to feel on the road. We're lucky to know it from them. They're our teachers. If we get f---ed, it's going to be like, 'Wow, how did that happen?'"

The Color Red are also in good company with Lit, other Los Angeles-area bands they have opened for such as No Doubt and 311, and Johnny K (Disturbed, Machinehead), who produced Clear.

The brothers Zamora and guitarists Billy Meyer and Adrian Verloop wrote and recorded all new material for the album, inspired in part by the addition of new drummer Dave Schartoff. "The circle got filled," Jon said. "He was what we were looking for."

Clear's first single, the self-explanatory "Sore Throat," is due to hit radio and video outlets within the next few weeks.

"Do you hear how rough I am?" Jon asked. "That's from last night. Actually, that's from two weeks [of touring]. 'Sore Throat' is about giving it your all."

Jon paused to clear his throat and collect his thoughts about the song. "Maybe I just need to learn to sing better."