Bikini Red is the third release by the Screaming Blue Messiahs and the follow-up to Gun-Shy. The album, which was notable for being one of the last recordings by renowned producer Vic Maile, well known for his work with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton. Bikini Red was also one of two albums by The Screaming Blue Messiahs that brought them to the attention of David Bowie and that led to him promoting the band: "Well! The band this week – I've only just discovered them, so they're my pet project – is The Screaming Blue Messiahs. They're the best band I've heard out of England in a long time" and "There’s an English band I like very much. Nobody seems to have heard of them. They’re called The Screaming Blue Messiahs and I’m pushing them like mad.", and when asked by Rolling Stone magazine in 1987 who is favorite band were, Bowie replied, "The Screaming Blue Messiahs. I love them. I think they're terrific."