Interview: Elias Reidy of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Published June 29, 2006
Fresh from a performance on the Warp Tour, I spoke to Elias Reidy, the lead guitarist and vocalist for Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, on June 23. We discussed the tour; their upcoming album, Don’t You Fake It; their current single and video, “Face Down” and songwriting.
After a brief moment with the bands tour manager he turned the phone over to Elias.
You’re from Ohio. Right? We’ve talked on the Internet.
Right, I saw you in Toledo when you were here with 30 Seconds to Mars.
Oh yeah! That was a great show. We loved that show. It was amazing, definitely the best show on that tour.
You ended up getting stranded here for a few days after that show. What happened?
We were scheduled to play with 30 Seconds to Mars the next night in Chicago and they had a lot of business to take care of, which is completely understandable. They had to shoot a video in Toronto. Due to their hectic schedule we took from Chicago on off and met up with them a few days later. So we got to relax in Toledo check out the scenery.
(I couldn’t help but laugh) I’m sorry – there’s not much to check out here.
Oh it’s not bad! We had fun.
What would you say some of the biggest hardships of being on the road are?
So far … When you’re living out of a van, you have to adapt your whole life. It’s very hard to separate your business life from your personal life when you’re living in a 10' x 70' area. We took all the seats out of the van and we’re basically sitting in a little pow-wow area talking to each other. It really puts you through a grinder and forces you to either break-up or become a stronger unit, and we’ve pulled through tremendously. We work as one now. I honestly think it’s been to our advantage.
You have a Jacksonville show coming up. Is there a different energy when you play to the hometown crowd?
It’s very interesting. When we jumped on the Warp Tour it’s like we’ve gotten the right crowd in front of us. Every show now in Florida has been just like a hometown show. The response has been incredible. The kids come out; they sing all the words. They are 100% supportive, just like our fans in Jacksonville. We love it. It’s a great feeling now, because before we would play in front of 1,000 kids who would just stare blankly at us and clap at the end of the songs. Now they are singing along and it’s an amazing feeling.
Wife, mother, aspiring novelist, and music editor at BC Magazine, Connie Phillips spends most of her time in a fantasy land of her own creating. In reality, she writes about music, television, and the process of writing, when she's not cheering on her kids at equestrian events. Contact: Phillips.connie@gmail.com
- Interview: Elias Reidy of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
- Published: June 29, 2006
- Type: Interview
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Interviews, Music: Emo, Music: Hard Rock
- Part of a feature: Featured Artist
- Writer: Connie Phillips
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Comments on this articleComments
Molly, thanks for your comments. RJA is wonderful and I'm glad the song and video "Face Down" gives you some hope for the future. Take care!!
omigod the red jumpsuit apparatus is like the best band and i so luv the new video 'face down'!
even though i am a huge fan of rja i have been very dissapointed with the new cd. because i am from middleburg fl, which is ur lead singers hometown. and have the first cd yall made and your new cd is almost identical accept the song names have changed. now im not sayn there bad its just all of your hometown ppl were very excited. and the yall compltely changed the song titles which were fine in the begging. we all love you very much here but were are dissapointed that there wasnt really that many new songs. and even though we love and would like to support you the fact that we own half the cd already doesnt prompt us to go buy the new one. please dnt let ur company producer ppl change you yal were n the beggining the band we fell n love wit. love you homewtown fans
I 3 The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and I am so happy the new CD is out. I'm also happy to see that other people are appreciating good music too! I can't wait to see them in Chicago at the Warped Tour!!!
Thought Justify was better on the demo, but great CD!
Thank you for the comments. I've only heard the demo tracks over at their Myspace profile, so obviously the sound was better for me on the CD.
My favorite thing about RJA is the quality of the songwriting. Wonderful stuff!
my friend and i counted down the days
til the cd came out and went to the store
that morning.
i absolutely love rja and every song on
the cd. cant wait to see them at warped
:)
I LOVE THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS!!!!!! AND I LOVE THEIR NEW ALBUM DON'T YOU FAKE IT!!!!!!!!!! I heard it on the computer on Windows Media. I can't wait to get the album though, because I'm tired of having to go on the computer everytime whenever I feel like listening to them. It took me a while, but I finally chose my favorite song from that album, it's Atrophy, and now everytime when I go on the computer, I listen to it on their website. I also saw the guys on Discover and Download on MTV2, and I think they gave a great performance, even if it was for only one song, but I don't care, I listen to them whenever I can, 'cause they're awesome. They are so gonna go big!!!
I love these guys! Their CD is great, and I can't wait until I'll be able to see them live, hopefully really. 'Face Down' is a great song, along with all their other ones. Me and my Friends know that they are going to be HUGE
The band is good but I liked it better when Thomas Amason was in it.
OMFG its The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, I love every song you guys have your like my favorite band in the world, I love the video Face Down Your my favorite band My friends think you guys are werid btu I'm like no way this guys are the best like omg I love you guys so much
Lot of love,
Megan.
I remember the first time i saw the video ''face down'' it was about to end but immediately i knew what the song was about. The next day, i saw it again and recorded the video on my tv. I fell completely in love with the song the second time i heard it. I think it's the best song ever! and their CD is great, i can listen to it without skipping any song! and i think that isn't something that can be said for a lot albums out there. When it comes to songwritting, I think Ronnie is a genius! they might be straight forward but he shows you that you don't have to write songs with hidden meanings for them to be beyond amazing!!! They're my favorite band, and I will buy every single album the release. I definitely agree with all of the people that think they're gonna be huge. =)
hey red jumpsuit apparatus is one of my favorite bands but i cant find their other cd... or do they not have one? if they do where can i find it?
Hanna, Don't You Fake It is their first CD on the Virgin label. They *might* have had a self produced EP available, but I think all tracks are now on this CD.
i love the red jumpsuit apparatus but they r not comeing to the carolina's any time some!!!! i really want 2 c them in concert!!
O MY GOSH! THE RED JUMPSUiT iT LYK THE BEST BAND EVER! THEY ARE MY FAVORiTE AND MY FAVORiTE SONG AND ViDEO iS FACE DOWN! THEY ARE THE BEST!
Hey....what's up my peoples.....remember to always.......GIT-R-DONE
these guys are awsome. iguess i noe wat Face down feels like. i think that of all my favorite songs is Seveteen ain't so sweet. but that doesn't say that the other songs are good cause they are.
i love you guys you guys are amazing i would do anything to be able to see you live and i can relate to your song face down because im 19 and have been in some pretty bad relastion ships and i was so happy the first time i heard that song because i finally felt like somone new what i was going thro at the time and your music helped me thro it all the way so i wanna say a huge thank you becasue your music has helped me thanks!!!
Thanks you guys for all the comments on this article as of late. It's exciting to see this band really break out the way they have. They, as well as thier music, are terriffic!
I think you guys are so cool. My favorite song is face down because many people can relate to this song. And by writing a song like that you are sending a positive message to people everywhere! I love Red Jumpsuit Apparatus!!!!
Megan
O my flippin. I'm going to see RJA Saturday and I cant wait.. The song writing is amazing it takes alot of anger out and makes me think. Im also a song writer and play guitar and junk and they just inspire me. especially "Face Down"<3
i absoulutely love the red jumpsuit apparatus.
they're an amazing band.
they write inspiring songs
and elias' voice is amazing.
i love them!
these boys are my favorite...ronnie and elias are waaay sexy too!
hey OMG you guys r so awesome and so amazing .....and "FACE DOWN" helped me so much.u guys write awesome songs and are really inspiring to me i cant wait to see you guys in concert and scream my ass off for u guys..i wonder how awesome can u be?and when people say im awesome i say no you should go listen to "THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS" and then you'l know what awesome is.and so i am trying to get as much people to listen to u guys and all "LOVE YOU GUYS". so thanx for helpiong me in my life.oh and bye the way you guys are hot....
omg these are awsome.. i really love their song "Face Down" and "Your Guardian Angel" those are my two favorite songs.."Your Guardian Angel" really touched me when i heard it. i think Elias is so HOT.. i would do anything to meet him...hey he's even my friend on myspace!!!i cant wait to see them in concert.
Thanks everyone for all the comments. I've really enjoyed watching how much success Red Jumpsuit Apparatus has achieved since they were one of our Featured Artist back in June.
I heard from their record lable last week that Face Down just went gold. Yay! RJA! For anyone in the Toledo area they will be appearing at Headliners again on December 12.
you guys suck!!!!!!!!
RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS IS THE BEST BAND IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!♥♥ OK IF I RULED THE WORLD FACE DOWN WOULD TOTALY BE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE RONNIE WINTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND ALL OF THEM R SUPER HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THEY LIKE WILL NEVER HAVE A BAD SONG IN THEIR WHOLE CAREER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!♥♥
OMFG I love the red jumpsuit apparatus... i love all there songs... (all the ones i know anyway) i love 'false pretense' the greatest song ever........ I AM IN LOVE!!
i want to go to one of there concerts...please come to amhersburg
PLEASE!!!!
Sammantha L.
OMG THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS ROX I LUV THEM SOOOOOOOO MUCH I HAVE THIER CD AND I LISTEN TO IT EVERY TIME I GET READY IN THE MONING
OMG THEY R THE BOMB I LUV THEM AND THE SONG 17 AINT SO SWEET THEY R SO INSPIRING. THE RO0CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG, i love this band alot. i have their cd and it blew me away. my favorite song is Your Gaurdian Angle. I also want to say to the band, awsome job at making a good cd this year, and i garuntee you'll make more good cd's to come. anyways i love this band their f'n awsome!!!! WOOHOO GO RONNIE WINTER!!!!
I LOVE THESE GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THEY ARE AOWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THEIR NEW VIDOE FALS PRETENSE IS GREAT!!!!!!
ke nota de grupo ke viva el rockkkkkkkkk!!
Hey Whoa i am so happy that your deluxw cd has came out.Everytime you guys advertised for it,I have been waiting to get it.And right when it came out i got it.So f-ing chill.And at WARPED TOUR i can't wait to see you guys. woot woot.Yeah i love all of you guys.Thanx for suck chill music.
Wow u guys r the best ever!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow u guys r the best ever!!!!!!!!!!!!
you guys fucking rule no lie i love everyone of your songs plz come to virginia
I went to go see RJA last night and they were AWESOME! omg i love them to death! i havent herd very many of their songs but now im going to! I loved the concert and now i can stop singing their songs! and i can relate to a lot of what they sing! i did pass out and get beat up but it was my first rock concert and definaltly not my last!!!! everyone thanks for helping me out and helping me breath!!!
IT WAS A LIFE EXPERIENCE and holy crap crowd serfing if you havent its a must
SO MUCH FUN!!! keep up the good work guys come back to KANSAS!!!!
love you lots
JESS
I went to go see RJA last night and they were AWESOME! omg i love them to death! i havent herd very many of their songs but now im going to! I loved the concert and now i can stop singing their songs! and i can relate to a lot of what they sing! i did pass out and get beat up but it was my first rock concert and definaltly not my last!!!! everyone thanks for helping me out and helping me breath!!!
IT WAS A LIFE EXPERIENCE and holy crap crowd serfing if you havent its a must
SO MUCH FUN!!! keep up the good work guys come back to KANSAS!!!!
love you lots
JESS
i first heard about RJA last fall. bought their cd, and saw them in Toledo. AMAZING live performers, and kick-ass songs with meaningful lyrics. looking forward to more from RJA in the future!
OMG! I love RJA and I didn't know that Elias had a girlfriend until just now. Apparently he is dating Kirsten Storms, who is a famous actress. She plays on General Hospital as Maxie Jones.
Check out RJA tonight -- they'll be calling in for a live phone interview on DJ Rossstar's Punk Rock Show on idobiradio.com tonight (Wednesday, July 25) at 7pm (PT) 10 pm (ET)
Halos will be also be on the show doing a live interview / acoustic performance.
Elias Paul Reidy is sooo hot oneday well get married and live happily ever after.... oll right!!!!!!!!!I LOVE HIM!!!! SERIOUS
i'd like to say thanks to my pesonal friend Ronnie winters who helped me fix my broken car
i like eating kaka (poo)
these guys rock. :)
will they ever go to the philippines?? :(
I Love this band
Come on, why the ruse? Reidy has been known in the gay community for years. . . don't continue lying. . . .come out. . . NOW, Elias. . .
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omg i love these guys they are sooo good and thier new music video "face down" really showed me people strugle some of my same ways i have a abusuve dad but hes getting better and i love this sonf "face down" because it made me have hope that someday i can have guy take care of me in tht situation : )thnks alot