Recently signed to Virgin Records, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus has been on the road to success since 2003. Recently they played at South by Southwest, Bamboozle Fest, toured with 30 Seconds to Mars and will be a feature on this summer’s Warped Tour. Their first album, Don’t You Fake It is due to hit the shelves July 18 and the first single, “Face Down,” will be launched on radio this month. For these reasons and many more, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is a Blogcritics’ featured artist for the month for June.
But who are Red Jumpsuit Apparatus? The youthful band, the members have an average age of 21, hail from the Jacksonville, Florida area. Their frontman is Ronnie Winter. Duke Kitchens and Elias Reidy are both guitarists, Joey Westwood plays bass, and their drummer is Jon Wilkes.
Don’t spend too my time trying to decipher some hidden meaning about the strange combination of words in the band’s name; according to Ronnie Winters, it means absolutely nothing. “I think it’s funny when bands scramble their brains and try and come up with some unique, untouchable band name.” Elias Reidy explains the importance should be place on the music instead.
Trying to force the band into one particular category can be difficult, too. Is it hard? It's more than that, it's a hybrid of metal and emo. Thrown in the mix, however, are melodic guitar and vocal lines which are at times reminiscent of alternative pop. Their forthcoming album contains everything from the pounding, driving first single, “Face Down,” which tackles the hard subject of domestic violence all the way to beautiful ballad, “Guardian Angel.” Both songs and every one in between dig deep and lay it all out.
About their music, Reidy says, “You kind of have to try your best to step outside of the box and be as unpredictable as possible to separate yourself.”
Article comments
1 - Lynn Brown
Your article is wonderful. I have been following their careers for more than a year and have seen them finally get the attention from the industry that will enable them to be heard. You mentioned their "ever-growing fanbase". We have follwed them on tour throughout parts of the country and the reaction from fans who wrote back on their myspace page was just the same as we felt here in their hometown....Once you put their CD in your player-it never leaves! It's not like an Addiction. It's more like a Passion!
2 - Connie Phillips
Thanks Lynn. Stay tuned for more articles of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus through the course of June.
3 - Camerica
I think the red jumpsuit apparatus is the best band plus Elias Reidy and Ronnie Winters are relly hott.
4 - Stacey!!
i think tht band is the fukin best!!... FACE DOWN is the best song evr .. i love it 2 bit when evr im at skwl or layin on the bed wid my bf i jst start singin it.. nd its gt gd meanin about a girl gettin bashed by her bf!!..
i also rekon ronnie winter looks lyk a m8 of my bfs nd hes sxc nt my bfs friend bt ronnie is!!..
the best prt in the song is... covr up wid mke-up in da mirror, tell urself it's nevr guna hppn agen, u cry alone & he swears he luvs u! (8) ... coz sum of my m8s thinks it means me nd my bf bt yerr i dunno HOPE NT!!!!
we love u the red jumpsuit apparatus!!!!!
5 - kady
red jumpsuit appuratus is the best band ever your gaurdian angel and face down are frickin awesome keep writing cause i cant wait to here more of them they rock lots!!!!! I LOVE RED JUMPSUIT APPURATUS!!!!!
6 - sarah
rja rox.ronnie winters voice is orgasmatic
7 - JerseyGirl
good job on the article, it's written nicely.
RJA is absolutely amazing! i'm listening to them right now. I JUST CANT STOP LISTENING TO FACE DOWN!
Last week it came on a hits station in my area, my mom let me put it all the way up and she was singing along with me. this is hands down her song. I saw it all and lived the nightmare with her so it's a touching song for me aswell.
the best part about the song is the truimph!
"as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found."
This song is a perfect example that Red Jumpsuit is one of those bands that change people's[ex- My Chemical Romance]and are sooo amazing. I'm so happy that this band and their song is famous so everyone can get their message. CONGRATS ON YOUR SUCCESS BOYS!!! x3
8 - JerseyGirl
BTW, ps. if you dont have their album GET IT!! they'll rock ur frickin socks off!! DUEL DISK OUT NOW!!
9 - KACIE
HANDS DOWN THEY ARE THE BEST BAND EVER!!!!! THEY MY FAV I LOVE YOUR GARDIAN ANGLE THAT IS SO A GREAT SONG WHEN ARE THEY COMING TO NEWPORTNEWS V.A