Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, an alternative rock/post-hardcore band with touches of screamo, pop-punk, and metal, was originally formed in 2003 in Middleburg, Florida. For about 18 months the band members wrote and rehearsed with no real intentions of performing or recording anything, but they were later urged by some friends to pursue their music seriously. Eventually this encouragement led the band to book themselves some local shows, and were quickly embraced by their hometown local music scene. As buzz about the band grew, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus recorded their first Demo EP Ass Shaker/Justify/Face Down, and began spreading their name around Florida. They also performed several label showcases that, despite a rapidly developing fan base, amounted to nothing. Subsequently, various band members either exited or were asked to leave the group. The two remaining members, vocalist Ronnie Winter and guitarist Duke Kitchens were undeterred, and began rebuilding The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. They soon completed the current quintet with the additions of guitarist/vocalist Elias Reidy, bassist Joey Westwood, and drummer Jon Wilkes. Reidy and Westwood were childhood friends and had also previously played together in a metal band called In Fate's Hands. A few months after the lineup was solidified, the band signed a deal with Virgin Records. They entered the studio with producer David Bendeth (of Hawthorne Heights, and Breaking Benjamin), and in 2005 The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus began creating their debut full-length. The resulting Don't You Fake It was released in July 2006, and part of that summer was spent on the Warped Tour. The band has also received publicity on MTV, including MTV's Discover and Download.