Childhood friends Ronnie Winter and Duke Kitchens formed the band while attending a music theory class in 2001, however The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus officially came into fruition with the addition of new members in 2003. Despite an extensive 18 month period of writing songs, recording and releasing a 6-song EP and expanding their fan base through utilising social media sites, the band failed to get signed.
Due to this disappointed a number of members left or were kicked out and were replaced by Elias Reidy on guitar and vocals, Joey Westwood on bass and drummer Jon Wilkes. With new members The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus honed in and focused their emo-pop and screamo sound, which ended up getting the band signed with Virgin in 2005. A year later came their debut LP “Don’t You Fake It” which was certified gold selling over 500,000 copies. The album and major-label distribution introduced the band to a much wider audience after which their fan base swelled considerably. The album featured the singles “Face Down”, False Pretence”, “Your Guardian Angel” and “Damn Regret” and was supported by touring alongside the likes of My Chemical Romance, Rise Against and Thirty Seconds to Mars.
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus released their sophomore album “Lonely Road” in February 2009. The album debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200, was produced by Howard Benson known for his work with My Chemical Romance and Hoobastank and featured the singles “Pen and Paper” and “You Better Pray”. The band subsequently toured with Shinedown, Framing Hanley and Tickle Me Pink, before returning in 2010 with their independently released EP “The Hell or High Water”.
“Am I the Enemy” arrived in August 2011 featuring the singles “Salvation” and “Fall from Grace”. After the release guitarists Duke Kitchens and Matt Carter departed the group to focus on their personal lives, with fan Josh Burke and Randy Winter filling in. It wasn’t long before Jon Wilkes departed the group as well prior to the group headlining the People Awakening and Uniting for Liberty Festival in Florida, U.S. On July 4, 2014 The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus released their fourth studio album “4” featuring the singles “The Right Direction” and “Not My Style”.
I've been listening to The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus since I was really little. They've inspired so many people throughout the years. Some performers don't sound that good live, they sound better on the records. Although, that's not the case for The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. I went to see them for the fist time ever two years ago at Mojoes in Joliet. As a people in general, they are caring and very supportive of their fans. When The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus was getting ready to preform a show something happened to the lead guitarist, and Ronnie met Josh, he was just a fan who went to their show and now, he is the lead guitarist. You can really feel the energy in the room while they preform. You can feel what they feel, and the words in the songs begin to sink into your brain and you appreciate them more and more every time you see them. When they sang their song Your Guardian Angel, which was released in 2006, you can feel the emotion that they were feeling while writing and singing it. It's amazing how well that Ronnie, Josh, Kristopher, Randy, and Joey are on stage. They are so comfortable with their fans, it's like right when they walk into the room they automatically can since every ones feelings and emotions. At the end of the show if you go to the merch table and talk to the band they actually care about what you are saying to them and they don't just sit there and nod their heads. If you need help of are having troubles with something they would talk to you about it. All in all, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is a great band, they are kind, great performers, and just wonderful people in general. You would never regret going to see them live.