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Musicpix had the opportunity to do a follow-up phone interview with Elias Reidy (guitar/backing vocals), of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus to talk about the whirlwind of success that they’ve had with their new single "Face Down" and their inaugrual stint on the 2006 Warped Tour. We first spoke with the entire band at the Warped tour in Cincinnati and we walked away with the feeling that this band has got 'the package', not in a music industry stylized and manufactured way, but the good 'ole fashioned way, based on talent... intelligent lyrics, melodies that stick with you and that certain aura that's tough to put your finger on, but you know it when you see and hear it. RJA are, simply put, REAL. Each member of the band is mature beyond their years and has come to the party without pretentiousness nor lofty expectations. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are just five normal guys who are trying to stay level headed as they’re star is starting to rise. Touring in support of their debut CD, “Don’t You Fake It,” the band is booked through the fall and is 1 of 6 bands recently nominated for the ‘new it band’, the top slot of "Fashion Rocks", broadcast on September 8th on CBS.

Read on to hear a few words from Elias and to get up to date with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus…

MusicPix: MusicPix picked Red Jumpsuit of the pack to break-out of the Warped tour. And during a conversation in Cincinnati you told us that they only goal you had was to upgrade from your van and hope to return to Warped next year in a bus… Given that Conde Nast Media Group's Fashion Rocks 2006 AGREES with MusicPix and has nominated Red Jumpsuit for Fashion Rock’s top spot as the new "it" band, congratulations are in order!

Elias: Awesome… thanks so much.

MusicPix: It’s a pretty big deal Elias…

Elias: Yeah, we know that. Everything is pretty surreal at this moment.

MusicPix: You’re on this great roller coaster ride where you’re hearing that ‘click’click’click’ as you ascend to the top- the pinnacle of what you’ve been shooting for. How does that feel right now?

Elias: It’s a lot of work right now. Everybody in this band is pulling their weight 100% and doing tons of work everyday and has been for the past several months that we’ve been on the road. I guess it’s about consistency…that’s what keeps you sane and we do it every single day. We’re just trying to stay level headed and not be concerned with hype and numbers and everything. That’s the only way we can stay grounded.

MusicPix: How do you feel about your competition? Other than yourselves, who would you select for Fashion Rock’s ‘It” Band? Angels & Airwaves, 30 Seconds To Mars, The Pink Spiders, Blue October, IMA Robot…they’re all great bands.

Elias: The Cingular thing? We didn’t win did we? (Humorous tone)

MusicPix: I don’t know…I thought you might know… (Laughing)

Elias: I’m not sure…

MusicPix: We were hoping that you’d been notified, so we’ll have to wait to find out. Other than RJA, who would you like to see win?

Elias: I’m kind of partial to 30 Seconds To Mars. We bought the new Angels & Airwaves CD when it came out…we’ve got to support the ‘old school’ boys…Tom DeLonge… we all liked Blink 182..We like 30 Seconds to Mars-we’re all good friends with them. Also, IMA Robot- they’re a very good band and we’re friends with them too. Their CD is a lot of fun.

MusicPix: You’re scheduled to appear on News Orleans on 9/7 which happens to coincide with the Fashion Rocks gig in NYC… Have you been to New Orleans since Katrina?

Elias: We did one show in New Orleans about 2-3 months ago. The closer and closer we got to the city, the damage got worse and worse It’s something that doesn’t really hit you when you see it on TV. The news is the news-it’s this thing called the news. We headed on over there and everything was bent, broken, or totally messed. It was crazy seeing all the damage. It really made us realize what happened.

MusicPix: By the looks of your tour schedule, you’re keeping up the momentum. What’s in store for the rest of the year?

Elias: Touring, touring, and touring. Hopefully, we’ll be able to pull off our own headlining tour for this record.

MusicPix: One of the biggest things we walked away with after talking with you at Warped was your level of maturity. What do you think is the largest contributing factor to your perspective?

Elias: It’s something that we’ve always taken seriously. We realized it from the beginning. Sacrifice I guess. We’ve given up a lot and it’s really made us appreciate things. We’ve all sacrificed a lot to get this point and we don’t plan on giving it up without a fair chance.

MusicPix: Before you were signed, when life’s realities were hard to face, what were you listening to that helped pull you through?

Elias: Growing up, I listened to a lot of Sublime…I listened to Blink 182…I just got into a lot of different music, just becoming a fan of music in general. I listened to Taking Back Sunday and The Used…stuff like that.

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Concert Photos

MusicPix: The subject matter of “Face Down” is abuse and the video is visual explosion perfectly representing the unpredictable nature of the violent tragedy. Could you talk about the making of the video as well as the inspiration behind Ronnie’s lyrics?

Elias: I can relate to it as well. It’s something that I’ve also experienced. My mom is actually the person who experienced it in my life. She loves the song. It’s not what actually happens in life, it’s how you get up after the fall. It’s cool looking back and remembering. It’s like a cornerstone. Making the video was great…it came out a lot better than we thought it would. We’ve never made a video before and we weren’t too sure how it would come out. We were pleasantly surprised.

MusicPix: Your music, and especially your lyrics, has hit a nerve as people are identifying with you which in turn develop a strong fan connection. Talk about why it’s important to connect with your fans.

Elias: We’re just normal guys. People look at us and see US. We’re not crazy rocker dudes-we’re pretty normal. Our songs are about pretty normal, everyday situations- universal things that everybody can relate to. That’s how we wanted it.

MusicPix: Do you find yourself being more or less critical of other bands given your success?

Elias: I guess more critical…but I haven’t really found anything that disgusts me. I guess, not more critical but more analytical. I analyze everything that I listen to and really sit down and appreciate every note that’s played on every record that I grew up with to try to understand why it meant so much to me. I do that with all music that I hear now.

MusicPix: You’ve talked about your families taking you seriously. i.e. maybe this ‘band thing is just a passing phase.’ Given where you’re at today, how has their level of support changed?

Elias: Parents and family always want you to make the best decision possible and it’s hard when they see you give up so much when they see you trying to do something that appears impossible. It was a problem for a little while. I lost relationships. Now that we’re pulling it off, people understand what we’re trying to do. It hasn’t really been an issue since we made the record. They’re 100% supportive.

MusicPix: Hit the rewind button…what were you listening to when you were 13 years old?

Elias: Still Sublime. I liked Linkin Park too.

MusicPix: If you weren’t in your current band, what band would you like to play in?

Elias: If I could? I’d probably want to be an old school rock & roll band. I’d probably want to jam with Jimi Hendrix.

MusicPix: What are your 3 ‘desert island’ albums?

Elias: Hold on- let me get my ipod. The first self-titled Sublime CD and then um…wow. Probably Cica Survive and our own record…that would be cool.

MusicPix: Who do you think is the most over-rated in the music industry?

Elias: Ummm, our bass player… Joey Westwood… just joking. [Elias is polling the rest of the band over the phone… (Jon Wilkes says Fall Out Boy) OK, we’re going with Fall Out Boy.

MusicPix: What’s your ‘perfect world?’

Elias: [long pause] I think everybody should give everybody high five’s all the time- it make people smile.

MusicPix: I’d like to you guys a high five…you deserve it… Good luck with Fashion Rocks!

Band Background:

RJA’s first single, which was also on their demo, ‘Face Down’ from their debut release, “Don’t You Fake It” has struck a chord with a multi-generational audience who is feeling the close-to-the-bone issue of domestic violence. ‘Face Down” speaks directly to a desperate issue that’s tough to handle and even harder to escape.

Ronnie Winter, lead vocalist and Duke Kitchens, bassist, two founders of the band, picked up fresh and talented members, Elias Reidy- Guitar/Vocals, Joey Westwood - Bass, Vocals and Jon Wilkes - Drums, Vocals after the other founding members bailed before the band was signed. Ronnie has written honest material from the depths of his being and Virgin Records recognized the band’s painfully honest passion and their ability to connect and signed them in a hurry.

Originally from Florida, Ronnie lived in a trailer park where he struggled with many of issues that kid’s face today. Working for the bare minimum with college out of reach due to the near-impossibility of self-financing a higher education, Ronnie and Duke used their life story to leverage their future by writing songs that are real.

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus has been able to combine the band’s musical influences and is scoring with material which appeals to a wide variety of musical tastes. From scorching guitars that would be considered punkish metal to touching and intimate ballads, they’re covering a wide range of musical sensibilities. The bands musical influences: all types of music… everything from Boston, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel and early punk rock and modern artists such as Weezer and Green Day.

The Band

Ronnie Winter - Lead Vocals
Duke Kitchens - Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Elias Reidy - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Joey Westwood - Bass, Vocals
Jon Wilkes - Drums, Vocals

Discography

Don’t You Fake It-2006

The Tour

8-21-06 Sarasota, FL
8-25-06 Reno, NV
8-26-06 Pomona, CA
8-28-06 Salt Lake City, UT
8-29-06 Denver, CO
8-31-06 Oklahoma City, OK
9-01-06 Lubbock, TX
9-02-06 Austin, TX
9-03-06 Dallas, TX
9-04-06 Houston, TX
9-06-06 Baton Rouge, LA
9-07-07 New Orleans, LA
9-08-06 Atlanta, GA
9-09-06 Louisville, KY
9-10-06 Indianapolis, IN
9-12-06 Chicago, IL
9-14-06 Columbus, OH
9-15-06 Sauget, IL
9-16-06 Tulsa, OK
9-17-06 Lawrence, KA
9-20-06 Fort Collins, CO
9-22-06 Meridian, ID
10-08-06 Spring, TX

By
Gwyn Tyme