Red Jumpsuit Apparatus rocks campus
Allie Iacovelli, Advertising Editor
April 17, 2010
Filed under Campus, Top Stories
“Do you feel like a man, when you push her around? Do you feel better now, as she falls to the ground?”
Many of you are familiar with Red Jumpsuit Apparatus’s profound, emotional lyrics, but you probably do not know that all of their songs are inspired by personal experiences.
When we caught up with Ronnie Winter (the lead vocalist) lounging in his tour van, you would not immediately imagine him as someone full of such intensity. His laid back demeanor and simple charm are especially inviting, but when prompted about lyrics to one of their most popular songs, a pained look flashed across his eyes.
“Face Down”, a song concerning an abusive relationship, is actually paralleled off Ronnie’s own violent rapport with his father. “It’s something that’s hard to talk about,” Ronnie shared, “but our goal [as songwriters] has always been to turn a negative into a positive. We want to write songs that a lot of people can connect to – and if that happens, it’s a good thing.”
For a local band originating right here in Florida in 2003, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus has come further than they ever expected. RJA’s first album, The Lonely Road, sold over 500,000 copies back in 2006 and was certified “Gold” by the Recording Industry Association of America. It hasn’t been an easy process, though. “The hardest part is being away from my family for so long,” Ronnie claimed. They tour all over the country and also headline campaigns to raise awareness for domestic violence and teen suicide.
With all the band has accomplished within the past 9 years, Ronnie is not sure what the future has in store for them. “In the next five years, if the world doesn’t end by then,” he chuckles, “I would like to say we’d still be touring and making music – but honestly, I just don’t know.”
The band strives tirelessly to connect with their fans, though. Because of this, wherever their future leads them, one thing is certain: their fans will undoubtedly be following them along the whole way.
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