RONNIE WINTER OF THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS
While the band was recently staying a few days over in L.A. I had a chance to catch up with Ronnie Winter, lead singer of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. We got to talk about the band's early years, who his favorite character in Star Wars is, pro wrestling, and so much more.
Asif: How's it going man? You guys have had a few days of just being around L.A. and SoCal. Have you had the chance to enjoy the L.A. nightlife at all?
Ronnie: It's going good man. Last we went to a place called Hyde which was pretty cool. It was nice and smaller type of club. We got to hangout there. That's the only one I've been to so far.
Asif: That must be one of the new ones down there…
Ronnie: Yeah, they said it was less than a year old.
Asif: Nice! I know originally when you guys started playing together, you did a couple gigs at a bar. Your second show was a sellout. What did it feel like to have that big of a following right away?
Ronnie: Amazing! I'm glad you brought
that up! It was called The Art Bar and it holds, I believe, 125-150 max
capacity. Intimate wouldn't even be the word for it. It was smaller then
intimate. At first, Duke [Kitchens, guitarist] had his own band, and I had
my own band, and we had Red Jumpsuit which was our collaboration. So a lot
of people who came to the very first show were half the fans from my band
and then half his fans. So, right off the back, we had a solid 80 kids at
our first show. I guess we just impressed them because the second time we
sold it out because everybody came back and everybody brought a friend.
That's all it took!
Asif: That's awesome man! I know in earlier years you had band members coming and going, six labels that you were shopping around between, and I know in your personal life you had a lot of ups and downs. Did you feel there was a moment, when you became more established and you chose a label and you released the album, that you stepped outside and lit up a smoke or sat down for a drink and just exhaled and felt like there was this culmination, or vindication, or monkey off your back?
Ronnie: Man, I couldn't have said it any better. All that just sums up the past 8 years of my life. It's good to know that all the hard work paid off. We've been through a lot – believe it or not, we really have. We're breaking records as far as numbers are concerned in certain genres in certain ways, so we're totally happy with where we are and very thankful to be here, that's for sure.
Asif: Being on this year's Warped Tour, what bands were you looking forward to the most sharing the stage with or hanging out with on tour?
Ronnie: Man that's a tough question to answer because there are so many awesome bands. But off the top of my head I definitely want to see Bad Religion, Paramore, The Used…there are just so many man. Honestly, I feel that there is a strong lineup this year.
Asif: I totally agree with you man! So, I know you are a big Star Wars fan. Who's your favorite character?
Ronnie:
You are the first person to ever ask me that. You deserve a prize!
Asif: (laughs) Sweet! What do I win?
Ronnie: If I had something I'd give it to you, but I don't.
Asif: It's all good dude!
Ronnie: Actually…umm…gosh. Probably Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Asif: Why Obi-Wan? Are you feelin' the force!?
Ronnie: I think because if he wanted to, he could have killed Vader. He showed restraint for the greater good. He sacrificed himself for the greater good. I guess I understand that and I appreciate that.
Asif: I get that…
Ronnie: As geeky as that may sound…
Asif: No man! That's actually kinda deep man!
Ronnie: (laughs)
Asif: Do you have any rituals that you perform before every show?
Ronnie: I do my little warm up thing I do for 15 minutes on my vocals. What I've learned is to properly warm up and warm down. Then we just kinda hang out together, the band, away from everyone else. We throw in a CD, kinda screw around and just kinda get vibed up a little bit. Then we go out on stage!
Asif: Is there a particular song that you rock out or jam to when you guys get all together before you go out on stage?
Ronnie: We usually change it, but right now we have been rockin' the new Circa Survive album pretty hard before we go on stage. It's pretty amazing album.
Asif: Sweet! Speakin' of going on
stage, I know some nights have got to be easier than others to perform. As
far as emotion, is it easier to draw that emotion or energy purely from
the crowd and adrenaline or do you find yourselves sometimes digging from
past hurt or angst or whatever feeling to just get through a show?
Ronnie: I dunno, it's kinda a combo. With our lyrics everything is about true events, so there is definitely a time every single night that I am reminded of something about me or someone I know. The other element is seeing thousands of kids singing those words back to you – which would be me – that is the most crazy thing I've ever seen. It is so unbelievable to see it and to see it in their faces and they understand it and they grasp it. I dunno man, it's pretty…it is what it is! (laughs)
Asif: True man! Very true! I know earlier this year you got to speak on Capitol Hill about teen suicide. What was that like to speak on Capitol Hill and how were you approached about that?
Ronnie: I'm gonna be honest with you. It was definitely almost too much to begin with. I almost actually broke down during the process…
Asif: I noticed that! I saw the video and noticed that you were getting pretty emotional and had a hard time speaking…
Ronnie: Well, you know…if you know somebody or have every gone through that, it's just a frustrating situation. It's just difficult. The people that get left behind are definitely frustrated and hurting. And we were about to headline the US Take Action! Tour and I felt it was maybe a chance to reach out to somebody and convince them what they were thinking about wasn't a good idea.
Asif: On that tour or since then, have you felt that response from anyone where they were thinking "man, I wasn't going to make it and you guys or your show changed my mind" or something similar?
Ronnie: I've had quite a few emails from people telling me "The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus or the Take Action Tour saved my life." At that point the only thing you can say is "thanks for listening" because that's all it took. It took x amount of tracks or x amount of seconds of a song or x number of minutes looking at a tour promo to figure out what it was about. They got whatever it was that helped them to not feel that they needed to hurt themselves.
Asif: That's great stuff man, seriously. Just amazing. Well, away from music, what do you like to do for fun?
Ronnie: I'm really just obsessed with music. I guess I do a lot of Xbox live. I'm a nerd status on that – I play a lot of Xbox. Gears of War and stuff like that. Other than that, just sit around and play guitar or drums or bass or something. Music is what I do in my spare time too man.
Asif: You’re a big pro wrestling fan too, aren't you?
Ronnie: Man, I'm definitely a wrestling fan but I'm really freaked out right now…
Asif: Dude, that whole Chris Benoit thing is just crazy!
Ronnie: I don't even know what to
say. No comment I guess…
Asif: Just watching everything unfold man, I'm speechless kinda.
Ronnie: Yeah. I'm definitely speechless. I'm still having a problem realizing it I guess.
Asif: Who have been some of your favorites man?
Ronnie: I'm a big Jake The Snake fan because I like the DDT. So, of course liked Raven because he was pretty much like Jake reincarnated. I like Ric Flair just because he's the man – he's won the belt so many times. And I gotta go with Hogan just because he's pretty much the man as far as my age bracket is concerned. I was growing up during that whole phase and I had my little Hulkster t-shirt and my fake little weightlifting bags. (laughs)
Asif: (laughs) You know what dude? I'm from that same era and I swear I am the only person alive that hates Hulk Hogan.
Ronnie: (laughs) Really?
Asif: Yeah! I don't get it! Everyone says the exact same stuff you just said and I was in that same era and I absolutely hated the guy!
Ronnie: Well it was either him or The Ultimate Warrior…
Asif: Yeah! See, I was totally down with The Warrior!
Ronnie: I was really torn between the two!
Asif: (laughs) So, what's up after Warped Tour man? Another tour or what?
Ronnie: Yeah! Right after Warped Tour we are probably be recording our third video because we will be releasing a third single, but that has yet to be determined. If that wasn't exciting in itself, we are going to be doing some world touring because we've basically been touring the United States solid for two years without stopping and we're about to top on the Warped Tour to that. So, I guess we need to try to do some world touring – that is what they keep telling me!
Asif: Well dude, thanks for your time. When you roll through Minnesota on the Warped Tour I'll probably pay ya a visit.
Ronnie: Totally man! Stop by and say
"what up" and let's hang!
[And as you can see from these pics, we did!]
Buy it HERE!
PHOTOS: Cho! and courtesy of Ronnie Winter
