by Corey AparSprinkling their impassioned brand of alternative rock with touches of screamo, pop-punk, and metal, Middleburg, FL's the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus were originally born in 2003. Writing and rehearsing for about 18 months with no real intentions of performing or recording anything, the bandmembers were later urged by some friends to pursue their music seriously. This encouragement led the guys to eventually book themselves some local shows, much to the quick embracement of their hometown scene. With a buzz growing, the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus recorded their first EP and relentlessly began spreading their name around Florida. Despite a rapidly developing fan base, several subsequent label showcases amounted to nothing and various bandmembers either exited or were asked to leave the group. Undeterred, remaining members vocalist Ronnie Winter and guitarist Duke Kitchens began to rebuild the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Soon completing the quintet were guitarist/vocalist Elias Reidy, bassist Joey Westwood, and drummer Jon Wilkes; childhood friends Reidy and Westwood had also previously played together in a metal band called In Fate's Hands. A few months after the lineup was solidified, the guys inked a deal with Virgin. Entering the studio with David Bendeth (Hawthorne Heights, Breaking Benjamin) in 2005, the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus began crafting their debut full-length. The resulting Don't You Fake It appeared in July 2006, and part of that summer was spent on the Warped Tour; the album was certified gold by the year's end, propelled by the success of first single "Face Down." The band further contributed a track to the video game soundtrack for Madden NFL 2007.