The Dillinger Escape Plan

The Dillinger Escape Plan
Dillinger Escape Plan on 28 March 2005 in the Effenaar (Eindhoven, The Netherlands)
Background information
Origin	Morris Plains, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Mathcore Experimental metal
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Season of Mist, Relapse, Now or Never Records
Associated acts	Arcane Starkweather Mike Patton Coheed And Cambria Stolen Babies Spylacopa
Website	www.ireworks.net
Members
Ben Weinman Liam Wilson Greg Puciato Jeff Tuttle Billy Rymer
Former members
See: Former members

The Dillinger Escape Plan (sometimes abbreviated DEP or TDEP) is an American experimental mathcore band named after John Dillinger, and they are from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The band originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie.^[1] The band's current line-up consists of Ben Weinman (lead guitar, backing vocals), Liam Wilson (bass guitar), Greg Puciato (lead vocals), Jeff Tuttle (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), and Billy Rymer (drums, percussion).

The band is known for their wild and personal live shows which often showcase stage-diving into the audience with wired instruments in hand, fire breathing, and many other special effects.

History

Early years (1996–1998)

The band's beginnings can be traced back to a hardcore punk band called Arcane.^[1] Previous to Arcane, Adam Doll, Craig McKeown, John Fulton and Chris Pennie played together in the bands Samsara and Malfactor from 1992–1997. Managed by longtime friend Tom Apostolopoulos and guitarist Ben Weinman, Arcane recorded a self-titled demo under the name The Dillinger Escape Plan, in reference to the early 1930s bank robber John Dillinger, famous for his multiple escapes from jail. Now or Never Records offered to release it on CD.^[1] The six-track EP was released in 1997 by Now or Never Records, and set them off on a small club tour around Northeast America. Shortly before their first tour under the new name, Brantley left the group and was replaced by Fulton. However, Brantley's whereabouts are still in question today, as the band claims that Brantley called them up and said he was leaving the band. Then, nothing else was heard from him, and the band itself today does not know even if he is dead or alive.^[1] However, the band went on without Brantley, with Fulton eventually going on to record on their Under the Running Board EP.

During this time period, The Dillinger Escape Plan gained notoriety in the hardcore punk scene for the intensity of their performances. Their performances were increasingly wild, and often violent. These elaborate performances, as well as the creative, technical approach of their music led a record executive of Relapse Records to offer the band a multi-record contract. The band agreed to the contract, and shortly after recorded their second EP with Relapse entitled Under the Running Board. Shortly after its release, Fulton left the band over creative differences with the current members.^[1]

Calculating Infinity (1999–2001)

The three-song EP release served to bolster anticipation for their 1999 full-length release, Calculating Infinity. Before the recording of Calculating Infinitee, bassist Adam Doll was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down.^[2] The accident was a minor fender bender, but because Doll had leaned over to pick up a CD beneath the stereo, the accident caused a small fracture in his spine, inducing paralysis. Guitarist Weinman played both guitar and bass on the album, though liner notes credited Doll as providing a great deal of help.

Shortly before touring began for the new album, former Jesuit guitarist Brian Benoit auditioned for the band, taking the place of the departed John Fulton; Jeff Wood, former M.O.D. bassist, took the place of the injured Adam Doll. Calculating Infinity was met with great acclaim from both underground and mainstream press, even drawing the attention of former Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton, who asked Dillinger Escape Plan to tour with his band Mr. Bungle. Over time, their notoriously intense shows grew more so, incorporating samples, a light show, fireworks, fire breathing, and other antics.

After several months of touring, including appearances on the Warped Tour and March Metal Meltdown, the band and Wood parted ways, with Wood moving on to his own project, Shat. Liam Wilson, also bassist for Starkweather, took his place. In 2000, Now or Never Records re-released the band's self-titled album with added bonus tracks. Later that same year, the band parted ways with Minakakis. Minakakis credited his departure from the band to the rigorous touring schedule. The band remains in contact with him.^[3]

Irony Is a Dead Scene (2002–2003)

Without a vocalist, The Dillinger Escape Plan began a nationwide search for a replacement via their website, releasing an instrumental version of "43 % Burnt" from Calculating Infinity and inviting prospective vocalists to record and submit their own vocal tracks.

While the search was underway, vocal duties were handled by a number of the band's friends, including Sean Ingram of Coalesce and Mike Patton, who agreed to help the band produce an EP. The plan to record with Patton was in place before a replacement vocalist had been found. By the time Mike Patton had recorded vocals and the EP was released, the band had been touring with Minakakis's replacement, Greg Puciato, for nearly a year.

Released on August 27, 2002 via Epitaph Records, Irony Is a Dead Scene ^[4] featured Weinman, Pennie, Benoit, Wilson, and Mike Patton on vocals, with ex-bassist Adam Doll helping with keyboards and samples. It marked Doll's last appearance with the band. The four-song EP contained, among others, a cover of electronic music artist Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy". Buddyhead Records released a limited vinyl version.

Miss Machine (2004–2005)

In late 2001, Dillinger Escape Plan met Greg Puciato, one of many would-be vocalists who had submitted a recording to the band. Puciato included both a faithful version of "43 % Burnt" (in the style of Calculating Infinity) and the same song with his own personal spin. The band offered him the job after two practice sessions. He accepted, first appearing at the 2001 CMJ Music Festival in New York City. Soon after, Puciato and the band recorded two songs for a Black Flag tribute compilation.

In 2003, the band appeared on the soundtrack for Underworld with the song "Baby's First Coffin", their first original song with Greg Puciato on vocals. They also recorded a cover of "My Michelle" for the Guns N' Roses tribute album Bring You To Your Knees, released on March 23, 2004.

On July 20, 2004, Relapse Records released the band's first full-length album with Puciato, entitled Miss Machine. Miss Machine sold 12,000 copies its first week, becoming their biggest selling release. The album polarized The Dillinger Escape Plan audience; some fans were critical of the band's increasing artistic and musical departures from their earlier efforts, while others preferred them.

Following the controversial release, The Dillinger Escape Plan began a two year touring cycle, headlining tours of their own or occasionally providing support for acts such as Slipknot, System of a Down, and Megadeth. These tours were replete with injuries; in late 2004, guitarist Benoit suffered nerve damage (brachial plexus neuritis) in his left hand, and other than a short return to the stage in 2005, he has not played with the band since.^[5] Former Fenix*TX guitarist James Love ended up playing most shows in the late 2004–2006 period. In 2005, the band was forced to drop out of Dave Mustaine's "Gigantour" slightly early due to a rotator cuff injury guitarist Weinman sustained in a car accident, despite the best efforts of the bands touring masseur, Jason Hamacher (of Frodus Conglomerate International).

Pre-Ire Works (2006)

In June 2006 the band released an iTunes exclusive EP of cover songs entitled Plagiarism. The title is a reference to the fact that four of the EP's six tracks are covers faithful to the original songs. And their first DVD, a short accompanying piece to Miss Machine (entitled Miss Machine: The DVD). Summer 2006 saw Dillinger touring as support for AFI and Coheed and Cambria. Guitarist James Love played with the band for a while in the Plagiarism era.

Four shows before the end of the Coheed tour, Weinman flew home for undisclosed personal reasons. In an interview, Greg Puciato announced that actual reasons for Weinman flying home was because of the growing tension between him and Chris Pennie. The night of August 4, the group played their first show as a four-piece in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Murat Theatre Egyptian Room. According to an article in the December 2007 issue of Decibel magazine, during the Coheed tour, Weinman had briefly quit the band in order to recover from compounding medical and financial problems.

During the time Weinman was apart from the band, Chris Pennie received an offer from Coheed and Cambria to be the band's permanent drummer, on account of their former drummer leaving the band. The band was impressed with Pennie after seeing him live, and decided to make this offer. Pennie accepted and left the band without a drummer, right before the future recording of Ire Works.^[6] This departure would make Weinman the only original member of Dillinger Escape Plan left. However, not long after Pennie's departure, Weinman returned to the band and Gil Sharone was hired on drums. The band had said that Pennie was considered the backbone of the band.^[7]

Ire Works (2007–2009)

The Dillinger Escape Plan performing live on 2008-03-12.

The Dillinger Escape Plan completed their follow-up album to Miss Machine in 2007, entitled Ire Works, produced by Steve Evetts at his studio Omen Room in Los Angeles. Drums were recorded at Sonikwire Studios in Irvine, California.^[8] On June 15, the band announced the title of the album as well as confirming the departure of Chris Pennie (now with Coheed and Cambria^[9]). Gil Sharone of Stolen Babies handled drum duties for the album.^[10] Ire Works was released on November 13, 2007. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at #142 with 7,000 copies scanned, but was later corrected when it was revealed that Relapse somehow forgot to scan the pre-release album sales, which made the first week total actually around 11,000.

Also missing from the new line up was guitarist Brian Benoit, who had left the band because of injury. Although assured his place in the band is secure should he ever be able to perform again,^[11] Jeff Tuttle (formerly of Heads Will Roll and Capture the Flag) will be taking his place on stage for the foreseeable future. Tuttle, however, does not make an appearance on the record.^[12]

Ire Works has been a critical and commercial success, with the album being on many critics' top ten lists, making it the band's most critically successful album. Allmusic said that "DEP should be careful, or they'll end up the Radiohead of metalcore." The album has also had much more commercial success than previous albums, with the track Milk Lizard being featured on the video game, Saint's Row 2, and CSI: NY (the episode 'Playing With Matches') and being a constant play on MTV2^{[citation needed]}. The single "Black Bubblegum" was played on Late Night With Conan O'Brien.

As of January 2009 the band has parted ways with Gil Sharone and the new drummer is now confirmed to be Long Island drummer Billy Rymer.

On Saturday, February 21, as they played at the Soundwave music festival in Brisbane, Australia at the RNA Showgrounds. When some plastic water bottles and cans were thrown at the band, it was turned into a game by DEP, with "25 points for hitting the drummer, 75 for any of us (all other members), and 150 if they could hit the members of Poison the Well standing at the side of the stage."^[13]

They also repeatedly joined Nine Inch Nails onstage during the Soundwave 2009 festival, helping them perform the song "Wish" as part of the last encore song of Nine Inch Nail's live show at the event.

Option Paralysis (2009-present)

On May 27, 2009, it was reported that the band started their own label, Party Smasher Inc, which is a collaboration with French record label Season of Mist. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse, The Dillinger Escape Plan will release their fourth studio album in early 2010 through Party Smasher Inc and recorded by Steve Evetts.^[14] On June 13, 2009, The Dillinger Escape Plan joined Nine Inch Nails on stage at the Bonnaroo Music festival during the song "Wish". They also played a set themselves on June 14. During this show singer Greg Puciato gave members of the audience water bottles to help DEP fans combat the heat.

Option Paralysis was confirmed as the title of the new album by the singer, Greg Puciato, in a photocopied letter sent by himself to fans who bought a limited edition Dillinger Escape Plan shirt.^[15]

Also, a series of song snippets from Option Paralysis can be found through video updates on Dillinger's youtube account seen here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChuckBillyTotemPoll

Band lineups

Current lineup

• Greg Puciato – lead vocals (2001–present)
• Ben Weinman – guitars, programming (1997–present)
• Jeff Tuttle – guitars (2007–present)
• Liam Wilson – bass guitar (1999–present)
• Billy Rymer – drums, percussion (2009–present)

Former members

• Derek Brantley – guitars (1997)
• Nathan R. Ossmann - vocals (1997)
• John Fulton – guitars (1997–1999)
• Adam Doll – bass guitar (1997–1999), electronics (2001–2002)
• Dimitri Minakakis – vocals (1997–2001)
• Brian Benoit – guitars (1999–2005)
• Chris Pennie – drums, percussion (1997–2007)
• Gil Sharone – drums, percussion (2007–2008)

Session & live musicians

• Jeff Wood – bass guitar (1999)
• Mike Patton – vocals, percussion (on Irony Is A Dead Scene, 2002)
• James Love – guitars (live, 2005–2006)
• Sean Ingram - lead vocals (at Krazyfest 2001)
• Matt Lupo - trumpet (on "Milk Lizard" from Ire Works)
• Steve Evetts - performed on and off with the band 2000-2002 on keys/samples

Discography

Studio albums

• 1999: Calculating Infinity
• 2004: Miss Machine
• 2007: Ire Works
• 2010: Option Paralysis

References

External links

• The Dillinger Escape Plan at MySpace