The Dillinger Escape Plan
Encyclopedia
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore
band from Morris Plains, New Jersey
. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk
trio consisting of Ben Weinman
, Dimitri Minakakis
, and Chris Pennie
. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman
, bassist Liam Wilson
, vocalist Greg Puciato
, guitarist Jeff Tuttle
and drummer Billy Rymer. Their band name is derived from the famous convicted bank robber John Dillinger
.
trio named Arcane. 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 the demo. 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, guitarist Derek Brantley left the group and was replaced by John Fulton.
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 recorded their second EP
with Relapse entitled Under the Running Board
. Shortly after its release, Fulton left the band over creative differences.
. Before the recording of Calculating Infinity, bassist Adam Doll was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. 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.
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 from the band Error, for nearly a year.
The group released their first EP via Epitaph Records
, titled Irony Is a Dead Scene
. It features Weinman, Pennie, Benoit, Wilson, and Mike Patton
on vocals, with ex-bassist Adam Doll
assisting with keyboards and sample effects. It marked Doll's last appearance with the band, until he returned to contribute briefly towards Option Paralysis
. The four-song EP contains, among others, a cover of electronic music
artist Aphex Twin
's "Come to Daddy
". Buddyhead Records
released the EP in a limited vinyl version.
, 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 largest 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. 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 and fractured vertebrae Weinman had sustained performing in Anaheim, CA at the famous Chain reaction.
EP. Dillinger toured supporting AFI
and Coheed and Cambria
in the summer of 2006.
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. It was previously announced during an interview on the Jekyll and Hyde show in November 2007, during the Coheed tour, Weinman had briefly quit the band in order to recover from compounding medical 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 when their former drummer left the band. Coheed had been impressed with Pennie after seeing him live, and Pennie accepted the offer. Pennie left the band right before the recording of Ire Works
.
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. On June 15, the band announced the title of the album as well as confirming the departure of Chris Pennie. Gil Sharone
of Stolen Babies
handled drum duties for the album. 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.
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, Jeff Tuttle
(formerly of Heads Will Roll and Capture the Flag) has taken his place on stage. Tuttle, however, does not make an appearance on the record.
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." On February 6, 2008, the band had two songs from Ire Works broadcasted on two television program
s in the United States. The song "Milk Lizard
" was featured on the CSI: NY
episode "Playing With Matches", and the band performed live the song "Black Bubblegum" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
. In January 2009 Gil Sharone left the band. Billy Rymer was then confirmed to be the band's new drummer.
On Saturday, February 21, as The Dillinger Escape Plan played at the Soundwave music festival in Brisbane, Australia at the RNA Showgrounds, where they joined Nine Inch Nails
onstage during the Soundwave 2009 festival, helping them perform the songs "Wish
" and "Mr. Self Destruct
" as part of the last encore song of Nine Inch Nails' live show at the event.
. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse, The Dillinger Escape Plan released their fourth studio album in March 2010 through Party Smasher Inc and recorded by Steve Evetts. Option Paralysis
was confirmed as the title of the new album in a press release by Season of Mist
. Puciato has noted that Option Paralysis
was the toughest album the group and himself have ever written. In an interview in The Aquarian, Weinman stated that "it was the most organic and less forced than previous works."
The Dillinger Escape Plan started the Option Paralysis
touring cycle with a short North American tour with Thursday
in December 2009, followed by a headlining run in Feb/March 2010 with Darkest Hour, Animals As Leaders
, and Iwrestledabearonce
. While on the tour, the band received a Golden God Award from Revolver Magazine, for "Best Underground Band", which Weinman and Puciato accepted. After a short trip to Europe, they participated in Warped Tour 2010
, playing June 24 through August 15. After that the band embarked on a massive European headlining run. During a January 12, 2011 interview on the Metal Injection Livecast, vocalist Greg Puciato
announced the band is currently in the process of writing new music which would either surface as an EP later in the year or a full-length album the following year. However, in 2011 Dillinger continued to tour, accompanying Deftones
for a nine-week long North American trek from April to June.
They are currently on a North American tour with Mastodon
and Red Fang
.
Former
Mathcore
Mathcore is a rhythmically complex and dissonant fusion style of hardcore punk and Metal. It has its roots in bands such as Converge, Botch, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The term mathcore is suggested by analogy with math rock. Both math rock and mathcore make use of unusual time signatures...
band from Morris Plains, New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey
Morris Plains, billing itself "the Community of Caring," is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,236....
. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
trio consisting of Ben Weinman
Ben Weinman
Ben Weinman is an American musician, who is most notable for being the lead guitarist for the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is the founder and only original member remaining in the band....
, Dimitri Minakakis
Dimitri Minakakis
Dimitri Minakakis grew up in Morristown, New Jersey. Minakakis is the original singer and founding member of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. Minakakis left the band in 2001 to focus more on Graphic Arts/Design...
, and Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie is the former drummer for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria and former drummer and co-founder of mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan.-Background:...
. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman
Ben Weinman
Ben Weinman is an American musician, who is most notable for being the lead guitarist for the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is the founder and only original member remaining in the band....
, bassist Liam Wilson
Liam Wilson
Liam Wilson is the bass player of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan and former bass player of the band Starkweather. Before playing in the Dillinger Escape Plan, Liam played bass for other Philadelphia-based metal bands, such as For Life and Burnside.-Personal life:A vegan who is concerned about...
, vocalist Greg Puciato
Greg Puciato
Greg Puciato is the lead singer of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is known for his reckless live performances, wide vocal range, and outspoken views, having caused controversy due to both performances and interviews...
, guitarist Jeff Tuttle
Jeff Tuttle
Jeff Tuttle is a guitar player for The Dillinger Escape Plan. It was announced that he was the new rhythm guitar player in Summer 2007, following James Love who was with the band immediately after the departure of previous guitarist Brian Benoit, who can no longer play due to a degenerative nerve...
and drummer Billy Rymer. Their band name is derived from the famous convicted bank robber John Dillinger
John Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
.
Early years (1997–1998)
The Dillinger Escape Plan was founded in 1997, the band emerged from a hardcore punkHardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
trio named Arcane. Previous to Arcane, Adam Doll
Adam Doll
Adam Doll was the original bass player for the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He played on the band's self-titled EP and the Under the Running Board EP...
, Craig McKeown, John Fulton and Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie is the former drummer for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria and former drummer and co-founder of mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan.-Background:...
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
John Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
, famous for his multiple escapes from jail. Now or Never Records offered to release the demo. 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, guitarist Derek Brantley left the group and was replaced by John Fulton.
During this time period, The Dillinger Escape Plan gained notoriety in the hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
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 recorded their second EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
with Relapse entitled Under the Running Board
Under the Running Board
-Personnel:*Adam Doll – bass*Dimitri Minakakis – vocals*Chris Pennie – drums*Ben Weinman – guitar, vocals*John Fulton – guitar-Additional personnel:*Alan Douches – mastering*Steve Evetts – producer, engineer*Adam Peterson – graphic design...
. Shortly after its release, Fulton left the band over creative differences.
Calculating Infinity (1999–2001)
The three-song EP release served to bolster anticipation for their 1999 full-length release, Calculating InfinityCalculating Infinity
Calculating Infinity is the debut album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released in September 1999 by Relapse Records. Calculating Infinity showcases the band's heavier and more technical sound and would go on to be considered a landmark of avant-garde metal...
. Before the recording of Calculating Infinity, bassist Adam Doll was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. 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.
M.O.D.
M.O.D. was a crossover thrash band from New York City, fronted by former Anthrax roadie and Stormtroopers of Death vocalist Billy Milano. The band existed from 1986 to 1997, and again from 2001 to 2008...
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
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
vocalist Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
, who asked Dillinger Escape Plan to tour with his band Mr. Bungle
Mr. Bungle
Mr. Bungle was an experimental band from Northern California. The band was formed in 1985 while the members were still in high school and was named after a children's educational film. Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes in the mid to late 1980s before being signed to Warner Bros. Records and...
. Over time, their notoriously intense shows grew more so, incorporating samples, a light show
Stage lighting
Modern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of stage lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting. Stage lighting has grown considerably in recent years...
, fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
, fire breathing
Fire breathing
Fire breathing is the act of creating a fireball by breathing a fine mist of fuel over an open flame. Proper technique and the correct fuel create the illusion of danger to enhance the novelty of fire breathing, while reducing the risk to health and safety...
, and other antics.
After several months of touring, including appearances on the Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
and March Metal Meltdown, the band and Wood parted ways, with Wood moving on to his own project, Shat. Liam Wilson
Liam Wilson
Liam Wilson is the bass player of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan and former bass player of the band Starkweather. Before playing in the Dillinger Escape Plan, Liam played bass for other Philadelphia-based metal bands, such as For Life and Burnside.-Personal life:A vegan who is concerned about...
, also bassist for Starkweather
Starkweather (band)
Starkweather is a metal band from Philadelphia, United States that formed in 1989. Starkweather helped pioneer the hardcore/heavy metal crossover sound that would later be known as "metalcore"...
, took his place. In 2000, Now or Never Records re-released the band's self-titled album
The Dillinger Escape Plan (album)
-Personnel:*Adam Doll – bass*Dimitri Minakakis – vocals*Chris Pennie – drums*Ben Weinman – guitar-Addition personnel:*Mathew "Matty B" Beckerman – executive producer*Steve Evetts – producer, engineer, keyboards*Aaron Turner – artwork, design...
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.
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
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
, who agreed to help the band produce an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
. The plan to record with Patton was in place before a replacement vocalist had been found. By the time Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
had recorded vocals and the EP was released, the band had been touring with Minakakis's replacement, Greg Puciato from the band Error, for nearly a year.
The group released their first EP via Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
, titled Irony Is a Dead Scene
Irony Is a Dead Scene
-Personnel:The Dillinger Escape Plan* Liam Wilson – bass* Adam Doll – keyboards, sampling* Chris Pennie – drums, keyboards* Ben Weinman – guitar, keyboards* Brian Benoit – guitarGuest musicians* Mike Patton – lead vocals, percussion, samples, keyboards...
. It features Weinman, Pennie, Benoit, Wilson, and Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
on vocals, with ex-bassist Adam Doll
Adam Doll
Adam Doll was the original bass player for the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He played on the band's self-titled EP and the Under the Running Board EP...
assisting with keyboards and sample effects. It marked Doll's last appearance with the band, until he returned to contribute briefly towards Option Paralysis
Option Paralysis
Option Paralysis is the fourth full-length studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on March 23, 2010. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse Records, the band released the album through Party Smasher Inc., their own new imprint in collaboration with...
. The four-song EP contains, among others, a cover of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
artist Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
's "Come to Daddy
Come to Daddy
Come to Daddy is a 1997 EP by electronic music artist Richard D. James, commonly known as Aphex Twin. "Come to Daddy [Pappy Mix]" — often simply called "Come to Daddy" — is one of Aphex Twin's best-known songs; it peaked at #36 on the UK Singles Chart...
". Buddyhead Records
Buddyhead Records
Buddyhead is a music "webzine" and independent record label formed by Travis Keller in the summer of 1997 in Hollywood, California. Keller is notorious for outspoken criticism of popular culture and the music industry...
released the EP in a limited vinyl version.
Miss Machine (2004–2005)
In late 2001, Dillinger Escape Plan met Greg PuciatoGreg Puciato
Greg Puciato is the lead singer of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is known for his reckless live performances, wide vocal range, and outspoken views, having caused controversy due to both performances and interviews...
, 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
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
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
Greg Puciato
Greg Puciato is the lead singer of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is known for his reckless live performances, wide vocal range, and outspoken views, having caused controversy due to both performances and interviews...
on vocals. They also recorded a cover of "My Michelle" for the Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
tribute album Bring You to Your Knees, released on March 23, 2004.
On July 20, 2004, Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
released the band's first full-length album with Puciato, entitled Miss Machine
Miss Machine
Miss Machine is the second album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released in July 2004 through Relapse Records. It is the first release by the band to feature vocalist Greg Puciato...
. Miss Machine sold 12,000 copies its first week, becoming their largest 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
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
, System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
, and Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
. These tours were replete with injuries; in late 2004, guitarist Benoit suffered nerve damage (brachial plexus
Brachial plexus
The brachial plexus is a network of nerve fibers, running from the spine, formed by the ventral rami of the lower four cervical and first thoracic nerve roots...
neuritis) in his left hand, and other than a short return to the stage in 2005, he has not played with the band since. 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
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
's "Gigantour
Gigantour
Gigantour is the name of a sporadically organised traveling heavy metal music festival organized by Megadeth's Dave Mustaine. The tour was founded in 2005 with dates across North America, and the 2006 and 2007 line-ups also traveled to Australia...
" slightly early due to a rotator cuff
Rotator cuff
In anatomy, the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff, along with the teres major muscle, the coracobrachialis muscle and the deltoid, make up the seven scapulohumeral muscles of the human body.-Function:The...
injury and fractured vertebrae Weinman had sustained performing in Anaheim, CA at the famous Chain reaction.
Plagiarism (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). Guitarist James Love played in the band during the recording of their PlagiarismPlagiarism (EP)
-Personnel:* Ben Weinman – guitar, keyboards, producer, engineer* James Love - guitar * Liam Wilson – bass guitar* Greg Puciato – vocals...
EP. Dillinger toured supporting AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
and Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
in the summer of 2006.
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
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
at the Murat Theatre Egyptian Room. It was previously announced during an interview on the Jekyll and Hyde show in November 2007, during the Coheed tour, Weinman had briefly quit the band in order to recover from compounding medical problems.
During the time Weinman was apart from the band, Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie is the former drummer for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria and former drummer and co-founder of mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan.-Background:...
received an offer from Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
to be the band's permanent drummer when their former drummer left the band. Coheed had been impressed with Pennie after seeing him live, and Pennie accepted the offer. Pennie left the band right before the recording of Ire Works
Ire Works
-Personnel:* Greg Puciato – vocals* Ben Weinman – guitar, piano, sound design, programming, and backing vocals* Liam Wilson – bass* Gil Sharone – drums, percussion-Additional personnel:* Dimitri Minakakis – backing vocals on "Fix Your Face"...
.
Ire Works (2007–2009)
Ire Works
-Personnel:* Greg Puciato – vocals* Ben Weinman – guitar, piano, sound design, programming, and backing vocals* Liam Wilson – bass* Gil Sharone – drums, percussion-Additional personnel:* Dimitri Minakakis – backing vocals on "Fix Your Face"...
, produced by Steve Evetts
Steve Evetts
Steve Evetts is a music producer who has produced music for Alesana, Poison the Well, A Static Lullaby, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Sepultura, Symphony X, Saves the Day, Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Story of the Year, Every Time I Die, Earth Crisis, Still Remains and Our Last Night.-Partial...
at his studio Omen Room in Los Angeles. Drums were recorded at Sonikwire Studios in Irvine, California. On June 15, the band announced the title of the album as well as confirming the departure of Chris Pennie. Gil Sharone
Gil Sharone
Gil Sharone is an American drummer and member of the band Stolen Babies, and formerly The Dillinger Escape Plan. He was also a fill in for punk rock band +44. His twin brother is Rani Sharone, also of Stolen Babies....
of Stolen Babies
Stolen Babies
Stolen Babies are an American avant-garde metal band with significant influences from dark cabaret, signed to The End Records.-History:Stolen Babies formed from a 12+ member high school performance troupe named the Fratellis; the band takes its name from one of the skits performed by the group...
handled drum duties for the album. 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.
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, Jeff Tuttle
Jeff Tuttle
Jeff Tuttle is a guitar player for The Dillinger Escape Plan. It was announced that he was the new rhythm guitar player in Summer 2007, following James Love who was with the band immediately after the departure of previous guitarist Brian Benoit, who can no longer play due to a degenerative nerve...
(formerly of Heads Will Roll and Capture the Flag) has taken his place on stage. Tuttle, however, does not make an appearance on the record.
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
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
of metalcore." On February 6, 2008, the band had two songs from Ire Works broadcasted on two television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s in the United States. The song "Milk Lizard
Milk Lizard
"Milk Lizard" is the first single and the ninth track from The Dillinger Escape Plan's 2007 album, Ire Works. The track is featured on the Saint's Row 2 soundtrack...
" was featured on the CSI: NY
CSI: NY
CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
episode "Playing With Matches", and the band performed live the song "Black Bubblegum" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
. In January 2009 Gil Sharone left the band. Billy Rymer was then confirmed to be the band's new drummer.
On Saturday, February 21, as The Dillinger Escape Plan played at the Soundwave music festival in Brisbane, Australia at the RNA Showgrounds, where they joined Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
onstage during the Soundwave 2009 festival, helping them perform the songs "Wish
Wish (song)
"Wish" is the second promotional single from Nine Inch Nails' Broken. The most successful song from the EP, "Wish" cemented Trent Reznor's image as a rage-fueled star to the public. "Wish" won the Best Metal Performance in the 1993 Grammy Awards. Reznor later joked that his epitaph should read:...
" and "Mr. Self Destruct
Mr. Self Destruct
"Mr. Self Destruct" is a song by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails. Written by frontman Trent Reznor, co-produced by Flood and recorded at Le Pig in 1993, it is the opening track off The Downward Spiral , and predicts the album's ugly aesthetic and mostly angry tone...
" as part of the last encore song of Nine Inch Nails' live show at the event.
Option Paralysis and new recordings (2009–present)
On May 27, 2009, it was reported by Benjamin Weinman that the band started their own label, Party Smasher Inc., which is a collaboration with French record label Season of MistSeason of Mist
Season of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse, The Dillinger Escape Plan released their fourth studio album in March 2010 through Party Smasher Inc and recorded by Steve Evetts. Option Paralysis
Option Paralysis
Option Paralysis is the fourth full-length studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on March 23, 2010. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse Records, the band released the album through Party Smasher Inc., their own new imprint in collaboration with...
was confirmed as the title of the new album in a press release by Season of Mist
Season of Mist
Season of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
. Puciato has noted that Option Paralysis
Option Paralysis
Option Paralysis is the fourth full-length studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on March 23, 2010. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse Records, the band released the album through Party Smasher Inc., their own new imprint in collaboration with...
was the toughest album the group and himself have ever written. In an interview in The Aquarian, Weinman stated that "it was the most organic and less forced than previous works."
The Dillinger Escape Plan started the Option Paralysis
Option Paralysis
Option Paralysis is the fourth full-length studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on March 23, 2010. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse Records, the band released the album through Party Smasher Inc., their own new imprint in collaboration with...
touring cycle with a short North American tour with Thursday
Thursday (band)
Thursday were an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Formed in 1997, the group has released six full-length albums, their most recent being No Devolución, which was released in April 2011 on Epitaph Records...
in December 2009, followed by a headlining run in Feb/March 2010 with Darkest Hour, Animals As Leaders
Animals as Leaders
Animals as Leaders is an American, Washington, D.C.–based instrumental progressive metal band, formed by guitarist Tosin Abasi in 2007 which now includes guitarist Javier Reyes and drummer Navene Koperweis. The self-titled debut album was released in April 2009 by Prosthetic Records...
, and Iwrestledabearonce
Iwrestledabearonce
Iwrestledabearonce is an American heavy metal band formed in 2007 in Shreveport, Louisiana, and currently based in Birmingham, Alabama. They have released one EP and two full-length albums, and have toured with acts such as August Burns Red, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Dance Gavin Dance, The Human...
. While on the tour, the band received a Golden God Award from Revolver Magazine, for "Best Underground Band", which Weinman and Puciato accepted. After a short trip to Europe, they participated in Warped Tour 2010
Warped Tour 2010
Warped Tour 2010 is the 16th installment of the annual Summer Warped Tour festival. Vans Shoes was again the tour's primary sponsor. The first bands were announced on December 18. The 43-date tour kicks off on June 25, 2010 in Carson, California and ends August 15, 2010 in Hillsboro, Oregon.On...
, playing June 24 through August 15. After that the band embarked on a massive European headlining run. During a January 12, 2011 interview on the Metal Injection Livecast, vocalist Greg Puciato
Greg Puciato
Greg Puciato is the lead singer of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is known for his reckless live performances, wide vocal range, and outspoken views, having caused controversy due to both performances and interviews...
announced the band is currently in the process of writing new music which would either surface as an EP later in the year or a full-length album the following year. However, in 2011 Dillinger continued to tour, accompanying Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
for a nine-week long North American trek from April to June.
They are currently on a North American tour with Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
and Red Fang
Red Fang (band)
Red Fang is an American heavy metal band from Portland, Oregon.Red Fang's 2009 debut for record label Sargent House collected their first two releases, which were limited release EPs. The band followed with Murder the Mountains, released on Relapse Records, in 2011. Chris Funk produced Murder the...
.
Band members
Current- Ben WeinmanBen WeinmanBen Weinman is an American musician, who is most notable for being the lead guitarist for the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is the founder and only original member remaining in the band....
– lead guitars, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(since 1997) - Liam WilsonLiam WilsonLiam Wilson is the bass player of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan and former bass player of the band Starkweather. Before playing in the Dillinger Escape Plan, Liam played bass for other Philadelphia-based metal bands, such as For Life and Burnside.-Personal life:A vegan who is concerned about...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(since 2000) - Greg PuciatoGreg PuciatoGreg Puciato is the lead singer of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is known for his reckless live performances, wide vocal range, and outspoken views, having caused controversy due to both performances and interviews...
– lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
(since 2001) - Jeff TuttleJeff TuttleJeff Tuttle is a guitar player for The Dillinger Escape Plan. It was announced that he was the new rhythm guitar player in Summer 2007, following James Love who was with the band immediately after the departure of previous guitarist Brian Benoit, who can no longer play due to a degenerative nerve...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals (since 2007) - Billy Rymer – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(since 2009)
Former
- Derek Brantley – rhythm guitar (1997)
- John Fulton – rhythm guitar (1997–1999)
- Dimitri MinakakisDimitri MinakakisDimitri Minakakis grew up in Morristown, New Jersey. Minakakis is the original singer and founding member of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. Minakakis left the band in 2001 to focus more on Graphic Arts/Design...
– lead vocals (1997–2000) - Adam DollAdam DollAdam Doll was the original bass player for the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He played on the band's self-titled EP and the Under the Running Board EP...
– bass guitar (1997–1999), keyboards (2001–2002) - Brian BenoitBrian BenoitBrian Benoit was a guitarist for The Dillinger Escape Plan. Before playing in Dillinger, Brian played in Jesuit with eventual Converge bassist Nate Newton. He was also an early live-only member in Virginia youth crew revival band Time Flies...
– rhythm guitar (1999–2005) - Chris PennieChris PennieChris Pennie is the former drummer for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria and former drummer and co-founder of mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan.-Background:...
– drums (1997–2007) - Gil SharoneGil SharoneGil Sharone is an American drummer and member of the band Stolen Babies, and formerly The Dillinger Escape Plan. He was also a fill in for punk rock band +44. His twin brother is Rani Sharone, also of Stolen Babies....
– drums (2007–2008)
Discography
Studio albums- Calculating InfinityCalculating InfinityCalculating Infinity is the debut album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released in September 1999 by Relapse Records. Calculating Infinity showcases the band's heavier and more technical sound and would go on to be considered a landmark of avant-garde metal...
(1999) - Miss MachineMiss MachineMiss Machine is the second album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released in July 2004 through Relapse Records. It is the first release by the band to feature vocalist Greg Puciato...
(2004) - Ire WorksIre Works-Personnel:* Greg Puciato – vocals* Ben Weinman – guitar, piano, sound design, programming, and backing vocals* Liam Wilson – bass* Gil Sharone – drums, percussion-Additional personnel:* Dimitri Minakakis – backing vocals on "Fix Your Face"...
(2007) - Option ParalysisOption ParalysisOption Paralysis is the fourth full-length studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on March 23, 2010. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse Records, the band released the album through Party Smasher Inc., their own new imprint in collaboration with...
(2010)