The Dillinger Escape Plan

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The Dillinger Escape Plan
Brian Benoit, Chris Pennie, Greg Puciato, Ben Weinman, and Liam Wilson
Background information
Origin Morris Plains, New Jersey, USA
Genre(s) Tech Metal
Mathcore
Years active 1997 - present
Label(s) Relapse Records
Members
Brian Benoit
Chris Pennie
Greg Puciato
Ben Weinman
Liam Wilson
James Love

The Dillinger Escape Plan is a mathcore band that integrates metalcore with jazz/fusion elements. They are known for the speed and technical proficiency in their music, and equally for the intensity and too-close-for-comfort violence of their live shows, and are rumored to choose their music's time signatures with the aid of dice which can also be said to be a form of chance music or Aleatoric music. Their name refers to the famous bank robber John Dillinger and during their early live shows they would integrate samples concerning him into their set. They have been dubbed by NME as "The World's Most Dangerous Band" and Kerrang! as "The Best Live Band on the Planet." .

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] The beginnings (the Minakakis era)

The band's beginnings can be traced back to a hardcore band by the name of Arcane. Arcane's lineup during their final performance included vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, Ben Weinman and Derek Brantley on guitars, drummer Chris Pennie, and Adam Doll filling in on bass. They performed twice with this lineup as Dillinger Escape Plan before Brantley left the group. Managed by longtime friend and whale hunter Tom Apostolopoulos and guitarist Benjamin Weinman, the band recorded a demo which Now or Never Records offered to release on CD. John Fulton joined the band, filling the vacancy left by Derek Brantley, shortly before the band's first tour. Dillinger Escape Plan gained notoriety in the hardcore scene for the intensity of their performances, and it was this notoriety that garnered the attention of Relapse Records representatives, who attended one of the band's shows in Pennsylvania, which ultimately resulted in the signing of a multi-record deal. Fulton played on Under the Running Board, their debut EP on Relapse, before he left the band in 1998.

The three-song release served to bolster anticipation for their 1999 full-length release, Calculating Infinity. 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 leant 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 Minakakis credited Doll as providing a great deal of help. Brian Benoit then asked to try out for the band after touring along side Dillinger with his previous band Jesuit, taking the place of the departed John Fulton. Calculating Infinity was met with great acclaim from both the underground and mainstream press, and even drew the attention of former Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton, who asked Dillinger Escape Plan to tour with his band Mr. Bungle. Jeff Wood, former M.O.D. bassist, joined the band on tour. The band agreed to tour with Mr. Bungle, and continued on a series of shows back and forth across the United States with Candiria. Over time, their shows incorporated samples, a light show, fireworks, and even a fire breather. 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 rereleased the band's self-titled album with added bonus tracks, and the band parted ways with Minakakis. After playing a few shows without a vocalist, and reuniting with Minakakis for a couple of final shows, they began a nationwide search for a replacement via their website, releasing an instrumental version of "43% Burnt" from Calculating Infinity and inviting prospective singers to record their own vocals and submit them to the band. While the search was underway they recorded an EP of material for which Mike Patton agreed to provide vocals. The band played Krazy Fest in Louisville, Kentucky, where Sean Ingram of Coalesce filled in as singer.

[edit] Irony is a Dead Scene (collaboration with Patton)

In March 2002 the band announced they would be releasing Irony is a Dead Scene, the EP for which Mike Patton had agreed to provide vocals for before Puciato joined the band, on Epitaph Records. Irony was also the recorded debut of new bassist, Liam Wilson. Ex-bassist Adam Doll also appeared on the EP, playing some keyboards and samples, and marks his last appearance with the band. It was released on August 27, 2002, and, among others, contained a cover song of IDM artist Aphex Twin's "Come To Daddy".

[edit] Miss Machine (the Puciato era)

In late 2001, Dillinger Escape Plan met with Greg Puciato, one of many would-be vocalists who had submitted a recording to the band, a version of "43% Burnt" in the style of the recording on Calculating Infinity, plus the same song recorded with Puciato's own spin on the song, different to the traditional Dillinger version. They were greatly impressed with his submission, wide vocal range, and intimidating presence. After two practice sessions, the band offered him the job, which he accepted. He first appeared with the band at the 2001 CMJ Music Festival in New York City, and soon after recorded two songs for a Black Flag tribute compilation, ironic considering the parallels between Puciato and Black Flag singer Henry Rollins.

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.

Miss Machine, the band's first full-length album with Puciato, was released in the United States on Relapse Records on July 20, 2004, and was released in the rest of the world on August 2, 2004. It sold 12,000 copies its first week and became the biggest selling release by the band, followed closely by Calculating Infinity. The release was more of a continuation of Irony Is A Dead Scene, mixing their previously established style with new elements, some fans became critical of the band's increasing artistic and musical departures from their earlier efforts, while others prefer them. Regardless, the band continued to grow and gain new fans and embarked on what would end up being a two year long touring cycle.

In late 2004 guitarist Brian Benoit developed gradual loss of control over his left hand, resulting in his replacement with James Love. Brian underwent surgery for his elbow, believing the hand damage was related to a form of tendinitis. The hand complications grew worse and eventually it was learned that Brian had nerve damage in his left hand, and other than a short return to the stage in 2005, he has not played with the band since leaving. James Love ended up playing most shows in the late 2004-mid 2006 period.

In mid 2005 the band was forced to drop out of the "Gigantour" tour slightly early due to guitarist Weinman's rotator cuff injury which had been sustained in a car accident, despite the best efforts of the bands touring masseur, Jason Hamacher (of Frodus Conglomerate International).

In June 2006 the band released an iTunes exclusive EP full of cover songs entitled "Plagiarism" and their first DVD, a short accompanying piece to Miss Machine, simply titled "Miss Machine: The DVD". The band then embarked upon a North American tour supporting AFI. They are currently writing the as yet untitled follow up to Miss Machine, presumably for a 2007 release. Puciato has said in recent interviews that the new material is similar in style to the music of the Calculating Infinity-era, being possibly even faster and more technical.

In August 2006, the remaining guitarist from the original line-up, Ben Weinman, had to leave the band's tour with Coheed and Cambria four dates from its end. The night of August 4th, the group played their first show as a four-piece in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Murat Theatre Egyptian Room with only James Love on guitar. Ben Weinman missed the remaining shows on the tour for undisclosed personal reasons.

The band is currently working on their next album, slated for release "sometime before 2009." [1]

[edit] Members

[edit] Former Members

[edit] Discography

Album Cover Release Date Title Label Other Information
1997 The Dillinger Escape Plan Now or Never EP
October 22, 1998 Under the Running Board Relapse EP
1998 Split with Nora Ferret Records EP, the band performs "4th Grade Dropout"
1999 Split with Drowningman Hydra Head Records EP, the band performs "Jim Fear"
September 28, 1999 Calculating Infinity Relapse
June 13, 2000 The Dillinger Escape Plan Now or Never Reissue
August 27, 2002 Irony is a Dead Scene Epitaph EP with Mike Patton
January 3, 2003 Live Infinity Relapse 7" Vinyl EP
July 20, 2004 Miss Machine Relapse
June 13, 2006 Plagiarism Relapse iTunes Music Store exclusive. 4 of 6 songs are covers.

[edit] External links

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