Ben Weinmann - The Dillinger Escape Plan 'You Ain’t Got Nothing To Fear'
“I remember Dave Knundson from Botch was standing there with his arms crossed, and we just started going nuts and like, running the walls (laughs). But I just remember him being like: ‘What the fuck is this?’ And leaving after one song, going upstairs and saying ‘this band is fucked up’.”
The narrator of this sensational story is none other than the brilliant Ben Weinman, current guitarist of hardcore punk luminaries Suicidal Tendencies and more thrillingly, the axe-man and master songwriter of the recently reformed mathcore trailblazers The Dillinger Escape Plan.
Approximately eight years ago, on December 28th 2017, at Terminal 5 in New York City, the second of a trio of farewell shows for DEP; Ben Weinman, then rhythm guitarist Kevin Antreassian, bassist Liam Wilson, and drummer Billy Rymer were joined onstage by a prolific character thought to possibly never scream another word with the mathcore maniacs again; that gentleman was the original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis.
“You know, it's really crazy because he's still one of my best friends, Dimitri, and the band went on and did so much after he left.” Weinman discloses in a subdued yet loving recollection – “But you know, so many milestones happened after he was in the band, so just seeing him on stage in front of that many people that were so passionate about something he was part of. I just loved it, I really love seeing that. And he sounded amazing! It was pretty crazy. He did also play a couple other older songs too, [he] sang a couple other older songs. I was like, wow, he almost seems better than he ever was. But ultimately, I've just enjoyed keeping him in the mix as the band, like part of the family, as the band has progressed and, you know, moved on.
In all fairness, we've been like, milking his album that he was on for many, many years. So, it's only fair that he's a part of it!"
Fast forward almost six years to the day, on December 12th 2023, an announcement occurred that practically shook the legions of devotees worldwide to their respected (math)cores. The Dillinger Escape Plan were reuniting with original Dillinger vocalist Dimitri Minakis to perform their critically acclaimed and commercial success debut LP Calculating Infinity in full, as well as older cuts from their discography before the illustrious Greg Puciato took the reins of front-man in later 2001. The reunion was to take place at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater on June 21st 2024 (two additional shows were added the following two nights in response to the high demand) to celebrate the record’s 25th anniversary.
These reunion shows then expanded further festival appearances, then to Belgium and three more European exhibitions. However, this was only the beginning of ‘The Running Board’ for the reunification; before venturing down the “future plans” path, it plagued this writer to enquire how the initial steps of the reconciliation developed?
“I remember Billy [Rymer, Drums] really wanted to keep playing. I was like, I'm done. I'm a dad, I didn't want to - I'm really just happy with the ending and stuff like that. (Anyways) Billy made this kind of, like, secret post that implied that maybe we're going to play this festival, Furnace Fest or something. He tagged something and put a set list, and I don't know what he was thinking! And then everyone's like: ‘Oh, they're playing! They're playing!’ And then I called Billy and I'm like: ‘What the fuck is this?’ He said that: ‘I just had, like, a dream that we played Furnace Fest, and I just woke up and put it there. Maybe I shouldn't have done that.’ And I'm like: ‘Dude, I mean, people think we're playing.’ And he was like ‘I'm sorry, man’.”
Ben explains in laughter and then elaborates further –“That was kind of the first part, and then we got an offer to do a Calculating thing, and it was from a friend who was doing a festival; it was actually Metal Injection Festival. And so Frank [Godla] who runs Metal Injection, was like: ‘I want you guys to reunite with Dimitri and do this thing.’ But it kind of started us thinking; I was hesitant, we didn't really have the time, we wouldn't be ready - I just didn’t think we could learn this stuff in time. So, I started talking to our agent [John Bongiorno], and at this point I had not taken any offers or even talked with anybody. We were broken up - And then he's like: ‘Well, next year is the 25th anniversary of Calculating Infinity, and that really would be a cool thing to do, on the anniversary. Not just take an offer to do it, but like, actually do some stuff with Dimitri; doing that album on the anniversary, and it would give you the time to kind of think about it and work on the stuff and see if it makes sense.’
We were put in a place to really consider it and that was really how it started. The ball got rolling. One day we just responded: ‘Yeah, sure’. And then it was like BOOM, on sale. I was like, ‘Whoa!’ to the response, you know?”
The narrative from here is virtually common knowledge. These rejoining demonstrations of The Dillinger Escape Plan, were utter lunacy– as if the seven-year absence had never really occurred at all. Brooklyn Vegan reported: “it was sensory overload in the best possible way.” Dimitri Minakis was screeching venom and literally spitting fire; DEP were back and living up to their reputation as the: "Greatest Live Band of All Time" by Revolver Magazine.
That cacophonous chaos is returning to Australia.
“Dimitri is so excited. He's having such a great time; I think you always get a chance to do one of these things when you don't have to. You've all moved on, and then you can go back and just friends and kind of enjoy each other and not have the stress like you had when you were in the band.” Ben Weinman explains with immeasurable eagerness about their upcoming Australian visit, the catching his breath, elaborates further – “Like my kids came on tour for two weeks, went to Europe and it's just different. Dimitri has never been on a tour bus. He's never played in front of that many people. He's never had like, catering (laughs). I'm just enjoying seeing him be so appreciated and getting what he deserves after all the years. Being respected, and doing his music in front of all these people and you know, not losing money, and for once, you know what I mean? I think it's really cool after all these years for him. And like I said, we did piggyback off that album with his lyrics for 20 years, ended every set with one of his songs. So, I only think it's fair for him to be able to reap some of the benefits and get be a part of this again.”
Will the performance feature all of the discography Dimitri was a part of? Even the first self-titled EP that was more hardcore orientated than the more avant-garde material that followed?
“We're playing songs off that EP, which isn't even in print anymore, honestly. It’s on YouTube and stuff. But we are playing songs from there, and that's super fun. Billy, our drummer, who wasn't around during that time, he's having a great time playing those songs, because he's having fun laying into this kind of, like a ‘hardcore song’ as he puts it. He's giving them new life because he's just beating the shit out of it. He is really enjoying doing all the crazy stuff, and then just laying into those kinds of more traditional parts, that still have some Dillinger-y things. But you know, they're definitely a little more, traditional? (chuckles)”.
How about the cover songs DEP so often reinterpret into complete discordant madness?
“Yeah, we've been trying to pull out little things. We did a Rollins Band cover in Brooklyn that went over people’s heads because even the Calculating Infinity crowd were perhaps too young for it?” Ben cackles at the memory and then discloses more – “In Chicago, we did part of a Ministry cover - that was super fun! We've been doing like the Aphex Twin single (‘Come To Daddy’) with Dimitri, which is really fun. We are doing different things at different shows, for sure.”
Revisiting the opening account from Mr Weinman in regard to Dave Knudson from Botch leaving prematurely during an earlier performance by The Dillinger Escape Plan; this actually occurred during the “basement days” that many outfits of that era were a major part of. This is an event that was predominately organised for touring groups who were unable to arrange a proper venue whilst travelling through specific cities, mostly in the USA. To give clarity on what transpired at that show, here is more of that very story:
“Dave eventually returned then he slowly was like: ‘Alright, these guys are awesome. Like, I get it now.’ After watching us more, we became best friends. And the rest of the tour was great! It was always a really healthy, competition between us and Botch and others. Because we all were, like, pumped on each other and would have the mindset that we have to do better. ‘They were awesome. We gotta do better!’ That was our drive. So, yeah, those are kind of the shows I remember a lot of and very happily.”
Fun fact: “You Ain’t Got Nothing To Fear.” Is a direct quote from the infamous bank robber John Dillinger – the notorious villain that DEP are named after. What a perfectly befitting theme for delightful derangement of these mathcore madmen in a live setting.
Interview by Will Oakeshott @teenwolfwill
Tickets via https://thephoenix.au/
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN – 2025 Australian Tour
Sunday 10th August at Metropolis, Fremantle
Tuesday 12th August at The Gov, ADELAIDE
Wednesday 13th August at Northcote Theatre, MELB
Saturday 16th August at The Enmore, SYD
Sunday 17th August at The Tivoli, BRIS
