The Dillinger Escape Plan

The Dillinger Escape Plan is a mathcore band that integrates grindcore with a little bit of free jazz via variating time signatures and free jazz guitar interludes. They are known for the intensity of their live shows, and are rumored to choose their music's time signatures with the aid of dice. They are considered by many to be one of the most talented groups in the hardcore scene. Their current lineup consists of:

• Greg Puciato - vocals
• Ben Weinman and Brian Benoit - guitar
• Liam Wilson - bass
• Chris Pennie - drums

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 Derrick 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. 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 Derrick 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. 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 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 also recorded two songs for a Black Flag tribute, and 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.

In late 2001, Dillinger Escape Plan met with Greg Puciato, one of many would-be vocalists who had submitted a recording to the band. They were greatly impressed with his submission, wide vocal range and Incredible Hulk-esqe physique and stage presence and after two practice sessions, the band offered him the job, and he accepted. He first appeared with the band at the 2001 CMJ Music Festival in New York City.

In March 2002 the band announced they would be releasing Irony is a Dead Scene, the EP for which Mike Patton provided vocals, on Epitaph Records. It was released on August 27, 2002, and, among others, contained a cover song of IDM artist Aphex Twin's "Come To Daddy".

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

Discography

Release Date	Title	Label	Other Information
1997	The Dillinger Escape Plan	Now or Never
October 22, 1998	Under the Running Board	Relapse	EP
1998	Split with Nora	Ferret Records	EP Features the then-previously unreleased song "4th Grade Dropout" and two songs by Nora.
1999	Split with Drowningman	hydrahead	EP Two songs each band
September 28, 1999	Calculating Infinity	Relapse
June 13, 2000	The Dillinger Escape Plan	Now or Never	Reissue with three added live tracks and new packaging
August 27, 2002	Irony is a Dead Scene	Epitaph	EP with Mike Patton of Faith No More
January 3, 2003	Live Infinity	Relapse	EP (7" vinyl) Four live tracks recorded in 2000 with singer Dimitri Minakakis. One side plays backwards (from the center out); the other side has two tracks side by side (each track plays from the outside to the center).
July 20, 2004	Miss Machine	Relapse	First full-length release with new vocalist Greg Puciato

External links

• Dillinger Escape Plan's official website (http://www.dillingerescapeplan.com/)
• Relapse Records website (http://www.relapse.com/)nl:The Dillinger Escape Plan