Exclusive: Ben Weinman and Billy Rymer on the End of The Dillinger Escape Plan
Bummed that there was no new episode of The MetalSucks Podcast this week? Don’t fret! Although technical issues delayed the release of our latest episode until this coming Tuesday, September 6, we can assure you it will be worth the wait.
The highlight of the episode? An in-depth interview with The Dillinger Escape Plan’s Ben Weinman and Billy Rymer! Here’s a small sample of our chat, so you can see what you have to look forward to:
Rymer on whether or not he was surprised when Weinman told him DEP were breaking up:
“I’m almost surprised it didn’t happen sooner, to be honest. I’m surprised that One of Us is the Killer wasn’t our last record. [But] there’s always something that kinda just keeps fueling [the band]… this was just the last second wind.”
Weinman on the fans’ reaction to the break-up:
“People have been so supportive and cool… we’re hearing people just tell us what Dillinger’s meant to them and that’s always weird because… I’ve always had that feeling that everyone hates us, everyone’s here to see us fail… every show it’s been like we’re fighting against a pack of wolves… I’ve never, ever not been nervous before shows, I’ve never not been over-critical about the music we put out… So hearing those kind of accolades is uncomfortable, but it’s also, at this time, so meaningful… it makes you feel like you really did something special, not just for yourself, but for other people.”
Weinman on why the band is breaking up and not just slowing down:
“Well, I think Greg [Puciato, vocalist] initially was like, ‘Why don’t we just do less Dillinger? Why don’t we tour less, and make it more special, and just release music when we want to,’ and things like that. And I got that, and I understood it, but… to me that was some pussy shit… We do everything extreme, and I don’t think this should be any different. Just dive in, full-force, head first, just go, just make a commitment. Commit, see what happens, even if it’s scary.”
Weinman on singers:
“Singers are a disease… I’d probably rather have AIDS than have more singers in my life than I already have right now [Weinman is also in Giraffe Tongue Orchestra with Alice in Chains frontman William DuVall -Ed.]. ‘Cause it’s so difficult to be in that position, where you’re supposed to not care what people think in order to be creative and be honest, but then you have all these people judging you… It’s not healthy to want to be in front of a crowd dancing around and singing to them. It’s just, like, mentally insane. And… [vocalists] hate critiques, they’re super-bummed when people review them and say that they weren’t good or whatever, but then when people kiss their ass, their ego gets super-inflated… it’s a very unhealthy mental state to be in, to be in a band in general, or to be a singer.”
All this and lots, lots more on the next episode of The MetalSucks Podcast, coming this Tuesday, September 6. Watch this space!!!
