The Dillinger Escape Plan (DEP) is an American metalcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. Formed in early 1997, the group originally featured vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, lead guitarist Ben Weinman, rhythm guitarist Derek Brantley, bassist and keyboardist Adam Doll, and drummer and keyboardist Chris Pennie. The group currently consists of Weinman (a constant member) and Minakakis (who rejoined when the band reunited in 2023), alongside bassist Liam Wilson (since 2000), rhythm guitarist James Love (who first joined in 2005) and drummer Billy Rymer (since 2009).

History

DEP evolved from an earlier hardcore punk group called Arcane in March 1997, and originally featured Minakakis, Weinman, Brantley, Doll and Pennie. Brantley left after just two shows, failing to turn up for the group's first recording sessions. The remaining members were forced to record the band's self-titled debut extended play (EP) for Now or Never Records as a four-piece. Shortly after the EP's release, Brantley's position was taken over by John Fulton, who performed on tour with the group later in the year. In 1998, the band released its second EP Under the Running Board, shortly after which Fulton left due to "creative differences". He was replaced by Jesuit guitarist Brian Benoit in time for the recording of the group's full-length debut album Calculating Infinity.

Just before the recording of Calculating Infinity started, Doll was involved in a road traffic accident in which he suffered a spinal fracture which paralyzed him from the chest down; he was forced to step back from the band, and Weinman performed bass on the album. After the album was finished, Doll was replaced by former M.O.D. bassist Jeff Wood, who was credited in the liner notes as "live bass machine". Wood toured with the group until autumn 2000, when he was replaced by Liam Wilson. In April 2001, it was announced that Minakakis had decided to leave DEP to pursue "non-music related endeavors". Before hiring a replacement, the group worked with former Faith No More and Mr. Bungle frontman Mike Patton on the EP Irony Is a Dead Scene, released the following year.

In October 2001, DEP announced that Greg Puciato was the band's new frontman, chosen from "over one hundred" singers who auditioned by submitting a recording of "43% Burnt". The new lineup's first release was Miss Machine, issued in 2004 as the follow-up to Calculating Infinity. Benoit underwent "major surgery" in December that year, and the next April suffered nerve damage in his left hand which rendered him unable to play guitar. He briefly tried to remain in the band on keyboards, but by May had left the band completely. James Love, formerly of Fenix TX, took his place on rhythm guitar at Benoit's own blessing. In 2006, the band released the digital-only EP Plagiarism, which featured "Unretrofied" in addition to four cover versions and a live recording of "The Perfect Design".

During a tour in August 2006, the band performed four shows without lead guitarist Ben Weinman for the first time, who it was announced had flown home to "deal with some personal issues". However, in subsequent interviews Weinman claimed that he had in fact briefly left the group due to various issues, including frustration with an arm injury he had suffered, as well as tensions with bandmates. During the four shows without Weinman, drummer Chris Pennie was offered a role in Coheed and Cambria, however he was contractually obliged to remain with the group. After the shows, Jeff Tuttle replaced Love.

By June 2007, Pennie had officially left the band to join Coheed and Cambria, with drums on the upcoming album Ire Works recorded by Gil Sharone. The following month, Tuttle was officially unveiled as the band's new guitarist, although Weinman recorded all guitars on the album. The following year, rumors began to circulate that Sharone had left the band, although Weinman initially denied them. Early the next year, however, his departure was confirmed and Billy Rymer had taken his place. In 2010, the band released its fourth album Option Paralysis, which was the first to feature contributions from guitarist Tuttle.

In August 2012, at the end of the touring cycle for Option Paralysis, Tuttle announced that he was leaving the band to attend film school. By November, he had been replaced by returning member James Love, although he did not feature on 2013's One of Us Is the Killer as Weinman described him as "a live guy". Love remained until May 2015, when he was replaced by Kevin Antreassian. In 2016, the group released its sixth studio album Dissociation, shortly after which they announced that they would be disbanding after the album's touring cycle. The tour came to an end with three final shows in December 2017, at which former members Dimitri Minakakis, Brian Benoit and Adam Doll, plus Irony Is a Dead Scene vocalist Mike Patton, made special guest appearances.

In December 2023, the band reunited with original frontman Minakakis to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Calculating Infinity. Other returning members are Weinman, Wilson, Love and Rymer.

Members

Current members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsBen Weinmanall releasesDimitri Minakakislead vocalsLiam Wilsonall releases from Irony Is a Dead Scene (2002) onwardsJames LovePlagiarism (2006)Billy Rymerall releases from Option Paralysis (2010) onwards

Former members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsChris Pennie1997–2007Adam DollDerrick Brantley1997rhythm guitarnone John Fulton1997–1998Brian Benoit1998–2005 Jeff Wood1999–2000bassnone Greg Puciato2001–2017lead vocalsJeff Tuttle2006–2012Option Paralysis (2010)Gil Sharone2007–2009Ire Works (2007)Kevin Antreassian2015–2017rhythm guitarDissociation (2016)

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsSean Ingram2001lead vocalsIngram performed with the band at Krazy Fest 4 on July 28, 2001 following the departure of Minakakis.Mike PattonPatton performed at several shows following the departure of Minakakis, and on Irony Is a Dead Scene (2002). He also made guest appearances at one of the bands final shows in December 2017.

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesMarch – April 1997Dimitri Minakakis – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Derrick Brantley – rhythm guitar Adam Doll – bass Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsApril – summer 1997Dimitri Minakakis – lead vocals Ben Weinman – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals Adam Doll – bass Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsThe Dillinger Escape Plan (1997)Summer 1997 – November 1998Dimitri Minakakis – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals John Fulton – rhythm guitar Adam Doll – bass Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsUnder the Running Board (1998) Split with NORA (1998) Split with Drowningman (1999)November 1998 – February 1999Dimitri Minakakis – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Brian Benoit – rhythm guitar Adam Doll – bass Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsFebruary – summer 1999Dimitri Minakakis – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, bass, keyboards, backing vocals Brian Benoit – rhythm guitar Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsCalculating Infinity (1999)Summer 1999 – autumn 2000Dimitri Minakakis – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Brian Benoit – rhythm guitar Jeff Wood – bass Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsAutumn 2000 – April 2001Dimitri Minakakis – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Brian Benoit – rhythm guitar Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsCursed, Unshaven and Misbehavin': Live Infinity (2003) Live Infinity (2019)July 2001Sean Ingram – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Brian Benoit – rhythm guitar Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsSeptember – October 2001Mike Patton – lead vocals, sample, keyboards Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Brian Benoit – rhythm guitar Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboards Adam Doll – keyboards, programming Irony Is a Dead Scene (2002)October 2001 – April 2005Greg Puciato – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Brian Benoit – rhythm guitar Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsMiss Machine (2004)April – May 2005Greg Puciato – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, backing vocals James Love – rhythm guitar Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pennie – drums, percussion Brian Benoit – keyboards, programmingMay 2005 – August 2006Greg Puciato – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals James Love – rhythm guitar Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsPlagiarism (2006)August 2006Greg Puciato – lead vocals James Love – guitar Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsrowspan="2" September 2006 – June 2007Greg Puciato – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Jeff Tuttle – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Chris Pennie – drums, percussion, keyboardsJune 2007 – January 2009Greg Puciato – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Jeff Tuttle – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Gil Sharone – drums, percussionIre Works (2007)January 2009 – August 2012Greg Puciato – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Jeff Tuttle – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Billy Rymer – drums, percussionOption Paralysis (2010)August – November 2012Greg Puciato – lead vocals Ben Weinman – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Billy Rymer – drums, percussionNovember 2012 – May 2015Greg Puciato – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals James Love – rhythm guitar Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Billy Rymer – drums, percussionOne of Us Is the Killer (2013)May 2015 – December 2017Greg Puciato – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Kevin Antreassian – rhythm guitar Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Billy Rymer – drums, percussionDissociation (2016)December 27, 2017: Mike Patton – lead vocals Brian Benoit – rhythm guitar rowspan="3" December 28, 2017: Dimitri Minakakis – lead vocals Brian Benoit – rhythm guitar December 29, 2017: Dimitri Minakakis – lead vocals Adam Doll – keyboards, programming Band inactive January 2018 – November 2023December 2023 – presentDimitri Minakakis – lead vocals Ben Weinman – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals James Love – rhythm guitar Liam Wilson – bass, backing vocals Billy Rymer – drums, percussion

References

External links The Dillinger Escape Plan official website