Ben Weinman Looks Back on Dillinger Escape Plan: "I Don't Miss It" | Revolver

Ben Weinman Looks Back on Dillinger Escape Plan: "I Don't Miss It"

Founding guitarist reflects on mathcore trailblazers' legacy and demise
dillinger escape plan show 3, Stephen Odom
Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman, NYC, December 29th
photograph by Stephen Odom

Earlier this week, former Dillinger Escape Plan drummer Billy Rymer posted what appeared to be a potential setlist for a DEP reunion at Furnace Fest 2023 — which would be the incendiary mathcore band's first show in six years. Needless to say, the metal internet got a little overexcited. Founding guitarist Ben Weinman — now of Suicidal Tendencies — soon shot down the rumors.

"I am so glad to see people so excited to talk Dillinger," he told Metal Injection. "Really heartwarming. But I can officially confirm that Dillinger Escape Plan will not be playing Furnace Fest. There has been no discussions of a reunion at this time. Apparently, Billy had a dream that we were playing and this was the setlist. He must have eaten before bed again. I told him not to do that."

In a new interview for Revolver's "Songs for Black Days" podcast, Weinman looks back on Dillinger and opensup about his current feelings about the band. Based on what he says, a reunion does not seem imminent, despite fan enthusiasm for it.

"I'm proud of Dillinger [but] I feel that it was not really healthy to stay in it," he tells "Songs for Black Days" host Christina Rowatt. "I feel like we were not going to create music that was as inspired if we didn't intentionally and purposely end in a way that was consistent with how we lived in that band and created that band and wrote music and stuff from the beginning. Like I said, the intention, like, everything has a purpose. So I don't miss it. Honestly. But I'm very proud of it."

He also speaks to his relationship with longtime Dillinger vocalist Greg Puciato, who has since embarked on a solo career and toured as a member of Jerry Cantrell's solo band, among other projects. "I'm glad he's doing cool stuff and making cool stuff," Weinman says. "He's out there in L.A. doing his thing. That's where he is. It's not really for me. We have different values and different ways of life. And that's OK. I think we have different values and different ways of doing things and different loyalties and things like that. I'm just the same guy as I always was. I have the same friends from when I was a kid. I still live in New Jersey. I still hang out with parents. I still feel the same way. I feel the same person that sat and made those albums in his room with a 4-track.

He adds, "I think with me, similar to Mike in Suicidal, I've probably hurt the band from succeeding as much as I helped the band succeed. You know, that's something that, when Q Prime was managing Suicidal Tendencies, and they were trying to bring them up with the Metallica and the thrash bands that were doing well, the guy's so stubborn about his ways that they realized ... I think someone there said, 'You are simultaneously the thing that will make this band huge, and also make the band never huge.'

"You know, I've always felt that what you say no to defines you more than what you say yes to. And so, yeah, I mean, I feel like I stuck to my guns. And I tried really hard to keep and maintain the values of the band from the beginning."

Watch the full interview and stream the podcast below.