Ben Weinman | |
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Background information | |
Born | Morris Plains, New Jersey, U.S. | August 8, 1975
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Years active | 1997–present |
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Benjamin A. Weinman (born August 8, 1975) is an American musician, most notable for being the lead guitarist and primary songwriter of the mathcore band the Dillinger Escape Plan (DEP). He is the founder and sole constant member of the DEP, he is currently playing rhythm guitar with the crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies and lead guitar in the progressive rock supergroup Giraffe Tongue Orchestra.
Weinman was named one of SPIN Magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time [1] and one of the 20 Most Influential Metal Guitarists Of The Modern Era by VH1. [2] Weinman was named one of Guitar World Magazine's 50 fastest guitar players of all time alongside guitar players such as Eddie Van Halen and Les Paul. [3] He was named one of Guitar World's Top 25 Cult Guitarists in 2009, [4] and one of the top modern Metal Guitar players by MetalSucks. [5] Weinman has also been listed on About.com as an example of today's most important musicians under their definition of "guitarist" and was named one of Alternative Press Magazine's "10 Favorite Guitar Slingers". [6]
Weinman grew up in Morris Plains, New Jersey. [7] He is of Austrian-Jewish and Polish-Jewish/Austrian descent through his grandparents who fled to the United States before World War II. Weinman's family was not actively observant but he grew up "with a real appreciation of the culture of Judaism". [8] He was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) as a child. [9] [10] He later stated that "music saved his life" because it helped him to discover new ways of learning, make friends and it gave him a sense of purpose. [11]
Weinman attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey where he first received a degree in psychology in 2000 and then in corporate communications, a field in which he worked for some time afterwards at a web company. [12] [13]
Weinman played in some bands from New Jersey and in 1996 he founded the hardcore punk band Arcane along with Chris Pennie on drums, Dimitri Minakakis on vocals, Bruce Fulton on bass and Brad McMann on second vocals. He describes the group as a "lost cause" due to their lack of innovation. After a few months, they turned around its style, with Adam Doll replacing Fulton and Derek Brantley taking over second guitar replacing McMann. Eventually, Arcane evolved into the Dillinger Escape Plan in 1997. [13] Weinman gradually shifted his focus on being a full-time musician and eventually quit his corporate job. [12]
Weinman has been involved in all the band's releases since their self-titled debut EP, as well as various other musical works. Weinman has self-managed or has been involved with the management of The Dillinger Escape Plan since the band's inception. Known for his outspoken views on the music industry, he has contributed to various publications and spoken at universities and conferences on the subjects of music production and the music business. [14] Weinman's business techniques and philosophies have been discussed, and featured, in publications such as Forbes , [15] the Huffington Post , [16] and Bloomberg Businessweek . [17]
On February 6, 2012, Weinman appeared on the VH1 series Metal Evolution in the final episode on progressive metal [18] where The Dillinger Escape Plan was quoted[ clarification needed ] as being "the world's most dangerous band".
The band's second full-length album, Miss Machine , was the first album released by record label Relapse Records to make the Billboard charts. Weinman's first full-length studio album with The Dillinger Escape Plan, entitled Calculating Infinity , was listed in the book The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time by Martin Popoff. Calculating Infinity was also named one of "100 best rock albums of all time" by Kerrang magazine, who presented Weinman with a spirit of independence award.
He is currently the manager for two times Grammy award-winning singer Kimbra who he also collaborated with on her second studio album entitled The Golden Echo . [19] [20]
In 2012, Weinman founded the group Giraffe Tongue Orchestra. In 2016, he released the debut album Broken Lines with it. [21]
Weinman collaborated with rapper Wyclef Jean, contributing drums to a song which has not been released yet. [22] Weinman also composed the scores for the films Alien Abduction, Red 48, The Survivalist, and the upcoming film Banshee. [23]
Weinman has performed with acts such as Nine Inch Nails and System of a Down and in 2017, Weinman performed as a live guitarist/bassist for the electronic ensemble The Prodigy. He also joined Suicidal Tendencies as a fill-in guitarist on their summer 2018 tour; [24] Weinman was later confirmed as a full-time member of Suicidal Tendencies, and he is currently working on new material with them. [25]
Ben Weinman cited John McLaughlin, Robert Fripp, Greg Ginn, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Marty Friedman, and Steve Vai as his biggest influences. [26] [27] [28] [29] Weinman acknowledges Apocalypse by McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra as the album that changed his life, stating that "It was a huge part of what led me to make Dillinger". [30]
The guitarist cited experimental band Mr. Bungle as his biggest influence in terms of eclecticism and the irony of his music, as well as in managing tours. Weinman also named its frontman Mike Patton his favorite singer of all time. [31]
At the 2014 NAMM Show ESP announced the release of Weinman's first signature guitar, the BW-1, which is based on the company's PS-1 "Xtone" model. He is also known for frequently playing the ESP H and MH series. Weinman has been seen using a variety of amps in the studio, ranging from a Bogner Uberschall, a Laney GH50L and a Marshall JCM, but he mainly uses Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifiers and a Mark V for live performances. In addition to playing guitar, Weinman occasionally plays a Fender Precision Bass in live performances with The Prodigy.
Ben Weinman is currently not married, but has an adopted son and a daughter. [32] [33] Following the disbandment of The Dillinger Escape Plan, he established an animal sanctuary on his home in New Jersey. [34]
Weinman has supported the You Rock Foundation which seeks to spread awareness about depression and appeared in one of its video campaigns. [35] He has been vocal about his choice not to drink, smoke or use other recreational drugs [36] [37] [38] [39] Weinman follows a pescetarian lifestyle. [40]
Year | Artist or band | Song | Release | Additional information |
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2007 | Benjamin Weinman & Zach Hill [41] | "Untitled" | Available on Ben Weinman's Myspace page [41] | |
2009 | Ephel Duath | "Bark Loud" | Through My Dog's Eyes | Contributed programming |
2012 | For Sleeping or Jumping [42] | "Beardrops" | Dead Languages | Contributed synth and drum programming |
2013 | Ben Weinman and Kim Thayil | "Nanna Banana" | Mansoor, Weinman, & Abasi EP | Part of Guitar World's subscription offer. [43] |
Ben Weinman and Dweezil Zappa | "Vices" | |||
2014 | Kimbra | "Sugar Lies" | The Golden Echo (Deluxe edition) | Contributed guitar |
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources .(April 2018) |
Year | Artist or band | Song | Album |
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2007 | The Secret Handshake | "Too Young (Dillinger Escape Plan Remix)" | Summer of '98 |
2008 | Thrice | "Digital Sea (Dillinger Remix)" | Come All You Weary |
2008 | Lil Wayne | "Mr. Carter (Go Harder Remix)" | |
2009 | Candiria | "Paradigm Shift (Ben Weinman Ignite Remix)" | Toying With the Insanities: Volume II |
2009 | Bring Me the Horizon | "No Need For Introductions, I've Read About Girls Like You on the Backs of Toilet Doors (Benjamin Weinman)" | Suicide Season: Cut Up! |
2010 | Violent Soho | "Jesus Stole My Girlfriend (Dillinger Escape Plan Remix)" | |
2010 | Iwrestledabearonce | "Tastes Like Kevin Bacon (The Benjamin Weinman Remix)" | It's All Remixed |
2011 | As I Lay Dying | "Wrath Upon Ourselves (Benjamin Weinman Remix)" | Decas |
2011 | Whitechapel | "This Is Exile (Ben Weinman remix)" | Recorrupted |
2012 | Lacuna Coil | "Trip the Darkness (Ben Weinman remix)" | Underworld Awakening (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
Suicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash band formed in 1980 in Venice, California, by vocalist Mike Muir. The band has undergone various lineup changes, with Muir as the only remaining original member. Their current lineup includes Muir, guitarists Dean Pleasants and Ben Weinman, bassist Tye Trujillo and drummer Jay Weinberg. Notable musicians who have contributed to the band's studio or live activities include guitarists Rocky George and Mike Clark; bassists Louiche Mayorga, Robert Trujillo, Ra Díaz, Josh Paul and Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner; and drummers Amery Smith, Jimmy DeGrasso, Brooks Wackerman, David Hidalgo Jr., Thomas Pridgen, Ron Bruner, Eric Moore, Dave Lombardo, Brandon Pertzborn, Greyson Nekrutman and session musician Josh Freese.
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American metalcore band. The band was formed in 1997 in Morris Plains, New Jersey by guitarist Ben Weinman, bassist Adam Doll, vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, and drummer Chris Pennie. The band's use of dissonance, odd time signatures, polyrhythms and unconventional drum patterns became a staple of their sound, although later albums incorporated more melody, and influences from a range of genres. The band's lineup shifted numerous times throughout its existence; by the time the group dissolved, Weinman was the only remaining founding member. The final lineup also included longtime members Liam Wilson on bass, Greg Puciato as lead vocalist, and Billy Rymer on drums, alongside then-newcomer Kevin Antreassian on rhythm guitar.
Calculating Infinity is the debut studio album by American metalcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan. Recorded at Trax East Recording Studio in South River, New Jersey, it was produced by engineer Steve Evetts with the band's guitarist Ben Weinman and drummer Chris Pennie, and released on September 28, 1999, by Relapse Records. Calculating Infinity is the band's only full-length album to feature original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, who left the band in 2001.
Dazzling Killmen was an American math rock band from the St. Louis, Missouri area. Formed in 1990, the group issued four singles and two full-lengths before officially ending in 1995, with a majority of it released through the independent label Skin Graft Records. Taking influence from hardcore punk and jazz music, the band has been noted by critics to have helped influence genres such as math rock and post-metal.
Mathcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk and metalcore influenced by post-hardcore, extreme metal and math rock that developed during the 1990s. Bands in the genre emphasize complex and fluctuant rhythms through the use of irregular time signatures, polymeters, syncopations and tempo changes. Early mathcore lyrics were addressed from a realistic worldview and with a pessimistic, defiant, resentful or sarcastic point of view.
Gregory John Puciato is an American musician best known as the former lead vocalist and lyricist of the metalcore band the Dillinger Escape Plan. In addition to being a solo artist, he currently fronts Better Lovers and the Black Queen, and is a member of Killer Be Killed, in which he also plays guitar. He also performs backup vocals on Jerry Cantrell’s solo tours. In 2018, Puciato and visual artist Jesse Draxler co-founded the art collective and record label Federal Prisoner.
Dimitri Minakakis is an American musician and graphic designer best known as the original singer of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan from 1997 to 2001.
Thomas Armon Pridgen is an American drummer, best known for his role as the drummer of The Mars Volta from 2006 until 2009. He is touring with rapper Residente and is the drummer for hardcore punk band Trash Talk, as well as his own project The Memorials. In 2023 he joined Fever 333.
Ire Works is the third studio album by American band the Dillinger Escape Plan. The album was released in the UK on November 5, 2007, in the US on November 13 through Relapse Records, and in Japan on November 28. The album was their last album on Relapse. The album is Gil Sharone's only album with the band and their first without founding drummer Chris Pennie. Lead guitarist Ben Weinman plays guitar alone on the record, due to Brian Benoit's injury. The album is described as mathcore, post-hardcore, and metalcore, incorporating a wide variety of influences including electronic music.
The discography of The Dillinger Escape Plan, an American mathcore band, consists of six studio albums, six extended plays (EPs), two split EPs, eight singles, one video album, 15 music videos and seven other appearances. Formed in Morris Plains, New Jersey in 1997, the band originally featured vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, guitarists Ben Weinman and Derek Brantley, bassist Adam Doll and drummer Chris Pennie; Brantley left after two shows and was replaced briefly by touring guitarist John Fulton, who himself left in 1998. In 1997 the band released its self-titled debut EP on New Jersey independent label Now or Never Records, after which they were signed by Relapse Records who issued their second EP Under the Running Board in 1998. The EP charted on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 194.
Jeff Tuttle is an American musician and filmmaker, best known as the former guitarist and backing vocalist of the mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, for which he played from 2007 to 2012. He is noted for his energetic live performances.
Option Paralysis is the fourth studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on March 23, 2010. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse Records, the band released the album through Party Smasher Inc., their own new imprint in collaboration with French record label Season of Mist. It marks The Dillinger Escape Plan's first release to feature Billy Rymer on drums, since Gil Sharone left the band in September 2008 due to the frequent touring schedule and to focus on his brother's band Stolen Babies.
Billy Rymer is an American musician, most notable for being the drummer for The Dillinger Escape Plan from 2009 until the band played its final shows in December 2017, and again since December 2023.
One of Us Is the Killer is the fifth studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on May 14, 2013. One of Us Is the Killer is the band's second release under their Party Smasher, Inc. imprint. The CD was released as a standard version that can be picked up at most record stores, and a limited version with a scratch-off cover that can only be bought at Best Buy containing two bonus tracks.
Dissociation is the sixth and final album by American metal band The Dillinger Escape Plan. It was released on October 14, 2016 by Party Smasher Inc. Alongside the announcement of the album, the band revealed it would be their last, breaking up after the album's touring cycle.
Giraffe Tongue Orchestra is an American rock supergroup. It consists of Alice in Chains vocalist William DuVall, guitarist Brent Hinds of Mastodon, lead guitarist Ben Weinman of the Dillinger Escape Plan, drummer Thomas Pridgen of the Mars Volta, and bassist Pete Griffin of Dethklok and Zappa Plays Zappa. The band released their debut LP, Broken Lines, on September 23, 2016.
Get Your Fight On! is the second EP by the American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, which was released on March 9, 2018.
Party Smasher Inc. is an independent record label founded by Ben Weinman of the Dillinger Escape Plan in 2009. In May 2016, Party Smasher partnered with Cooking Vinyl for global distribution. The label is named after the Dillinger Escape Plan song of the same name on their 2007 album Ire Works.
I do not know if the other people in the band would consider themselves straightedge, I can pretty much say I am. But I just always have been that way. Everyone has a different rule of what straightedge is so it is difficult to say.
I've always been extremely proud of the fact that Dillinger is what it is and it's never been with the use of any drugs. I feel like that's been extremely important for the development of this band. We've all been straight edge, and I still am to this day.