Ben Weinman

Last updated

Ben Weinman
Ben Weinman 2022.png
Weinman at Hellfest in 2022
Background information
Born (1975-08-08) August 8, 1975 (age 48)
Morris Plains, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • programming
  • keyboards
  • bass
Years active1997–present
Member of
Weinman performing with The Dillinger Escape Plan in 2008 The Dillinger Escape Plan-25.jpg
Weinman performing with The Dillinger Escape Plan in 2008

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.

Contents

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]

Early life

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]

Career

The Dillinger Escape Plan

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.

Other projects

Weinman and Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan PuciatoWeinman1.jpg
Weinman and Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan

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]

Influences and guitar technique

Weinman at Wacken Open Air in 2017 The Dillinger Escape Plan - Wacken Open Air 2017 11.jpg
Weinman at Wacken Open Air in 2017

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]

Equipment

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.

Personal life

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]

Discography

With The Dillinger Escape Plan

With Giraffe Tongue Orchestra

Collaborations

YearArtist or bandSongReleaseAdditional information
2007Benjamin 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
2012For Sleeping or Jumping [42] "Beardrops"Dead LanguagesContributed synth and drum programming
2013Ben Weinman and Kim Thayil "Nanna Banana" Mansoor, Weinman, & Abasi EPPart of Guitar World's subscription offer. [43]
Ben Weinman and Dweezil Zappa "Vices"
2014 Kimbra "Sugar Lies" The Golden Echo (Deluxe edition)Contributed guitar

Remixes

YearArtist or bandSongAlbum
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)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suicidal Tendencies</span> American crossover thrash band

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dillinger Escape Plan</span> American metalcore band

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.

<i>Calculating Infinity</i> 1999 studio album by the Dillinger Escape Plan

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.

<i>Irony Is a Dead Scene</i> 2002 EP by The Dillinger Escape Plan with Mike Patton

Irony Is a Dead Scene is the third EP by American mathcore band, The Dillinger Escape Plan. It was recorded with Mike Patton and released on August 27, 2002, through Epitaph Records.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Puciato</span> American musician

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 previously provided vocals in the Black Queen and Killer Be Killed, the latter of which he also played guitar for. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Pridgen</span> American drummer (born 1983)

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.

<i>Ire Works</i> 2007 studio album by the Dillinger Escape Plan

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dillinger Escape Plan discography</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Tuttle</span> American musician and filmmaker

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.

<i>Option Paralysis</i> 2010 studio album by The Dillinger Escape Plan

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Rymer</span> American drummer

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.

<i>One of Us Is the Killer</i> 2013 studio album by The Dillinger Escape Plan

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.

<i>Dissociation</i> (album) 2016 studio album by The Dillinger Escape Plan

Dissociation is the sixth 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giraffe Tongue Orchestra</span> American rock supergroup

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.

<i>Get Your Fight On!</i> 2018 EP by Suicidal Tendencies

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.

References

  1. Nothing found for Articles Spins 100 Greatest Guitarists All Time?page=3
  2. "20 Most Influential Metal Guitarists Of The Modern Era". VH1.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  3. "50 Fastest Guitarists of All Time". Guitar World. Future US, Inc. November 20, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  4. di Perna, Alan; Gill, Chris; Grow, Kory; Lalaina, Joe; Scapelliti, Christopher (May 26, 2009). "Cult Leaders". Guitar World. Future US, Inc. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  5. "#13: Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan)". MetalSucks.net. May 18, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  6. "Features - Alternative Press". AltPress.com. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  7. Garcia, Alfa. "Morris Plains-based metal rockers The Dillinger Escape Plan will perform in Manhattan", The Record (Bergen County) , March 11, 2010. Accessed May 19, 2016. "Wilson and bandmates Greg Puciato, Jeff Tuttle, Billy Rymer and Ben Weinman (founding member and Morris Plains native) spend their performances dodging head stocks, guitars and body parts, at the same time challenging their listeners to participate."
  8. Brinn, David (October 2010). "Fastest guitar in the West". The Jerusalem Post . London (published November 1, 2010). Archived from the original on December 10, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  9. Von Bader, David (December 15, 2016). "Dillinger Escape Plan's Swan Song". Premier Guitar . p. 3. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  10. Gould, Eli (May 24, 2013). "One For The Kill". themusic.com.au. Archived from the original on December 29, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  11. Diana C. Hereld (October 6, 2014). "How Music Saved My Life". To Write Love on Her Arms . Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  12. 1 2 Hartmann 2016, 1:17.
  13. 1 2 Natalie Zina Walschots (June 17, 2013). "The Dillinger Escape Plan | Hazard Warning". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on December 10, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  14. Loyola University Film and Music Industry Studies (July 15, 2011). "Arts & Entertainment Industry Forum: Ben Weinman of The Dillinger Escape Plan". Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2017 via YouTube.
  15. Rolli, Bryan (December 29, 2017). "The Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman On 20 Years Of Self-Made Metal". Forbes . New York City, United States (published December 30, 2017). Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  16. Ph.D, Michael Friedman (June 10, 2016). "Ben Weinman and the Business of Responsible Creativity". HuffingtonPost.com. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  17. "What a New Jersey Metal Band Knows About Working From Home". Bloomberg.com. March 15, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2017 via www.Bloomberg.com.
  18. playlist.jhtml Archived February 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  19. Dwyer, Kevin (January 25, 2018). "Interview: Kimbra". soundofboston.com. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  20. "Kimbra Talks Collaborating with The Dillinger Escape Plan". Geargods.net. May 4, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  21. Giraffe Tongue Orchestra Feat. Alice in Chains, Mastodon, The Dillinger Escape Plan Members: 'Crucifixion' Song, blabbermouth.net, June 19, 2016
  22. Hartmann 2016, 10:48.
  23. Childers, Chad (September 11, 2020). "Ex-Dillinger Escape Plan Guitarist Scoring Upcoming Action Thriller 'Red 48′". Loudwire . Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  24. "Suicidal Tendencies Recruits The Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman For Upcoming Shows". Blabbermouth.net . July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  25. "Dillinger Escape Plan Guitarist Tracking With Suicidal Tendencies". Loudwire.com . March 12, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  26. Pasbani, Robert (2004). "THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN Interview 2004| Metal Injection" (video). Metal Injection (published December 29, 2014). Event occurs at 3:13-3:34 (influences), 3:36-3:44 (focus on songwriting), 3:54-4:19 (voter registration). Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  27. "Art of Shredding: Benjamin Weinman". Guitar World (published March 4, 2011). December 2010. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  28. Massie, Andrew (July 15, 2015). "The Rockpit interviews | Ben Weinman | Dillinger Escape Plan". The Rockpit . Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  29. "Ben Weinman Hangs Out With His Idol Marty Friedman in 'Metalhead to Head'" (video). Fuse . www.fm.tv. June 3, 2014. Event occurs at 2:30. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  30. Weinman, Ben (July 22, 2014). "The Record That Changed My Life: Ben Weinman of the Dillinger Escape Plan Discusses 'Apocalypse' by the Mahavishnu Orchestra". Guitar World . Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  31. Mazzeo, Adriano (July 11, 2019). "Mr. Bungle, rock alternativo experimental (Primera parte)". Mondo Sonoro (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  32. Rowatt, Christina (November 6, 2017). "Dillinger Escape Plan Interview with Ben Weinman 2017: The End, The Beginning, Mike Patton & More" (video). voidau.com. Event occurs at 12:50-15:31. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  33. Spajic, Petar (October 16, 2017). "Ben Weinman of The Dillinger Escape Plan on The MetalSucks Podcast #210". MetalSucks (Podcast). Event occurs at 50:39-50:44. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  34. "Ep58 - Ben Weinman". Rocknrollbeerguy.libsyn.com (Podcast). April 24, 2018. Event occurs at 2:52-4:05. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  35. Penola, Joseph (November 25, 2014). "The You Rock Foundation" (video). Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  36. Hesselink, Jasper (April 2005). "The Dillinger Escape Plan". www.lordsofmetal.nl. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2018. 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.
  37. Teitelman, Bram (January 24, 2012). "Exclusive: The Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman – "Drugs Are Not Part Of Our Creative Process"". www.metalinsider.net. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018. 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.
  38. Hartmann 2016, 0:55.
  39. Al-Sardar, Ali. "5 Songs That Helped Ben Weinman Through Dark Times". Rock Informer. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  40. Hartmann 2016, 1:06.
  41. 1 2 "Benjamin Weinman - Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  42. "For Sleeping or Jumping Hook Up With Dillinger Escape Plan Guitarist on 'Beardrops' — Song Premiere". NoiseCreep.com. March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  43. "Preview Exclusive New Tracks by Tosin Abasi, Misha Mansoor, Ben Weinman, Kim Thayil and Dweezil Zappa". GuitarWorld.com. August 16, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2017.

Sources