Dillinger Escape Plan 'Surprised' Deftones Knew They Existed

Posted on Jan 14th 2011 9:00AM by Matt Debenedictis Comments

Ben Trivett, AOL

The recent announcement of a spring tour featuring the Deftones and Dillinger Escape Plan was truly a welcomed surprise. It marked not only this year's first big-ticket, must-see tour, but also the burgeoning question of why these two genre-bending powerhouses haven't shared a stage before. Dillinger guitarist Ben Weinman told Noisecreep this tour has been a long time coming. The timing just didn't work out until now.

"Deftones is one of those bands we've always respected through the years," said Weinman, as he recalled watching the California act claim their rightful spot as one of metal best while DEP were starting to gain notoriety. "We were a band that kind of started right before the whole nu-metal scene took off. It was real tough to survive that era, because we were working against the grain. And people's reintroduction to heavy music was very different from where we came from."

It was this chest-beating, aggro music that the Deftones were being associated with -- but the tag was short-lived. The band embraced lush, yet harsher tones, leaving any rap-rock comparisons in the '90s. "They always maintained their own identity," Weinman said. "Even though we're both coming from two totally different places, I always respect that ethic they had."

At one point, the guitarist was informed the Deftones were very big fans of the band. Needless to say, Weinman was shocked to hear that such a massive band could be found listening to 'Calculating Infinity' before interviews. "I was really surprised that a band that big -- on a mainstream level -- even knew who we were."

Dillinger have always been known for a chaotic live show that regularly ends with members leaving the stage bruised. That has many wondering how such intensity will translate to a big stage. Luckily, the members already conquered that fear.

"Really being able to perform and do the Dillinger thing with honesty and real energy that didn't seem fitting for it was difficult at first," Weinman admittted. "But after playing a few tours and big festivals, we learned that doesn't matter. It's irrelevant. We can bring that attitude to that environment; we don't have to let the environment dictate our attitude."

As a founding member of the band, Weinman has been hurling his guitar as a weapon and leaping off anything climbable for over 13 years now. Even after a shoulder surgery as a result of his antics, he's more intense onstage than he was in basements and dive bars back in the day.

"What has changed is my daily energy," he laughed. "I pretty much drag myself around the house like Frankenstein; everything hurts. I'm a mess all day all the time, but -- and I don't even want to get onstage -- when I hear those sticks click, it just turns on. It's been the greatest thing and the worst thing about Dillinger -- to have that ability to just go out there and get so excited and energized regardless of how I'm feeling or what's going on in my day. But then again, the wear and tear it's put on my life isn't always great."

Watch Dillinger Escape Plan's 'Retrofied' Video

Filed under: Interview, Tours

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