Interview With Guitarist Jeff Tuttle Of The Dillinger Escape Plan
Does DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN even need an intro? Well I guess so if you have been living under a rock and haven’t had the pleasure of listening to anything from their past or present collections of CD’S. These are the guys that bring the word eccentric to life in the music world. They fuse every genre of music into their music. It’s a no holds bars kind of adventure as you voyage through any and all of their discs. But the highlight and probably the most enticing disc to date is the latest one IRE WORKS. This disc was in the works on the heels of drummer Chris Pennie leaving the band to join Coheed???? What??? Anyway they forged on, re-grouped with a talented dynamic drummer in Gil Sharone. The energy, enthusiasm, positive light and sense of unity is higher then in years and they finally have a solid line up which consists of Gil Sharone, Ben Weinman, Liam Wilson, Greg Puciato and Jeff Tuttle.
DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN has had ups and downs, but they forged through, made an amazing record for 2007. They are touring there asses off in 08 and new videos are being released and just a lot of career rising success for this brilliant band. I had a chance to forward Jeff Tuttle some questions about his history, how it is being in DEP and how it feels to be surging into mainstream success!
JEFF, WHEN DID YOU OFFICIALLY BECOME PART OF THE BAND?
It’s been a long road for me. While my first practice with the band was in October of 06, my first show wasn’t until December of 07. Prior to the first show I had been working on the songs as early as April of 06.
JOINING A BAND ALREADY ESTABLISHED WERE THERE EXPECTATIONS FROM YOU AND ALSO THEM FOR WHAT YOU WERE BOTH LOOKING FOR AND HOW DO YOU THINK THE PROCESS OF YOU JOINING WENT?
Dillinger is a band that has a reputation and I knew that going in. I knew that if it was going to work I had to be able to perform on their level. I think that over time we both felt that everything fell into place making it a pretty seamless process.
GIVE ME A SHORT BACKGROUND ON YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU THINK YOU BROUGHT INTO THE BAND TO PUSH THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL?
I’ve been playing guitar for about 15 years and have played in many bands back in Detroit. Capture the Flag, and Heads Will Roll being the most notable. As far as pushing the band to the next level goes I would have to say that a band like Dillinger is already at the top of their game. I’m not sure that I have pushed them further yet, but I will say, is that coming from more of a rock background I bring a different vibe to the stage.
THE ALBUM, IRE WORKS HAS BEEN SAID TO BE A CAREER-DEFINING RECORD AND KERRANG AND REVOLVER PUT IT AS #2 RECORD OF THE YEAR FOR 07. DO YOU FEEL THE BAND IS BECOMING MORE APPRECIATED IN THE “COMMERCIAL” PART OF THE INDUSTRY WITHOUT CONFORMING TO THE “TRENDY ASPECTS” AND STAYING TRUE TO YOURSELVES? IF SO, HOW DOES THAT CHANGE YOUR LIVES?
We just had the opportunity to play on the Conan O’Brien show so yeah, I would say we are becoming more accepted by the mainstream. It’s great because we really haven’t had to sacrifice anything as far as our sound goes. We are writing and playing the music that we want to. It’s really great because we are now being afforded the opportunity to do many other things as well. We’ll just have to wait and see what the future brings.
HOW DOES A BAND LIKE DEP PREPARE FOR AN ON AIR SHOW AND WHAT ARE U LOOKING FORWARD TO?
I’ve been a huge Conan fan for years. I’ve sat in his audience before so it will be an accomplishment to see the show from the other side of the stage. There will not be much preparation. We will simply do what we do and that will be all.
ON THE DISC THE SONGS RANGE FROM ONE GENRE TO ANOTHER. WHAT IS THE DEP RECEIPE FOR SONGWRITING?
There is no recipe at all. That is one of the great things about this band. It’s almost as if anything goes. If we want to write a pop song, we will. If we want to write a noise track, we will. Dillinger has never put limits on its music and that’s what makes us who we are.
PROUDEST MOMENT ON THE RECORD FOR YOU, AND WHY?
I actually didn’t play on this record, but I will say that I was proud to be in the studio while it was being recorded. I am proud to be a part of this band and I stand by this record one hundred percent. To witness it being created was a wonderful thing.
FIX YOUR FACE HAS ORGINIAL VOCALIST DIMITRI MINAKAKIS ON IT. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT AND WHAT WAS THAT DAY IN THE STUDIO LIKE?
One of the great things about technology is that it can allow people to make music on opposite ends of the country. This was the case for FIX YOUR FACE . Dimitri actually recorded his vocals on the east coast and I think it was done in Bens bedroom, if I am not mistaken. The tracks were then dumped into the rest of the mix.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE LEARN FROM YOUR MUSIC AND AS PEOPLE?
I hope that they learn to tolerate and appreciate many different forms of music. Just because you listen to metal doesn’t mean that you can’t listen to hip hop, or country or, whatever you want. There is a lot of music out there and it’s a shame not to give it all a chance.
DO YOU AGREE YOU MAKE MUSIC FOR THE EMOTIONAL VALUE AND TO CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX? IF SO, DO YOU FEEL THE MAJORITY OF THE INDUSTRY AND FANS GET IT?
I feel like there is this imaginary template for what acceptable music should be. For the most part we choose to ignore that template. Some people get it, and many others don’t. However, it seems that when people recognize something about our music that is familiar, something that has a bit of a hook, they want to explore a bit more. They become curious as to what is actually going on inside and after that they are fans for life.
MILK LIZARD..DID BEN REALLY BREAK HIS FOOT IN THE MAKING OF THE VIDEO??HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
Ben actually broke his foot while doing yoga with Jon Bon Jovi. He farted and he slipped and fell and the rest is history.
(LAUGHING) THAT’S CLASSIC!!! SO WHEN CAN WE SEE BLACK BUBBLEGUM VIDEO OUT?
That video will be out in a few months. The MILK LIZARD video is doing very well so we want to give that a chance to shine a bit.
CHARLIE ROSE SPOKE TO YOU GUYS …YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHEN YOU WERE TOLD YOU WERE TALKING TO HIM AND HOW IT ALL WENT?
We didn’t actually speak to Charlie himself. It was a short video bit that was featured on his website. It was amazing to a part of it. We were featured along with politicians and actors and people from all walks of life. It was great to be recognized as a future leader of what we do.
HEARD YOU TOURED WITH MY BOYS IN KILLSWITCH. TO END THE INTERVIEW ON A FUN NOTE . . . ONE ROAD STORY FROM THAT TOUR THAT WAS THE HIGHTLIGHT OF THE TOUR?
We went to see Rambo on opening weekend. We were shirtless with headbands and American flags in the theater. It was a proud day for our country.
CURRENT TOUR PLANS?
We will be in Europe until April then we hit the west coast, Japan and Australia. We are very excited.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS?
Lick the tip
OH THE THOUGHTS…LOL…THIS IS DEP
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