Dimitri Minakakis (Greek: Δημήτρης Μηνακάκης; born June 16, 1977, in Morristown, New Jersey)[1] is an American musician and graphic designer best known as the original singer of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan from 1997 to 2001. Minakakis is of Greek descent.[2]

Music career

Arcane/The Dillinger Escape Plan

In the mid-1990s, Minakakis was invited by guitarist Ben Weinman, with whom he went to the same school, to form a hardcore punk group because he "looked like a singer" due to his imposing physique.[3] In 1996, they founded the political-oriented act Arcane along with drummer Chris Pennie.[1][4] In 1997, Arcane evolved into The Dillinger Escape Plan with the addition of bassist Adam Doll.

The Dillinger Escape Plan's second EP, 1998's Under the Running Board, and their 1999 debut album, Calculating Infinity, developed a much faster and more technical approach to mathcore and became critically acclaimed landmarks of the genre, and were influential in extreme music circles.[5][6][7] Minakakis' lyrics on Calculating Infinity were based on failing relationships and human insecurity. He has stated that people "always interpret them in weird ways".[8] Its album cover was taken from the inside tubes of an old record player from Minakakis' mother.[9] The band's live shows became increasingly aggressive and reckless, with Minakakis starting to breathe fire.[10] Calculating Infinity went on to sell over 100,000 copies, making Dillinger the best-selling band signed to Relapse Records at the time.[1]

In 2001 and after tours in North America, Europe and Asia, Minakakis left the band on good terms to focus on his family life and began working full-time on graphic arts and design.[1][3] Minakakis remains close with the other band members, including vocalist Greg Puciato.[11]

In 2004, he laid out the cover artwork for the Dillinger album Miss Machine.[11] He went on to provide guest vocals on the track "Fix Your Face" on the 2007 Dillinger Escape Plan album Ire Works and joined them on occasion to perform it.[12] He also created the artwork for the 2010 Dillinger Escape Plan album Option Paralysis.[1]

On December 28 and 29, 2017, Dimitri Minakakis joined The Dillinger Escape Plan for their last two shows at Terminal 5 in New York City.[13]

Collaboration with other artists

In 2003, Minakakis founded and performed a yearlong stint with the defunct band Tokyo with former members of Knives Out from Philadelphia.[1]

In 2011, Minakakis became a member of Argonauts along with members of Municipal Waste and Burnt by the Sun.[14] In 2012, he left the band due to scheduling conflicts.[15]

Musical style and influence

Minakakis' vocal style consists almost entirely of screaming inspired directly from hardcore punk yells.[16][17] His vocal delivery and also The Dillinger Escape Plan's music, particularly on their self-titled EP, have been compared to Tim Singer of the fellow New Jersey metalcore band Deadguy.[18] In a 2000 interview, Minakakis cited Rush, The Beatles and Faith No More as his biggest musical influences.[4]

Discography

With The Dillinger Escape Plan

As a member

As a guest

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Natalie Zina Walschots (June 17, 2013). "The Dillinger Escape Plan | Hazard Warning". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  2. ^ Tsimplakos, Jason (November 25, 2013). "The Dillinger Escape Plan (Ben Weinmann & Greg Puciato)". Noisefull.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Pettigrew, Jason (2008). "Episode #13: Dillinger Escape Plan". Alternative Press (Podcast). Player.fm. Event occurs at 44:03. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Webb, Brian (November 1, 2000). "Dillinger Escape Plan". Theprp.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  5. ^ Mudrian & Stewart-Panko 2009, p. 304.
  6. ^ Rowatt, Christina (November 6, 2017). "Dillinger Escape Plan Interview with Ben Weinman 2017: The End, The Beginning, Mike Patton & More" (video and text). Voidau.com. Event occurs at 27:20. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  7. ^ Cory, Ian (November 17, 2016). "The Dillinger Escape Plan: A Body of Work". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  8. ^ Mudrian & Stewart-Panko 2009, p. 313.
  9. ^ Mudrian & Stewart-Panko 2009, p. 315.
  10. ^ Schafer, Joseph (November 16, 2016). "Interview: The Dillinger Escape Plan". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on November 20, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Dillinger Escape Plan interview". Lambgoat.com. August 14, 2004. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  12. ^ Shultz, Brian (December 18, 2007). "Dillinger Escape Plan / A Life Once Lost | live in New York (2007)". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  13. ^ Nissim, Mayer (December 31, 2017). "The Dillinger Escape Plan play their last ever shows with extra special guests". NME. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  14. ^ Joshua T. Cohen (October 18, 2011). "Dave Witte Interview". Blowthescene.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  15. ^ Neilstein, Vince (January 19, 2012). "ARGONAUTS CHANGE THEIR [DILLINGER ESCAPE] PLAN". MetalSucks. Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  16. ^ "The Dillinger Escape Plan". Warr.org. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  17. ^ Begrand, Adrien (August 8, 2004). "The Dillinger Escape Plan: Miss Machine". PopMatters. Archived from the original on December 27, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  18. ^ "From The Archive: Deadguy – Fixation on a Coworker". Heavyblogisheavy.com. August 31, 2011. Archived from the original on April 20, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2018.

Works cited

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