Dimitri Minakakis

{{short description|American musician and graphic designer (born 1977)}}

Dimitri Minakakis ({{langx|el|Δημήτρης Μηνακάκης}}; born June 16, 1977, in Morristown, New Jersey){{cite web|access-date=March 25, 2018|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/dillinger_escape_plan-hazard_warning|website=Exclaim!|title=The Dillinger Escape Plan {{!}} Hazard Warning|author=Natalie Zina Walschots|date=June 17, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604024717/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/dillinger_escape_plan-hazard_warning|archive-date=June 4, 2015}} is an American musician and graphic designer best known as the original singer of the band The Dillinger Escape Plan from 1997 to 2001.

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.{{cite podcast|last=Pettigrew|first=Jason|date=2008|url=https://player.fm/series/series-1666587/episode-13-dillinger-escape-plan|title=Episode #13: Dillinger Escape Plan|website=Alternative Press|publisher=Player.fm|time=44:03|access-date=March 25, 2018}} In 1996, they founded the political-oriented act Arcane along with drummer Chris Pennie.{{cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/thevault/interviews/dep.shtml|title=Dillinger Escape Plan|last=Webb|first=Brian|date=November 1, 2000|website=Theprp.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330024626/http://www.theprp.com/thevault/interviews/dep.shtml|archive-date=March 30, 2013|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2018}} 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.{{sfn|Mudrian|Stewart-Panko|2009|p=304}}{{cite web|url=http://voidau.com/2017/11/06/dillinger-escape-plan-interview-with-ben-weinman-2017-the-end-mike-patton-more/|title=Dillinger Escape Plan Interview with Ben Weinman 2017: The End, The Beginning, Mike Patton & More|last=Rowatt|first=Christina|website=Voidau.com|format=video and text|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171122151205/http://voidau.com/2017/11/06/dillinger-escape-plan-interview-with-ben-weinman-2017-the-end-mike-patton-more/|archive-date=November 22, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2018|date=November 6, 2017|time=27:20}}{{cite web|url=http://www.invisibleoranges.com/the-dillinger-escape-plan-a-body-of-work/|title=The Dillinger Escape Plan: A Body of Work|last=Cory|first=Ian|website=Invisible Oranges|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119051806/http://www.invisibleoranges.com/the-dillinger-escape-plan-a-body-of-work/|archive-date=November 19, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2018|date=November 17, 2016}} Minakakis' lyrics on Calculating Infinity were based on failing relationships and human insecurity. He has stated that people "always interpret them in weird ways".{{sfn|Mudrian|Stewart-Panko|2009|p=313}} Its album cover was taken from the inside tubes of an old record player owned by Minakakis' mother.{{sfn|Mudrian|Stewart-Panko|2009|p=315}} The band's live shows became increasingly aggressive and reckless, with Minakakis starting to breathe fire.{{cite web|url=http://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-the-dillinger-escape-plan/|title=Interview: The Dillinger Escape Plan|last=Schafer|first=Joseph|website=Invisible Oranges|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120082644/http://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-the-dillinger-escape-plan/|archive-date=November 20, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2018|date=November 16, 2016}} Calculating Infinity went on to sell over 100,000 copies, making Dillinger the best-selling band signed to Relapse Records at the time.

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. Minakakis remains close with the other band members, including vocalist Greg Puciato.{{cite web|url=http://lambgoat.com/features/interviews/39/Dillinger-Escape-Plan-interview|title=Dillinger Escape Plan interview|website=Lambgoat.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206101329/http://lambgoat.com/features/interviews/39/Dillinger-Escape-Plan-interview|archive-date=December 6, 2011|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2018|date=August 14, 2004}}

In 2004, he laid out the cover artwork for the Dillinger album Miss Machine. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/review/6910/dillinger-escape-plan-a-life-once-lost-live-in-new-york|title=Dillinger Escape Plan / A Life Once Lost {{!}} live in New York (2007)|last=Shultz|first=Brian|website=Punknews.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609073631/https://www.punknews.org/review/6910/dillinger-escape-plan-a-life-once-lost-live-in-new-york|archive-date=June 9, 2013|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2018|date=December 18, 2007}} He also created the artwork for the 2010 Dillinger Escape Plan album Option Paralysis.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-dillinger-escape-plan-last-shows-patton-minakakis-doll-2200034|title=The Dillinger Escape Plan play their last ever shows with extra special guests|last=Nissim|first=Mayer|website=NME|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231152325/http://www.nme.com/news/music/the-dillinger-escape-plan-last-shows-patton-minakakis-doll-2200034|archive-date=December 31, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2018|date=December 31, 2017}}

On December 12, 2023, the Dillinger Escape Plan announced their reunion concert with Minakakis.{{cite web | url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/the-dillinger-escape-plan-announces-reunion-concert-with-original-singer-dimitri-minakakis | title=THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN Announces Reunion Concert with Original Singer DIMITRI MINAKAKIS | date=12 December 2023 }}

= 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.

In 2011, Minakakis became a member of Argonauts along with members of Municipal Waste and Burnt by the Sun.{{cite web|url=http://blowthescene.com/interviews/dave-witte-interview.html|title=Dave Witte Interview|author=Joshua T. Cohen|website=Blowthescene.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021022409/http://blowthescene.com/interviews/dave-witte-interview.html|archive-date=October 21, 2011|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2018|date=October 18, 2011}} In 2012, he left the band due to scheduling conflicts.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2012/01/19/argonauts-change-their-dillinger-escape-plan/|title=ARGONAUTS CHANGE THEIR [DILLINGER ESCAPE] PLAN|last=Neilstein|first=Vince|website=MetalSucks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122132048/http://www.metalsucks.net/2012/01/19/argonauts-change-their-dillinger-escape-plan|archive-date=January 22, 2012|url-status=live|access-date=March 26, 2018|date=January 19, 2012}}

Musical style and influence

Minakakis' vocal style consists almost entirely of screaming inspired directly from hardcore punk yells.{{cite web|access-date=March 27, 2018|url=http://www.warr.org/dillinger.html|title=The Dillinger Escape Plan|website=Warr.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513212345/http://www.warr.org/dillinger.html|archive-date=May 13, 2010}}{{cite web|access-date=March 27, 2018|url=https://www.popmatters.com/dillingerescapeplan-miss-2495871464.html|website=PopMatters|title=The Dillinger Escape Plan: Miss Machine|first=Adrien |last=Begrand|date=August 8, 2004|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227064900/https://www.popmatters.com/dillingerescapeplan-miss-2495871464.html|archive-date=December 27, 2017}} 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.{{cite web|access-date=March 26, 2018|url=http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2011/08/31/from-the-archive-deadguy-fixation-on-a-coworker/|title=From The Archive: Deadguy – Fixation on a Coworker|date=August 31, 2011|website=Heavyblogisheavy.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420040205/http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2011/08/31/from-the-archive-deadguy-fixation-on-a-coworker/|archive-date=April 20, 2015}} In a 2000 interview, Minakakis cited Rush, The Beatles and Faith No More as his biggest musical influences.