Greg Puciato on Dillinger Escape Plan Reunion, Psychedelics, Killer Be Killed & Alice in Chains

Greg Puciato delves deep into creativity, calcification & the Muse, the dark final years of Dillinger Escape Plan, the synchronous world of Killer Be Killed alongside Max Cavalera, Troy Sanders of Mastodon and Ben Koller of Converge, singing the Layne parts with Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, the state of the world and humanity, how psychedelic experiences have shifted his perspective, creating substance and nourishment in a world full of instantly gratifying candy, why drums are everything and so much more. Go deep in the Void.

[@aptkunltd]

My only regret is that this wasn't on video. Great interview

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

I feel the same way! Thank you

[@jaypayton8690]

Listening to Greg talk about DEP sounds EXACTLY like what Mike Patton was saying about Faith No More's breakup in 2001. "I'm so glad to be done with it. I'm free now and can do whatever I want. I'm gonna release 10 albums by 10 bands. It was too much to deal with. I wasted so much time on tour playing the same songs every night. I need to do other stuff".....5 years later Mike reunites with FNM and says they are getting along better than ever.....Mark down the DEP reunion for 2025/2026

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

Agree wholeheartedly.

[@musicwizarddj]

I completely agree!

[@m.9212]

Tearing up!

[@maxthescarecrow4038]

@synergy Not even just a vocalist. I know Ben is still jumping on stage with Suicidal Tendencies but Dillinger was a ball of chaos that left them all with significant wear and tear. Honestly, even they are my all time favourite band and I regret getting into them late (while also being from a country they never played in), I'd rather honestly have them stay this mythical thing that burned out at just the right time than have them reunite, not unable to perform in the same way they once did or even worse - endanger themselves. They are all perfectly capable of delivering more music to us without reuniting. Although I would love to hear those Dissociation b-sides one day. That's probably the only thing I would want for them to do as they did mention a possibility of releasing them one day.

[@antitheziz717]

My buddy kept saying that.....but in some recent interviews it appears the already tenuous relationship between Ben and Greg has NOT improved with time.....mostly on Ben's part. I love what he has done, the godfather of my favorite band of all time, but the guy IS quite a tight ass and it seems since Greg adopted a bit of a rock star lifestyle the two ideologically butt heads too hard for a reunion to ever be a reality

[@binnocorp]

Just when I’ve exhausted every recent interview I could find, this monumental interview turns up! Even though I’m not a musician I find Greg’s philosophy on life so relatable and inspiring

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

I walked away feeling the same way!

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

GREG PUCIATO PODCAST CONTENT GUIDE: 1:30 A transcendent journey, the book translating the dark last years of Dillinger Escape Plan. 6:49 Life rips right now. 8:56 Dillinger in hindsight, Bill Murray and Han Solo, making peace. 11:57 Creating in an extreme place, the Muse and transcending breakdowns and intensity via art. 17:26 The power of “fuck you energy” & existential dread & aggressive immersion in art. 25:35 Max Cavalera, Troy Sanders, Ben Koller and synchronistic connections. 28:32 All of us being the same person / energy blob manifesting itself. 31:08 Psychedelic experiences and shifts of consciousness beyond the stifling powers behind organised religion and capitalism. 39:45 Vocal evolution, emotional impact & creative relationships. 45:12 Being a rhythmic person, from the age of three in Baltimore through to making songs with every Dillinger drummer and then Ben Koller in Killer Be Killed. 52:22 Treating people like idiots, Joe Rogan’s impact and the majesty of interviews like Johnny Carson with Richard Pryor. 1:01:15 Being fluid and aggressively avoiding calcification. Psychedelic experiences and love. 1:09:18 The symptom not the illness, the Civil War & more. 1:26:45 The Roaring Twenties and the new Renaissance. 1:31:30 Emotional weight, art and dedication, going solo. 1:45:10 Singing with Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, Troy Sanders magic, going up against the best. 1:55:56 Resilience and scar tissue.

[@xcpointx]

1:02:35 Link to the podcast with Throbbing Gristle that you mention here please?

[@m.Diesel]

Great interview. Greg is so under rated! Dillinger is my all time favorite and everything else he touches is magic.

[@lampross.6957]

He is considered to be the best contemporary modern metal frontman and vocalist, how is he underrated? Nobody fucks with Greg

[@danutd94]

Christina continues to blow me away with what a fantastic interviewer she is. This was such an interesting conversation, a joy to listen to!

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

Thank you!!

[@AudioBookKnowledge]

Greg Puciato is super interesting, love his interviews

[@AJamesDarkly220]

He for real echoed so many things I feel right now about America and politics. Very refreshing and comforting to know I'm not alone with my thoughts. Thank you for the interview!

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

I don't think I've ever gotten this deep in an interview and stoked to know you're getting something real out of it hey!

[@ashleytrismegistus6595]

One of the best interviews I’ve ever listened to.

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

So glad you enjoyed!

[@motorhead412]

i love Greg's manic energy. it makes for an entertaining listen

[@LabGoats]

Anxiety's a helluva drug

[@stellai06]

I love how Greg is angry. I can relate to that feeling. All lot of good reasons to be angry.

[@ThatShittyGamer]

Always making the best interviews. Interesting stuff

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

Aw thanks man! I love doing it heapssss

[@margot246]

What an absolute gem of an interview. Fantastic conversation, so candid, in depth and personal. Thank you!

[@danrex8]

Most inspirational Interview I've ever listened too

[@FaithRTronz]

I came here to figure out how to properly say Greg’s last name, but I listened to the entirety of this interview over several days. This was so beautifully organic and I was already fascinated by Greg as an artist, but this really solidified my respect for him as a human being. I cannot WAIT to listen to the rest of your interviews! Thank you for all that you BP do! ❤️

[@joshhuatheg3m3ni5]

Thanks to Mr Puciato for doing the interview and thank you for the show Christina! Loved it!

[@dannycheesums]

I relate so much to what Greg says about the whole artistic journey and how that relates to the self. I’ve had incredible moments seeing Dillinger live, and I always respected that Greg and the guys put one million per cent into every single song and every single studio release. Hyped to check out some of his newer shit off the back of this interview 🤘

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

Awesome. He'll be releasing more this year!

[@dannycheesums]

@@TheVoidwithChristina I will check it out. Christina you’re an awesome interviewer too 🤘

[@fabiankeller831]

HELL YEAH! What an episode

[@Cazaq]

This was a great listen. Thanks, Christina!

[@chevin79]

Great work. Thanks for this Christina.

[@SarethGavage]

Awesome interview with loads of stuff to plunder over a prolonged listen. Certainly gave me some motivation to keep creating and carrying on even though stuff ain't always 'commercially viable'. Will defo check out more :)

[@xherdann]

Thank you Christina, i love Greg so much

[@JakeRoy96]

So glad I discovered your content, you’re a great interviewer and I love your choice in guests

[@IMBALDGUY]

Dope interview! Greg is the man!

[@ryallen32]

this is amazing. thank you,

[@xeraph02]

Greg needs to do some deep existential philosophy podcast.

[@iWanderthewastes]

I'm so happy I found your channel ❤

[@bottlemanic]

Really really enjoyed this

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

Awesome!!

[@StephaneBourque]

Very interesting discussion! I really enjoyed this! 🤘😎🔥

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

Thank you! I did too!

[@adamturner1563]

I was supposed to hear this conversation. Lifes a weirdo. The part about fusing yourself to someone, and they leave or pass away, I think about that alot. This was awesome to listen to. Who knew, after years and years of taking illicit substances, some of the answers where on here all along.. hahaha. 🖖

[@lampross.6957]

Christina thank you for your great insight. You are a sweetheart and beautiful human

[@christsantalis]

great artist!

[@JFlemmigan]

Epic interview, thank you. Like you both said, people crave long form substance like this, not ADHD clickbait.

[@dillinguuur79]

Good stuff Christina 👍

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

Thank you 😁

[@recyclingonly5743]

Tremendous

[@shadowsoldiernz]

Stumbled across this and it's an awesome interview! F#ck Content is so good too. Cheers Christina! Subscribed \m/

[@ryansmith522]

Like most of my heroes in music, I disagree with his political views, but basically see eye to eye with him in every other aspect. Great work by Christina by not interrupting him or redirecting the conversation to keep with a specific format. A beautiful organic conversation. Love and respect to you both. 🖤🤘

[@adrianthornton-mark3219]

I love this guy

[@andyhardin1041]

Greg is a huge inspiration to me, I’m glad you got him on here!

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

Me too! Had no idea we'd get mad deep on things, always a cool surprise! I find really cool music is quite often made by really excellent people, and the fans are the same level of awesome. Felt pretty inspired myself!

[@drhall343]

When you stare into the void, the void interviews Greg Puciato.

[@Angels_Are_Real]

💎

[@tinfoilhatoverlord]

Amazing podcast. Agree with Greg's Moderate views on the current state of society. PS: psilocybin changed my life. Seen energies and a life before our existence. Maybe we are the aliens?

[@Weareconnected167]

Christina rules 🥰

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

You rule! Thank you for being awesome.

[@aptkunltd]

Compound boss!

[@Weareconnected167]

@@TheVoidwithChristina nah I’m jus some dude.. thanks though

[@underscoreisnotvalid]

Great interview. Honest and sincere! It was really interesting to hear such an in depth interview with him, his talk about creativity and battling your own ego and watering down of ideas were really cool to hear someone express those things so precisely. But man greg has some pretty extreme views! for someone talking about being against fascism and totalitarianism, saying that people that dont agree with him on certain topics such as abortion shouldnt even be allowed to talk about it? I hope im not strawmanning or misunderstanding him, but man, not wanting to even allow people to express their opinion on certain topics is about as totalitarian as it gets, and is exactly the thing he claims to be against. He sounds weirdly dogmatic about this stuff

[@jackmaguire1158]

I think Greg and Ben together might be the reincarnation of Heidegger

[@peterbloodhenderson2723]

greg sounds like the dude you do bumps with in the bathroom at the club

[@MikeHoncho610]

You’re so edgy bro.

[@underscoreisnotvalid]

Spot on

[@immortallix]

Guess I shouldn't be surprised yet another musician I listen to has mainstream political views

[@BataraKado]

ancient jail talk .... its a beautiful thing.. bahahahah

[@itsameyoshio]

It's kinda annoying how she goes YEAH.... YEAH..... YEAHH!!!! all the time.

[@Heyyodudemanbro]

Greg just compared finding the cure for cancer to the government paying student debt. That’s the dumbest thing Iv ever herd him say.

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

The point is, a lot of Americans are so self-involved and self-interested that even if you found a cure for cancer, someone would say: well my family member died of cancer, why the hell should ANYONE get the cure if I didn't? That's a repeated refrain when it comes to student debt, which is utterly ridiculous. The comment Greg made was about the ugliness of the rugged individualism that many Americans have compared to countries like Australia, many in Europe, where we expect our taxes to provide a certain level of social security, a safety net when we need it, interest-free student loans and government subsidised healthcare. We WANT others in our community to have access to things like that because we believe a democratic government in a wealthy country has a responsibility to provide it, and that is what our taxes are for. Your whole abject poverty / grotesque wealth thing brings out some fairly ugly attitudes dude. Seriously. Wouldn't want to live under the cold-hearted American regime that gives no economic mobility. Without subsidised education, healthcare, etc ... there is no economic mobility. In countries like mine, you can go from blue collar to white collar in a generation. I have a Master's degree I have a lifetime to pay off, something an American with my background would never have access to. If I go to the emergency room, even with no insurance, it is free. If I lose my job, my country pays me a living wage. If I start at the bottom, minimum wage is $15, a living wage. You have every right to share the opinion of the person we mentioned - that if you don't get something, no one deserves it, but I don't really understand what the problem is. I don't get how many of you fight and vote against your own interests, so perhaps this is yet another thing that the rest of the world will never get about Americans. Also it is "heard" not "herd." Thanks for listening regardless, if you want to talk about this further, happy to - lets just always be respectful.

[@Heyyodudemanbro]

@@TheVoidwithChristina I think the repeated refrain greg spoke about was pretty silly when random people get cancer and dumb people pick majors in college that have no market in society so you expect taxes to pay for that? people should be accountable for their own faults and mistakes in life “progressives” are very emotional and want a crutch, and a helping hand from big brother now more than ever for every mistake weather it be student debt, abortion or even getting fired from your job, why would I ever strive to be rich and successful if the government gives me a salary who cares about this job if I get fired big brothers got me. I don’t buy into your fairytale life that why can’t america be more empathetic like these other amazing countries, I call B.S on your health care system because it has a long waiting list for surgeries. Unless you have insurance. doctors from all over the world work hard to come to america to make good money. America is for the hard working. Just like my parents came from Ecuador for a better life, which they had and gave me. And now I work hard to play hard. That’s the game of life. I think it’s weird when society tries to make everything equal and call it empathy, it’s like you don’t believe bad people exist and take full advantage. And how un punk rock it is to say government helps me with healthcare, schooling and giving me a salary. What if you say I got myself good insurance because I got a bad ass job, cuz I got a bad ass scholarship, cause I worked hard cause I’m a bad ass. Anyone can do it in America black, white, man and women. In the words of Britney “you better work bitch”

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

@@Heyyodudemanbro I'm really glad you're doing so well, but you just perfectly illustrated exactly what I said - self-involved, self-interested, rugged individualism that doesn't give a fuck about anyone but how well you yourself are doing. Good luck with the pandemic that rages through your country because you don't care about each other. People who go to medical school have to pay student fees too and I'll always be proud my country thinks having an educated population matters. You are completely deluded if you think that kind of success is available to everyone. It isn't. That's the ugliest thing about America. So much is out of reach and always will be. It is pretty sad, but hey. You're doing so well, who cares about anyone else?

[@Heyyodudemanbro]

That is the victim mentality that will never be beneficial to a society. And I or America should not play into.

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

I'm no victim. I'm incredibly lucky, but I know lots of people who aren't. Nothing more to say because that level of blinders can't be spoken through. Zero point in continuing this conversation. I will never want to let people burn because I'm so successful and our values will never ever align. Hope you do so well forever that you never have to care about those less fortunate. Keep thinking they're less than you and didn't work hard enough. My country has a far better quality of life and so do most wealthy countries. The level of homelessness and hunger and gross inequality isn't something I would want to be a part of. If you can't see that, thanks again for reinforcing my point about being self-interested. I believe in plenty about free markets and the opportunity to work hard and succeed, but you have to actually give people an equal shot at that first. Good luck, but hey I guess you won't need it. Work, bitch.

[@chesterg.791]

Man this interview got political real quick. Libertarians just want to be left alone. The world would be a better place if people left eachother alone and didn't force people to pay for eachothers shit. Greg has a misplaced view of N.A.P. Smoking in a restuarant - Property rights! it should be the owners choice if he/she allows smoking restuarant. It's your choice if you want to eat there. Drunk driving/speed limits - Property rights! The government owns the roads, so they can make rules about their roads. Wearing a mask - Property rights! It should be the businesses choice to make their customers wear a mask or not. It's your choice to shop there. Student debt - Coersion and force! Paying for other people's bad choices. Paying for all the idiots that partied and dropped out. The cost of college is so expensive because of government backed loans. It's socialist policy that causes college to be so expensive. Applying force is going into a biker bar and telling them they can't smoke inside at their own property. It would be like me going into your house and telling you how to live your life... it's not about left or right! It's about not infringing on eachother's natural born rights.

[@TheVoidwithChristina]

Thanks for taking the time to comment, but the issues of the world are deeper than what you want to do right now, screw everyone else. Countries LIKE MINE with policies that honour the community and not just rugged individualism within the context of a democracy (though all systems - capitalism, communism, socialism - are grossly corrupt and I don't think ANY of these systems is suitable for a 21st century world with eight billion people, a climate crisis, a corruption crisis and gross inequality - we need a whole new system) make for a better quality of life / standard of living. For everyone. Socially-minded democracy vs. "libertarian" is simple: If you took the average working class American and made them Australian, it would mean a better quality of life, inarguably. The vast majority (the 99%) live a less easy life, comparatively. We have some of the best healthcare, a lifetime to pay off an interest-free student loan, people got up to $3k a month during COVID while Americans are literally starving, fighting or bankrupt from medical debt, for example. Your country is so nuts that 300k people get a virus every day and no one in power gives a fuck because it isn't happening to them. If you're wealthy, never get sick and don't care about anyone else starving or struggling in America, it must be awesome for you. Everyone else there gets fucked, and it looks like a horrible thing to have to be around - that level of inequality. The rest of the world looks on in horror, and you know this. I don't want to have another pointless conversation but if you haven't realised yet that we're all connected and life isn't just about you, I look forward to the moment you evolve a bit further - it is wonderful. Also - there's no such thing as a libertarian country. They don't exist. Nothing more to say, good day to you!

[@chesterg.791]

@@TheVoidwithChristina I embrace libertarianism as a pholosophy. Don't impose force upon other people. You're correct, there are no libertarian countries. I'm not anarcho-capitalist. If you do your research, most of the reason society's struggle is because of government interference and regulation. Its central banks printing money, devaluaing your savings, causing prices to rise, and decreasing your purchasing power. You blame capitalism, when it is actually socialism doing this. Central banking is a socialist function. I agree with everything your saying, but you want to force people to do things through the power of government and it's wrong, I want people to leave each other alone and be charitable as individuals. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I agree, everything you say sounds nice, but it is impractical. You views are defined purely by emotions. You will destroy society trying to achieve your morals. You can look to history if you don't believe me. When all the banks crash from printing money to prop up the inneficiencies of socialist policy, you'll realize the importance of individualism and property rights.

[@chesterg.791]

@@TheVoidwithChristina Regarding medical debt, our heathcare is so expensive BECAUSE of government. We don't have free market healthcare in the US. It is the most regulated industry in the US. We have government controlled healthcare and it is a mess!

[@chesterg.791]

@@TheVoidwithChristina And by the way I am involved in charity work. A portion of every paycheck goes straight to United Way charity organization. I do volunteer kid coaching for my community. Being charitable and forcing people to work for others through government coersion are two different things. You want to return to Serfdom. You are not that virtuous, nor is your country because you have to FORCE charity through government to achieve your morals. You know nothing about me, so don't assume I only care for myself. I want people to donate to charity!! The united states is the most charitable country in the world!! That is a fact!

[@gmyersgilmer9470]

Great interview, thanks for that. Although I don’t feel like you all are giving a full examination of as you called “conspiracy theorists” when you attacked them as people psychologically instead of actually arguing the content of what are actually conspiracy facts. Big pharma and the drug industrialists do not have good intent at heart. Getting with the program is taking away our freedoms and we may not get them back. The same with personal property. You have to look at how things change. You are ignoring the big picture. Closing our businesses are a big deal and just saying “it shouldn’t be this way in the first place” is not a good reason to starve and have way of lives fail. We don’t close roads for car wrecks or picket fast food drive Thrus because people eat unhealthily. Not to mention the 15 million around the world that died because of the imposed lockdowns.