No Shortage Of Work For THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN's BEN WEINMAN

Since winding down a lengthy summer tour cycle with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, guitarist and band leader Ben Weinman has been busy collaborating with other artists.

As one of Spin magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time," in an unanticipated coupling, the multi-instrumentalist recently partnered with rapper, producer and politician Wyclef Jean, contributing drums to a new song for the former FUGEES frontman. At present time there is no information as to where or when the song will appear.

In the spirit of politics, Weinman and Wyclef also found time to shoot a clip for the Why I Vote 2012 campaign. Check it out below.

In other news, Weinman just completed the original score for the upcoming feature film "The Morris Family Abduction" (release date to be announced).

Regarding the fil, which was predominately written in the bluegrass style, Weinman had this to say: "Writing this music has been some of the most challenging as well as rewarding material I have ever had to produce.

"When the film's director asked me to work with him, I just assumed he wanted me to lay down some avant-garde creepy thing.

"Initially, I wasn't a fan of the genre (bluegrass),but then after researching banjo technique and listening to as much of the music as I could, I realized just how amazing it was."

In other news, Weinman has found time to collaborate with New Zealand-born artist Kimbra (perhaps best known for her contributions to the Gotye hit "Somebody That I Used To Know") on the follow-up to her debut album, "Vows", as well as breakout femme-fatale vocalist Ivy Levan on her debut album currently in production.

As for progress related to GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA, the supergroup featuring Weinman, MASTODON's Brent Hinds, former JANE'S ADDICTION bassist Eric Avery and former THE MARS VOLTA drummer Jon Theodore, the collective have recorded six songs while Avery wraps up a leg of touring with GARBAGE. A vocalist has yet to be revealed.

In THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN news, as Weinman puts the finishing touches on writing and pre-production for what will be the group's fifth studio album (title and release date to be announced),the full band is set to head in to the studio with longtime producer Steve Evetts this November.

Commented Weinman, "This new material is very punk-, very hardcore-influenced. Maybe it's all the amazing bands reuniting from my youth that is inspiring this. Billy [Rymer, drums] and I have just been listening to old hardcore records blasting through my house and then going down to the dungeon and just bashing." He added, "Greg [Puciato, vocals] also seems to be in a very dark place lyrically. I think it's going to be pretty creepy. If these songs don't put some holes in the wall, I don't know what will."