THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN Frontman Talks 'Star Wars'

Bonnie Burton of StarWars.com recently conducted an interview with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN frontman Greg Puciato. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

StarWars.com: What was your first introduction to "Star Wars"?

Puciato: My parents took me to see "Return of the Jedi" when I was three, but I don't remember it at all. I had the toys and stuff and loved them. I think the first memory I have is being around five and going to some mall with my mom and Darth Vader was there! Well, it was some guy dressed like him at the Toys R Us, but at the time I thought it was him.

StarWars.com: Which "Star Wars" film made you become a fan?

Puciato: "The Empire Strikes Back" is the one that I, like most people, seem to like the most. The movies resonate for the same reasons that they affect so many other people. They touch on timeless themes, the classic tragic hero structure, good vs. evil, resolution of paternal conflict, themes of religion and spirituality. They are also arresting visually, and for me the music of a movie is very important, and you don't get much better than the classic themes John Williams composed for the original trilogy.

StarWars.com: Which character do you find yourself identifying with the most in the entire "Star Wars" saga?

Puciato: Probably Anakin/Darth Vader. I mean there are elements of Han Solo, but I really think Anakin resonates the most to me. He was young and extremely passionate, and ran headfirst into a decision he thought was right, even though it may have been wrong. His emotion was right, but it was just in the wrong place. I think that is something that I have to be very careful of in instances of my life, not on such a broad spectrum as his choice to join the dark side, but in my everyday dealings with people I care about. I have a tendency because of how hard I throw myself into everything I do, to become so involved in things that I lose sight of how I may be handling other things. But luckily my friends and people I love know that my intentions are in the right place and have tolerated my own flare-ups of the dark side pretty well.

StarWars.com: Why do you think films like "Star Wars" are important to inspire people?

Puciato: These movies in particular are not just about special effects; they have such a strong message. I think often people concentrate today more on flash and bang, and then when that wears off there isn't much substance. The flash and bang is important on a commercial level, because you have to turn people's heads if you want them to pay attention to what you have to say, but then what really matters is to have the substance and depth to have them continue caring after the initial impact is over. It's just like anything else, there has to be depth for things to continue after the initial bang, whether it be a relationship, a movie, or a band. The "Star Wars" model is pretty much how we run our band honestly. We try to draw people's attention with the fact that our live show is really over the top, but then once we get their attention they find that there is a lot to digest beyond the spectacle.

Read the entire interview at StarWars.com.