JEFF TUTTLE (DILLINGER ESC PLAN)
Jeff Tuttle is the guitarist of Dillinger Escape Plan, a chaotic hardcore band from New Jersey.
JEFF TUTTLE: “The first time I've heard Jeff Buckley Grace, i felt tears in my eyes..”
[interview.andika surya & samsurizal / photo.andika surya / March 2012]
There are some bands that reunite, like Refused, At The Drive In, American Nightmare,.. so, umm, what’s the band that You’d like to see most? That You hoped will play again on stage?
Led Zeppelin. Gonna be hard, though.
Without Jon Bonham?
No. we would have to be “there” to interact with Jon Bonham. (laughing). No, I mean, I’m bombed out that I’m probably next to the old Refused. We’re actually playing a festival in Europe that Refused are playing. But they’re not playing the day we’re playing. So, you know, so close, but so far.
How do You feel about it? Do You like Refused?
I like, yeah, I mean, the Shape of Punk to Come was an amazing record. Very forward-thinking and, umm, I had been listening to that record for years, but I had never got to see them back in the days. So I’m hoping that they’ll do more show, I’d love to see it.
Far out. Next, the last time Your heart beat so fast it made You cry. Sort of like emotional moment. When was it?
With music?
I don’t know, with whatever.
You know what, when we went to see Devin Townsend, yeah, Devin Townsend Project. He was doing, he put on such a good performance, as soon as he came on stage, and he blew me away. I, I, haven’t, i.. I even said that to him that I haven’t been blown away by a performance like that in a very very long time.
Steven Patrick Morrissey or Robert Smith?
What’s that??! (frowning forehead)
Morrissey, from the Smiths.
Neither! (laugh) I’ve never been a Morrissey fan, I’ve never been the Cure fan. I don’t know. Do I have to choose one?
Yeah.
If I have to choose one, I’d probably choose.. (muting) Robert Smith.
Okay, this is a tough one. What do You really believe in?
What do I really believe in? I believe in music. You know, I’m here because I dig music; you guys too are here because you dig music. Kind of a universal language. You know, I don’t speak your language. you guys may speak English, but, umm, no matter where we’re going in the world, no matter what language anybody speaks or doesn’t speak, everybody understands music. It’s a universal language, you know, and that’s.. if there’s anything in the world to believe in, it’s gotta be that. Because it conveys emotions in the way that the words can’t all the time. You might not,.. I might not know the words for Love in every language, but when you hear a song that conveys emotions, everybody connects to it. That’s what I believe in.
Can music be spiritual?
Yeah, absolutely, you know, I mean I’ve heard music that brought tears in my eyes. Literally.
What was it?
What music? Umm, you know, the first time I heard Jeff Buckley..
Holy shit! Grace?
Yeah. The first time I heard Grace, I felt tears in my eyes. I’m not even lying. Hardly because I was upset with myself, I,.. I got into Jeff Buckley right after he died. You can’t find an artist so genuine. It goes back to your last question, I don’t know why he wrote the songs that he wrote, but for some reasons I felt an emotional connection to his voice, to his guitars, to his song-writing, at that moment we share that connection. If that’s not powerful, then I don’t know what is.
What’s Your favorite song in Grace?
The whole thing, man. I can’t pick one, I can’t pick any. That record, from front to back, you can’t pick one song, like, if I’m listening to that record, I have to listen to that whole thing.
You’ve never got bored of it?
Nah.
Wicked! Rad one. Okay, can You pick one song that really hits You from the first time You've heard it until now?
I’d say.. “Surprise! You’re dead.” by Faith No More. You know, I was.. I listened to a lot of music when I was a kid, when I heard “Surprise! You’re dead.” I was nine years old and I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life: to play music.
Did it change You?
It did. It did because that was my gateway to heavy music. And from there, you know, I loved playing all different types of music. I loved listening to all different types of music, but hearing that song was what made me want to pick up a guitar and play it. You know, so, in a lot of ways, “Surprise! You’re dead.” Is the reason why I’m here right now.
Have You ever thought of giving it up?
No.
Never? (laughing) such a stupid question I’m throwing.
(laughing) you know, I think, to love something, like you love a person, and I love playing guitar. You know the people that you love can drive you crazy sometimes, and sometimes playing guitar can do you too. I, umm, i.. I understand what you’re saying, have I thought about giving up guitar,.. I have thought about it, but there’s definitely time when it’s driving you nuts. For whatever reasons, if it’s songs that I’m trying to write but I can’t (finish them songs). Then you should for whatever reason or like when I’m on tour in Malaysia and homesick, it drives you a little bit nuts sometimes,.. but,.. I love it. It’s (the sick feeling of playing guitar) never permanent. And it never will be. I’m gonna make music until I die. But, umm, that’s not to say that it’s not gonna drive you a little bit longer sometimes. You know what I mean? (laughing)
When did the last time You jump off the stage, You know, stage-dive stuff?
Ah, Man, I can’t remember. I used to do it a lot more when I was younger. I am 32 now, it hurts a little bit more now.
How about doing it tonight?
I’m gonna look for you, Buddy, you’ve gotta hold me up. (laughing)
7 Seconds or Youth of Today?
Minor Threat. Sorry. (all laughing)
Last words?
(muting) (deep think) Terima kasih!
Cool, kembali kasih, Jeff. See You tonight and in June in Indonesia.
Yeah.
