Dillinger man leads alternative art movement

Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Ben Weinman has launched Party Smasher Inc, a website for musicians, photographers, illustrators and designers to share ideas and encourage innovation.

Speaking about the new online portal, Weinman says: “I was well into my 20s with a college degree and a corporate job, playing with music with no intention of generating money or some massive fan base. Before I even realised it, I was making 100% of my living creating art. How did this happen? Because we ignored the rules.

“It wasn’t until I started living my artistic life with that mindset that I became a responsible creator — one who could move people through honest expression. That is what Party Smasher Inc is all about. We are here to celebrate the artists that are following their own path, undeterred by the trends.”

Joining Weinman on this creative journey are a raft of artists covering a broad spectrum of creative disciplines, including fashion designer Kerin Rose, author Jesse Cannon, who wrote the book Get More Fans: The DIY Guide To The New Music Business, and film maker James Sharrock, who has worked with artists including Iron Maiden, Bullet For My Valentine and Slipknot.

Weinman’s Dillinger Escape Plan will be touring the US in August with Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.