When Greg Puciato -- lead singer of the mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan -- first met Darth Vader he just so happened to be hanging out at the local toy store. Puciato's first glimpse of the Sith Lord lurking in the aisles made a lasting impression.

What was your first introduction to Star Wars?

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.

Which Star Wars film made you become a fan?

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.

Which character do you find yourself identifying with the most in the entire Star Wars saga?

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.

What are your thoughts on Anakin's fall to the dark side? Do you think there's a gray space between good and evil?

Well, there would be no story if that didn't happen, so I'm happy he did! But really, I think there is always a struggle in every person to try to do the right thing in the face of either temporary reward for doing the wrong thing, or the dark urge that all of us have to see what would happen if we do the wrong thing. It's fun to be the bad guy at times, but it is usually a soulless pursuit, and that is why Vader comes around in the end and realizes his good and his love for his son causes him to realize his true potential as a human being.

What did you think of John Williams' music for the films? Why is the music soundtrack to a film so important?

John Williams' soundtrack music is timeless. I realized as I got older, that a lot of movies that really had impact on me as a kid all had amazing music, and that is not a coincidence. Most people, or most non-musicians, think of music as something that happens in the background, something that isn't really a primary ingredient in their lives or in movies. This is so far from the truth. People don't realize that a musical cue can define a moment in a movie forever, and drastically change the tone of it. It's one thing to be able to come up with even one of those moments, or one of those themes, but John Williams did it for so many movies that it's almost impossible to comprehend.

Why do you think films like Star Wars are important to inspire people?

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.

Learn more about The Dillinger Escape Plan on their official site here. Listen to new music on The Dillinger Escape Plan Myspace page.

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