Stone Temple Pilots

Formed in San Diego, California, in the late 1980s, the Stone Temple Pilots became one of the leading names in American alternative rock in the following decade. Initially associated with grunge and the subject of comparisons to Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, the band gained a significant following and expanded its musical identity by incorporating elements of classic rock, psychedelia, and glam rock.

The original lineup featured Scott Weiland on vocals, brothers Robert DeLeo on bass and Dean DeLeo on guitar, and Eric Kretz on drums. Before adopting the name Stone Temple Pilots, the quartet performed as Mighty Joe Young. Their first album, Core, was released in 1992 and featured songs such as “Sex Type Thing,” “Creep,” and “Plush.” The latter earned the group a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1994.

In 1993, the band appeared on MTV Unplugged. The following year, they released Purple, which cemented their success with tracks like “Interstate Love Song,” “Vasoline,” and “Big Empty.” The album showcased a band willing to expand its repertoire beyond the heaviness and sound of its debut.

The third album, Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop, was released in 1996 and further expanded on this diversity by drawing on elements of psychedelia, glam rock, and pop. Although it produced hits such as “Big Bang Baby,” “Lady Picture Show,” and “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart,” its promotion was hampered by Weiland’s health issues and substance abuse, which led to the cancellation of performances.

In 1998, Weiland released his first solo album, 12 Bar Blues. Back in the studio as a group, the band released No. 4 in 1999, an album that included “Down” and the ballad “Sour Girl.” The band’s career, however, continued to be marked by the lead singer’s personal struggles and his legal troubles.

Next came Shangri-La Dee Da in 2001, and the compilation album Thank You in 2003. During this period, the band concluded its first phase, while Weiland joined Velvet Revolver alongside former Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, as well as guitarist Dave Kushner.

In 2008, after Weiland left Velvet Revolver, the Stone Temple Pilots resumed activities with their original lineup. The reunion resulted in the 2010 album Stone Temple Pilots, the group’s sixth studio album and the last recorded with the vocalist. In 2013, Weiland was removed from the band and replaced by Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. With him, the band released the EP High Rise in October of that year. Bennington left the project in 2015.

On December 3, 2015, Scott Weiland was found dead at age 48 on his tour bus in Bloomington, Minnesota, while on tour with his band The Wildabouts. On July 20, 2017, Chester Bennington passed away at the age of 41.

In November 2017, the group announced Jeff Gutt as its new lead singer. This lineup’s studio debut took place in March 2018, with another album titled Stone Temple Pilots, which featured songs such as “Meadow” and “Roll Me Under.”

Released in February 2020, Perdida was the second album with Gutt and the band’s eighth studio album. With an acoustic and intimate sound, the album explored themes such as loss and new beginnings, incorporating instruments like the flute, saxophone, and vintage keyboards.