Stone Temple Pilots

"Eric Kretz" redirects here. Not to be confused with Erik Kratz.

Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots' original lineup in Manila, Philippines, on March 9, 2011. From left to right: Dean DeLeo, Scott Weiland, Eric Kretz, and Robert DeLeo.
Stone Temple Pilots' original lineup in Manila, Philippines, on March 9, 2011. From left to right: Dean DeLeo, Scott Weiland, Eric Kretz, and Robert DeLeo.
Background information
Also known as
  • Swing (1987–1989)
  • Mighty Joe Young (1989–1992)
  • Shirley Temple's Pussy (1992)[1]
  • STP
OriginSan Diego, California, U.S.
Genres
DiscographyStone Temple Pilots discography
Years active
  • 1989–2003
  • 2008–present
Labels
Spinoffs
Members
Past members
Websitestonetemplepilots.com

Stone Temple Pilots (also known as STP) is an American rock band formed in San Diego, California, in 1989. Originally consisting of Scott Weiland (lead vocals), brothers Dean (guitar) and Robert DeLeo (bass, backing vocals), and Eric Kretz (drums), the band's lineup remained unchanged from its formation until the firing of Weiland in February 2013. Vocalist Chester Bennington joined the band in May 2013[2] but left amicably in November 2015.[3][4] In 2016, STP launched an online audition for a new lead vocalist;[5][6] Jeff Gutt was announced as STP's new lead singer on November 14, 2017.

After forming under the name Mighty Joe Young, the band signed with Atlantic Records and changed its name to Stone Temple Pilots. Their debut album, Core, released in 1992, was a major commercial hit, and STP went on to become one of the most successful bands of the 1990s, selling more than 18 million albums in the United States and 40 million worldwide.[7][8][9] STP released four more studio albums: Purple (1994), Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop (1996), No. 4 (1999), and Shangri-La Dee Da (2001), before separating in 2003, after which the band members partook in various projects (most notably Velvet Revolver and Army of Anyone). STP eventually reconvened in 2008 for a reunion tour and released their self-titled sixth album with Scott Weiland in 2010. After firing Weiland in 2013, the band recruited Chester Bennington, who they would tour with as their lead vocalist up until his departure in 2015. The band's only material with Bennington was the 2013 EP High Rise.[10] STP has since released two albums with Gutt on vocals: its second self-titled album in 2018[11] and eighth studio album, Perdida, in 2020.[12]

While initially rising to fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, further releases from the band expressed a variety of influences, including psychedelic rock, bossa nova, and classic rock. STP's evolution throughout the 1990s and early 2000s involved periods of commercial highs and lows, brought about in part by Weiland's well-publicized struggles with drug addiction.

  1. ^ Wall, Mick (July 25, 2008). "Stone Temple Pilots at RAW Magazine". RAW Magazine. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  2. ^ Hogan, Marc (February 27, 2013). "Stone Temple Pilots Fire Frontman Scott Weiland". SPIN. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  3. ^ Sharp, Tyler (November 9, 2015). "Linkin Park's Chester Bennington leaves Stone Temple Pilots". Alternative Press. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  4. ^ Newman, Jason (November 9, 2015). "Chester Bennington Leaves Stone Temple Pilots to Focus on Linkin Park". RollingStone. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  5. ^ "Linkin Park Singer Chester Bennington Dead, Commits Suicide by Hanging". TMZ. July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  6. ^ Kory Grow (February 5, 2016). "Stone Temple Pilots Launch Open Audition for New Singer". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  7. ^ "Scott Weiland's Chart History, from Stone Temple Pilots to Velvet Revolver to the Wildabouts". Billboard. December 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Rebuilding the Temple: Inside Stone Temple Pilots' 2008 Comeback". Ew.com.
  9. ^ Thomas, Stephen. "Stone Temple Pilots – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  10. ^ "Stone Temple Pilots and Linkin Park's Chester Bennington reveal 'High Rise' EP tracklisting". Nme.com.
  11. ^ "Stone Temple Pilots Preview New LP with Roaring 'Roll Me Under'". Rollingstone.com. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  12. ^ Greene, Andy (December 2, 2019). "Stone Temple Pilots Return with Acoustic Album, Unplugged Tour". Rolling Stone.