Stone Temple Pilots: Grunge Era Survivors with a Classic Rock Soul

Stone Temple Pilots. Formation and Early Years

Formed: 1989 (as Mighty Joe Young)
Origin: San Diego, California

Stone Temple Pilots. Original lineup:

• Scott Weiland – Vocals
• Dean DeLeo – Guitar
• Robert DeLeo – Bass
• Eric Kretz – Drums

The band formed after Scott Weiland and Robert DeLeo met at a Black Flag concert, bonding over their musical tastes. With Robert’s brother Dean on guitar and Eric Kretz on drums, they created a sound that combined hard rock riffs with melodic sensibility.

They originally performed under the name Mighty Joe Young, but changed it to Stone Temple Pilots (STP) after legal issues — ironically choosing the name based on the motor oil brand’s initials, without any deeper meaning.

Stone Temple Pilots. Breakthrough: Core (1992)

✦ Core (1992)

• Their debut album, released at the height of the Seattle grunge boom
• Fueled by MTV and rock radio, it became a massive success

Key tracks:

• “Plush” – Won a Grammy Award and remains a 1990s rock staple
• “Sex Type Thing” – A misunderstood anti-rape anthem delivered with visceral energy
• “Creep,” “Wicked Garden” – Blended angst with haunting melody

Though sometimes dismissed early as grunge imitators, Core revealed a band with classic rock roots and a charismatic, shape-shifting frontman.

The album went 8x platinum in the U.S., marking them as major players in alternative rock.

Stone Temple Pilots. Evolution and Expansion: Purple and Tiny Music (1994–1996)

✦ Purple (1994)

• A creative and commercial triumph
• Debuted at #1 on Billboard
• Mixed heavy rock with psychedelia, jazz, and pop sensibility

Hits included:

• “Vasoline”
• “Interstate Love Song” – One of the most enduring rock radio hits of the decade
• “Big Empty” – Featured in The Crow soundtrack

✦ Tiny Music… Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop (1996)

• Took a sharp artistic turn
• Influenced by David Bowie, glam rock, and Beatlesque pop
• Songs like “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart” and “Big Bang Baby” signaled a shift away from grunge toward something more unpredictable

Despite Weiland’s growing drug problems, STP were now creative shapeshifters, praised for their versatility and ambition.

Stone Temple Pilots. Turbulence and Decline: No. 4 and Shangri-La Dee Da (1999–2001)

✦ No. 4 (1999)

• A return to heavier rock
• “Sour Girl” (featuring Sarah Michelle Gellar in the video) became a hit
• “Down” earned a Grammy nomination

✦ Shangri-La Dee Da (2001)

• An attempt at a more conceptual, eclectic album
• Included tracks like “Days of the Week” and “Hollywood Bitch”
• Received modest praise, but tensions in the band were escalating

Scott Weiland’s substance abuse issues led to tour cancellations, arrests, and strained relationships, ultimately leading to a band hiatus in 2002.

Breakup, Reunions, and Lineup Changes (2002–2013)

✦ Weiland joins Velvet Revolver (2003–2008)

• Alongside former Guns N’ Roses members, Weiland found success with Velvet Revolver, earning Grammy recognition

✦ STP Reunion (2008)

• Original lineup reunited for a successful tour
• Released self-titled album Stone Temple Pilots (2010), featuring the single “Between the Lines”
• Despite moderate success, tensions re-emerged

In 2013, Weiland was fired from the band. He died in December 2015 from an accidental overdose.

New Vocalists and Continued Legacy (2016–Present)

✦ Chester Bennington (2013–2015)

• Linkin Park’s singer joined STP and recorded the EP High Rise
• His tenure was brief but warmly received
• Chester left amicably to focus on Linkin Park; he passed away in 2017

✦ Jeff Gutt (2017–present)

• Former The X Factor contestant
• Brings a voice that blends Weiland’s theatricality with a modern edge

✦ Stone Temple Pilots (2018)

• A rebirth album with Gutt, featuring “Meadow”
• Praised for staying true to STP’s roots while sounding fresh

✦ Perdida (2020)

• A mellow, acoustic-oriented album
• Showed a reflective, mature side of the band

VII. Musical Style and Themes

Stone Temple Pilots’ sound spans:

• Grunge and hard rock
• Glam rock, psychedelia, and alternative pop
• Classic rock influences from The Beatles, Zeppelin, Bowie, and The Doors

Key traits:

• DeLeo brothers’ melodic songwriting
• Weiland’s shapeshifting vocal styles: crooner, snarler, glam god
• A willingness to evolve, album by album

Lyrical themes often explored:

• Alienation, addiction, fame, love, and psychological turmoil — all with poetic ambiguity

Legacy and Influence

STP helped define 1990s rock but also transcended grunge:

• Their music remains a staple of rock radio
• Influenced bands like Bush, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Shinedown
• Scott Weiland is remembered as one of rock’s most compelling and tragic frontmen
• Their ability to blend catchy melodies with heavy riffing gave them lasting appeal

Despite the chaos, STP has maintained creative integrity and audience loyalty for over three decades.

Interesting Facts

• “Interstate Love Song” was written in minutes — inspired by Weiland lying to his then-wife about drug use
• The band wrote “Plush” after watching a news report about a kidnapped girl
• STP has sold over 40 million records worldwide
• Scott Weiland often performed in costume — sometimes as a lounge singer, sometimes a glam rock idol
• Their name was originally chosen after the STP motor oil logo