stone temple pilots
The Stone Temple Pilots were formed in a very strange way. In
San Diego at a Black Flag concert Scott Weiland bumped into Robert
DeLeo. After talking briefly they discovered that they were dating
the same women. Instead of killing each other they discovered
that they had the same musical taste and decided to form a band
with Scott on vocals and Robert on bass. They went on to recruit
drummer Eric Kretz and Robert's brother Dean for guitar. They
played at clubs and other local shows under the name Mighty Joe
Young. A year later they signed to a record company and changed
their name to the Stone Temple Pilots. The bands 1992 debut album
Core was a hit. It was quite grungy sounding and in fact, STP
was heavily ragged on for copying Pearl Jam. Anyone who knows
music would agree that they have similarities but STP did and
does not copy Pearl Jam. The album Core had several radio hits,
the controversial Sex Type Thing, the mellow Creep and what
most would argue is STP's best song ever, and one of the best
songs of the 90's; the infamous Plush. The album eventually
went on to sell over 7 million copies. Even with their success
they weren't taken seriously by critics until the release of their
next album Purple in 1994. The sound of this album was different
than Core it was a bit mellower and toned down. This album spawned
a couple radio hits as well; the songs Vasoline, Interstate
Love Song and The Big Empty. After the release of this album
something huge came out of the closet; Scott Weiland's very serious
heroin addiction, which seemed to be a fad those days, considering
many other artists of the same genre were also addicted to heroin.
Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Shannon
Hoon of Blind Melon just to name a few of Weiland'd fellow addicts.
Scott was constantly getting in trouble with law and actually
spent some time in Jail. After he got out the band went on to
record their next album which was then released in 1996. The album
called Tiny Music.Song for the Vatican.. It is often regarded
as their best album considering it was the most original and contained
some very deep lyrics. As opposed to doing their usual Alice in
Pearls formula they had established their own style. I personally
still prefer Core but TMSFTV is still a solid album. Shortly
after the release of that album STP announced that Weiland had
entered a drug rehabilitation center, therefore canceling their
summer tour. STP then went on to recruit a new singer, Dave Coutts
and went under the name Talk Show. It wasn't very successful.
STP then got back together in 1999 to release their fourth album
entitled No.4. It was even more mellowed down than there previous
release, and is regarded as the beginning of the end for STP.
Weiland then was sentenced to one year in Jail and STP was sent
into hiatus. Then, all of the sudden 2001 STP shocked everyone
with the release of Shangri-La-Dee-Da. It was definitely their
worst album considering it had taken a poppy sound and the grunge
roots were completely gone. That basically marks the end for STP.
You could say, like many great bands on the 90's drugs got in
the way and ruined the band. None the less, Weiland is now in
a new band with all the ex Guns N' Roses members, with the exception
of Axl. The band is called Velvet Revolver. So now STP is no more,
but who knows, maybe we'll see a new album from them in a couple
years.
Stone Temple Pilots Discography
Shangri-La Dee Da
No. 4
Tiny Music...Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
Core
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