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Scott Weiland : 10-27-67 (vocals), Santa Cruz, California Eric Kretz : 06-07-66 (drums), Santa Cruz, California Robert Deleo : 02-02-66 (bass), New Jersey Dean Deleo : 08-23-61 (guitar), New Jersey 1986 was the year when Weiland and Robert met each other during a Black Flag gig in Orange County, California. After finding out that they were dating the same girl, Michelle, they decided to live together. Robert and Scott formed a band, called Swing. During that time they wrote "funny jingles" and fake commercials, in a minuscule studio that Robert had. But things soon progressed, and they began to write music and record ''proper'' songs. They soon came to the conclusion that they needed a drummer (preferently an excellent one), so they went to see a show of local band. At the gig, they found a human-powerhouse of a drummer playing way too loud, that didn't give a flying one about the fact that one couldn't even hear the lead singer. Weiland and Robert approached him, and the drummer, Eric Kretz, accepted to join to the initial duo. So... they didn't have one guitarist. This problem was easily solved by Robert, that called up his brother, Dean DeLeo, who left immediately his work in the construction business in New Jersey. Gathered the 4 magnificent, they formed the band Mighty Joe Young in 1987 (San Diego,CA). On April 1, 1992 they were signed to Atlantic. However a problem cropped up, 'cause the band had the same name of a blues singer in Chicago. After they had thought up an immensity of names, Weiland remembered some stickers that he had in his bicycle when he was a kid: STP Motor Oil. Weiland said that they should use STP as initials for the new name. Shirley Temple's Pussy (an obvious homage to the wonder girl, who retired from her acting career at the positively Big Ben-like age of 10!!), Stinky Toilete Paper, Stereo Temple Pirates, Stereo Temple Pilots were suggested... But the name of the band, Stone Temple Pilots, was created by their manager Steve Stewart On September 29 1992, they released their debut album ''Core'', who reached the top of the American charts in the summer of '93, selling more than 4 million copies in the U.S. alone. Besides the aforementioned ''Plush'', the album also contained the quite controversial ''Sex Type Thing'', a song about sexual harassment. On November 17 1993, STP recorded a magnificent ''Unplugged'' session for MTV, which was broadcasted on February 1994. March '94 started really well for the boys, for they received a Grammy Award for ''Best Hard Rock Performance with a Vocal''. The song responsible was ''Plush''. They were also awarded 2 American Music Awards, 1 Billboard Music Award, 2 Billboard Video Awards and 1 MTV Video Music Award. Things were, indeed, quite peachy for these gentlemen at this time. Unfortunately, it wouldn't last very long. ''Purple'', the second album, is released in June, having been recorded in a mere 3 weeks in March. It debuts at #1 in the Billboard charts. In March 1995, a Led Zeppelin tribute album is released. Titled ''Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin'', it contains a cover of ''Dancing Days'' by STP. In May, Scott Weiland gets arrested for possession of heroine and cocaine in Pasadena, California. This would only be the start of a number of accusations and arrests related to drug problems. In March 1996, ''Tiny Music... Songs from The Vatican Gift Shop'' is released, amidst a maelstrom of accusations and rumours about substance abuse during the recording sessions. Still, it debuted at #5 in the Billboard charts, but the band were unable to start a tour then, because Weiland was ordered to undergo a stint in rehab. The tour would only start in late 1996, after Weiland was discharged from the clinic. During the months Weiland spent locked up, the three remaining Pilots, Eric Kretz, Dean DeLeo and Robert DeLeo put up Talk Show with vocalist Dave Coutts (ex-Ten Inch Men). Their eponimously titled debut album was released in September 1997, on Atlantic. It stiffed. In March 1998 Scott Weiland releases ''12 Bar Blues'', producing a sonic melting pot never before heard in his days with Stone Temple Pilots. It produced a very good first single, ''Barbarella'', and the song ''Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down'', with a very cabaret-like ambience, made it to the Sound Track of ''Great Expectations''. As if all this non-STP activity wasn't enough, Weiland formed the Magnificent Bastards, with Zander Schloss and Jeff Nolan on guitars, Bob Thompson on bass guitar and Victor Indrizzo on drums. On May 4 1998, an announcement revealed the number of platinum albums the Pilots had achieved so far in America alone: ''Core'' - 7; ''Purple'' - 5 ; ''Tiny Music...'' - 2. Still in 1998, Weiland is convicted on parole violation charges (due to possession of heroin) and spends the next 153 days in L.A. County Jail, after which he spent another month in rehab. In March 1999, STP played their third gig in 2 years (!!) at the Viper Room in L.A. They showed they were better than ever. Amongst the fans present there were Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. On August 15, STP played an invitation-only gig in the notorious Las Vegas House of Blues, which was later broadcasted by MTV. But, alas, the very next day, Weiland is once again arrested for violation of his parole conditions (suspicions arised that he was hospitalised in July due to an heroin overdose). On September 3, Judge Larry Fidler said: ''...He went down a certain road. Because he chose to go down that road, he will get the 365 days that I promised him...'', thus sentencing him to a year doing porridge and picking up the soap in the showers. ''Nr 4'', the long-awaited comeback album is finally released on October 26, with a song, ''Down'', being previously available for free download on the band's official site. This same song was used to promote the new James Bond movie, ''The World Is Not Enough''. Unfortunately, with Weiland in jail, it was up for the three other Pilots to promote the album. That meant no gigs whatsoever. Still, a video for ''Down'' was released, featuring images from the aforementioned House of Blues gig. Finally, on February 1 2000, Weiland is released from L.A. County Jail, having served less than half of the inicial one year sentence. Weiland posts the following note on the band' s official web site: '' I am now officially home...Home for good. I feel extremely grateful and very much looking forward to the upcoming work that is scheduled for STP ... I want to thank all of you for the endearing support of me and the rest of the band during this turbulent time. I believe that at times one has to suffer through hardships to truly appreciate the gifts of life. I appreciate these gifts.'' After ''Heaven & Hot Rods'' was released to the radios as the second single (no video for it, though), ''Sour Girl'' is released as a single on April , to achieve quite some success. The band managed to persuade Sarah Michelle Gellar (a.k.a. ''Buffy, The Vampire Slayer'') to play a role in it. It is often said this is one of the best STP videos, alongside ''Vasoline'' or ''Lady Picture Show''. With Weiland out of jail, STP could finally undergo a worthy promotion for ''Nr 4''. This included apparitions on KNDD, WAAF or Merge 93.3 (check out the ''Sounds'' section for some Real Audio files of these radio shows). TV shows were also a part of the promo tour: just check out VH1' s ''Storytellers'' or ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno''. If
you want to know a little more about the recent news read
the rest in the old news part of this site. Also, we include here some magazines in which the STP lads were featured since the release of ''Nr 4'': - Guitar World - Dec. 1999 - Alternative Press - Dec. 1999 - USA Today - November 9 1999 -Billboard - November 6 1999 - Minnesota Daily - November 4 1999 - Interview - Nov. 1999 - A&E - Nov. 1999 - Maxim - Nov. 1999 - Los Angeles Magazine - Nov. 1999 - Meanstreet - Nov. 1999 - Ink 19 - Nov. 1999 - News 4U - Nov. 1999 - Raygun - Nov. 1999 - Music Connection - October 25 1999 - Boston Globe - October 22 1999 - Allmusic.com - October 20, 1999 - Guitar magazine - Oct. 1999 - and so on... (see the old news page) Any more magazines/articles where they have appeared and you feel the need to share them with us, feel free! My mail is here. |
