Questions
When and where did Stone Temple Pilots form?
They formed in San Diego, California in 1989.
Where did the name Stone Temple Pilots come from?
It was reportedly inspired by STP Motor Oil stickers the band members liked in their youth, and after tossing around ideas for the initials STP they landed on Stone Temple Pilots.
Did the band go by other names first?
Yes, they originally called themselves Swing, then Mighty Joe Young, before settling on Stone Temple Pilots.
Who were the original members?
The classic lineup was Scott Weiland on vocals, Dean DeLeo on guitar, Robert DeLeo on bass, and Eric Kretz on drums.
What was their breakthrough album?
Their 1992 debut Core was a major hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard albums chart and spawning Plush, Creep, and Sex Type Thing.
Did they ever win a Grammy?
Yes, in March 1994 they won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for Plush.
How did their second album do?
Purple, released in 1994, debuted at number one and has since been certified 8 times platinum.
How many hit singles did they rack up?
They landed 16 top-ten singles on the Billboard rock charts, eight of which reached No. 1.
Were they really a grunge band?
They were embraced as grunge early on, but the band maintained the similarities were coincidental, partly from having the same musical idols growing up, and their sound later drew on psychedelic rock, bossa nova, and glam.
How successful were they overall?
During their initial run they sold about 40 million records worldwide and 17.5 million units in the United States.
Why did they break up and then reunite?
They acrimoniously dissolved in 2003 and reunited in 2008, with the reformation reportedly starting from a phone call by Weiland’s wife, Mary Forsberg.
What happened to Scott Weiland?
He fronted the band until his firing in February 2013 and died on December 3, 2015, reportedly found on his tour bus in Minnesota after an accidental overdose of alcohol, pills, and cocaine.
Is it true a Linkin Park member sang for them?
Yes, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park joined as vocalist in May 2013, then left amicably in November 2015 to focus on his main band.
Who sings for the band now?
Jeff Gutt was announced as the new lead singer on November 14, 2017, after an open online audition process in 2016.
What have they done recently?
They released the acoustic album Perdida in 2020 and co-headlined a summer U.S. tour with Live in 2024.
