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Stone Temple Pilots Band Chronology

Last update: August 3, 2020: This page is currently under heavy revision.

2020 - "Perdida" was released on February 7. The coinciding acoustic tour, dubbed 'An Evening with Stone Temple Pilots' was cancelled due to singer Jeff Gutt needing surgery on a herniated disc. Subsequently, the band's Australian Tour with Bush and Live in April was postponed to 2021 due to the CoVid-19 pandemic. Not much later, the summer tour opening for Nickelback was also cancelled. On July 31, STP offered a unique pay-per-view feature through nugs.net, showing recently recorded 'live in studio' performances of all tracks from their 1992 debut "Core", except "Wet My Bed".

2019 - The new year started in February with a tour of South America, after which the band took some time to record another new album, the acoustic-based "Perdida". Recorded, mixed, mastered and packaged before the band embarked on their first European tour in 9 years, the album would be kept under wraps for another six months, until it was officially announced on December 2.

2018 - A second single, 'Roll Me Under' was released on January 31. That same day, the band announced the March 16 release of their new self-titled record. STP extensively toured North America starting two weeks before the album's release through the end of the year, ending with a unique acoustic concert in Norwood, Massachusetts on December 14.

2017 - With no official word on a new singer at this time, internet speculation continued, while the band took their time to see how they would gel with Jeff Gutt on a personal and professional level. They started working on new material. During the summer, Chester Bennington sadly died on July 20, 2017. It would take another few months until October, before the band would speak about their singer search again, with Dean stating that it was "going great," and that the band was "working on new material." On November 14, the band announced Jeff Gutt as their new lead singer with a concert at the Trubadour in West Hollywood. They released a new single, 'Meadow', a day later.

2016 - In February 2016, STP launched an online audition for a new vocalist, stating, "If you think you have what it takes to front this band, record with this band, and tour with this band, we would dig hearing from you.". Rumors of several contenders swirled around the internet for almost two years. Later, it was revealed that STP played their first show with Jeff Gutt on vocals on November 19, 2016 for industry people, family and friends at an unknown location in Los Angeles. The only known song that was played, is 'Pruno' as Jeff has said that Chester joined him and the band on stage for that song.

2015 - Stone Temple Pilots performed as much as Chester Bennington's schedule allowed, playing a mix of club shows and festivals between March and October. On November 9, Bennington announced he was amicably leaving Stone Temple Pilots to focus more on Linkin Park. Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts meanwhile released their album "Blaster" on March 31. Unfortunately guitarist Jeremy Brown died the day before the album's release. He was replaced by Nick Maybury the next month. Longtime drummer Danny Thompson also left the band for a second time. He was replaced by Joey Castillo. Weiland continued touring with his band, eventually cancelling a European tour, reportedly due to poor ticket sales. The Wildabouts tour continued after Scott's birthday in late October, to very mixed reviews. The shows were hit and miss and social media photos of Scott and bandmate Tommy Black seemed to show Scott in rapidly declining health. He sadly died on his tour bus on December 3 in Bloomington, Minnesota at the age of 48.

2014 - Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington had to cancel a series of international dates in the beginning of the year due to scheduling conflicts, cutting their played dates for 2014 to just 6 shows. Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts recorded their first album, Blaster, after the departure of longtime Weiland-collaborator and multi-instrumentalist Douglas Grean, and toured the U.S. and Canada between April and November.

2013 - Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland announced his own 20-date 'Purple at the Core'-tour with his solo band The Wildabouts on February 13. Exactly two weeks later, on February 27, Stone Temple Pilots announced they had "officially terminated Scott Weiland". On May 18, Stone Temple Pilots fronted by Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington performed as the surprise act at KROQ's Weenie Roast. A new song, Out Of Time, was released the next day. Even though Linkin Park remained Bennington's priority, he was able to record the EP "High Rise", which was released on October 8, and perform 34 shows with STP.

2012 - The band took the first half of the year off to spend some well-deserved family time after about two years of nonstop touring. There were plans for a 20th anniversary celebration tour for STP's first album "Core" in the fall, but they never materialized. Tension rose within the band and conflicting reports from Scott on one side and Dean, Robert and Eric on the other stated different reasons as to why the Core anniversary tour wasn't happening. Scott Weiland publicly spoke about his wish to reconnect with Velvet Revolver. On December 10, Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash said in an interview with Minneapolis radio station 93x that Scott had been fired from STP and that's why he was interested in re-joining Velvet Revolver.

2011 - This was mainly a touring year for the band, with shows in the United States, Asia, New Zealand, Australia and South America. A long-promised third single ("Cinnamon") from their latest album was repeatedly postponed and eventually shelved, along with two canned music videos for the track. In September, the band had to postpone a handful of shows because Scott was reportedly suffering from inflamed vocal chords. Scott Weiland released an mp3-download consisting of 12 cover songs in August and he also released a Christmas album, "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" in October.

2010 - Leading up to the May 25 release of their new self-titled album with lead single "Between The Lines", the band plays fifteen concerts all over the United States, debuting a handful of new songs before heading out to Europe for the summer, where they play festivals, club shows in Ireland, United Kingdom, France and Italy and open for Aerosmith in The Netherlands. From August through mid-November the band tours North America to support their new album and their second single "Take A Load Off". They close the year with a South American tour and announce tour dates for a first-ever New Zealand / Australia tour in 2011.

2009 - It was reported in early 2009 that the band had started working on new songs with producer Don Was. In June, Scott confirmed that the band had written about 18 song and that he had lyrics for about 10 of them. The band was supposedly aiming for a Christmas release for their new album. Over the summer, it became clear that Dean, Robert and Eric had finished tracking the music for the new songs, but that Scott was working seperately in his own studio and had his people send recordings back and forth to the band. It was not a very speedy or joyful process and the album suffered delays while the band had tour dates for the United States and Canada lined up from July until late November.

2008 - Stone Temple Pilots announce and play a 65+ date tour for the summer after Scott Weiland announces his departure from Velvet Revolver in March. STP played their first show in five-and-a-half years at the Harry Houdini Mansion in Los Angeles on April 7th. Scott Weiland also released his second solo album "Happy In Galoshes" on November 25.

2007 - Scott releases a new album with Velvet Revolver, called 'Libertad'. They tour the world in support of it, while Army Of Anyone go on hiatus fairly quickly after their first tour, with frontman Richard Patrick announcing that he's working on new Filter material.

2006 - Army Of Anyone release their self-titled debut and tour in support of it. Meanwhile, Scott tours with Velvet Revolver and prepares to write an autobiography. He also works steadily on a new solo album.

2005 - Eric Kretz joins the band Spiralarms, which he had been recording and producing, as a full-time member. Velvet Revolver tour the UK, then Australia, Japan, the US and Europe again. Strong rumours are going around that Robert and Dean DeLeo have joined Filter frontman Richard Patrick and drummer Ray Luzier in the studio, and on September 28 they announce their band name 'Army Of Anyone'.

2004 - Velvet Revolver start touring in support of 'Contraband', which was released in June 2004. They tour the US and Europe extensively. There's not much news to report on the DeLeo brothers or Eric Kretz, who is producing the bands Manmade God and Spiralarms in his studio.

2003 - In May 2003 rumours go public about Scott's involvement with The Project, now known as 'Reloaded' and also featuring guitarist Dave Kushner. Eventually Scott appears on the 'Italian Job' and 'Hulk' soundtracks with them, and not much later, the newly-formed band announce that Scott has officially joined their lineup. They change their name from 'Reloaded' to 'Velvet Revolver' in June, and play their first show at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles two weeks later.

Robert and Dean DeLeo produce Alien Ant Farm's album 'Truant' later that year, while Velvet Revolver are headed into the studio as well, to record their debut album, 'Contraband'. Eric Kretz is working on his L.A. studio: Bomb Shelter Studios.

2002 - STP keeps touring in support of "Shangri-La-Dee-Da" until the fall. Without promotional backup from their label, who want the band to release a Greatest Hits album, the band does not make any plans for new releases. They record several songs in the springtime, among which a track called "All In The Suit That You Wear". It is rumoured to be on the Spiderman soundtrack, but only under the condition that it will be the lead single. When it became clear that this would not be the case, the song was pulled from the OST entirely. At the end of the summer, before STP starts their fall tour, Scott Weiland is approached by 'The Project', a new band featuring Slash, Duff and Matt Sorum, formerly of Guns N' Roses. He doesn't commit, as STP is still going forward, albeit with rising tension between the band members. STP's tour comes to an end on October 30 in the Woodlands, TX and Scott has a solo appearance for MAP on November 7. After that there's no news on STP, and no events scheduled. With tensions high within STP, Scott reaches out to 'The Project'.

2001 - STP releases their fifth album, "Shangri-La-Dee-Da," on June 19 and embarks on the Family Values Tour with Staind and Linkin Park.

2000 - Weiland is released five months early - and the comeback begins. The band tapes an episode of "Storytellers." In May, having divorced Jannina Castenada, a clean and sober Weiland marries model Mary Forsberg. Sleeper single "Sour Girl" clicks with both MTV and VH1 crowds. They kill at KROQ's Weenie Roast extravaganza at Edison International Field of Anaheim. A summer tour in which they upstage the Red Hot Chili Peppers proves that was no fluke. The Return of the Rock Tour, also featuring Godsmack and Disturbed, follows. Nov. 19: Noah Mercer Weiland is born.

1999 - Surprisingly at the time - though not so surprisingly in retrospect - STP reunites, only to see Weiland stumble again. He spends five days in jail at the start of the year for violating probation, then goes to Impact, a rehab clinic. On March 16, the band shows up at the Viper Room in Hollywood for a surprise performance and the band announces that they have been working on a new album. In July, he is hospitalized for a heroin overdose. Not even a week later, STP perform an unannounced show at Dragonfly in Hollywood. In August, the band plays an awesome set in Las Vegas, but the day after is anti-climactic: Scott gets sentenced to a year in jail for probation violation. Despite this major setback, Atlantic Records releases the band's fourth album on October 26.

1998 - With STP on hiatus, Scott Weiland releases an eclectic solo album, "12 Bar Blues". During the summer, as Scott has just begun a solo tour, he is busted twice for heroin - first in Pasadena, then in New York. He goes on the lam and has a $250,000 warrant issued for his arrest. He misses his court dates, but avoids two years in prison by checking into rehab.

1997 - After another winter hiatus, the band performs a five-week spring tour with Cheap Trick in the US and performed the last date of that tour in Toronto, Canada amid internet rumours that the band was about to split up. Their manager Steve Stewart insisted that was not the case, but that Scott would work on and release a solo album and that Dean, Robert and Eric would regroup with Dave Coutts to release an album later in the year, featuring the material that they wrote during the Tiny Music... sessions and that they had chosen not to work on with Scott, but with Dave instead. Their album was released through Atlantic Records on September 3, 1997 and was followed by a tour supporting Foo Fighters and later Aerosmith.

1996 - Days after "Tiny Music: Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop" is released in March, free shows in New York, Chicago and L.A. are scrubbed, as Weiland is, according to a band statement, "unable to rehearse or appear ... due to his dependency on drugs." STP also loses its spot as opening act for Kiss' summer tour. At the end of the year, Weiland is ordered to spend a week in jail and six months in a drug rehab center under around-the-clock supervision. Days after he got out, the band embarked on a five-and-a-half-week tour of the United States in an attempt to still support the album they dropped in the spring.

1995 - In May, Weiland is arrested for heroin and cocaine possession outside a Pasadena motel. The band starts to splinter, as Weiland takes up with a side project, the Magnificent Bastards, who contribute cuts to a John Lennon tribute and the "Tank Girl" soundtrack. Aimless after a stint in rehab, he regroups with STP at year's end for a new album. Dean, Robert and Eric simultaneously work with Scott and singer Dave Coutts, who they had recruited for a side project that was first called 'Vitamin' and eventually saw the light of day as 'Talk Show' in 1997.

1994 - STP is voted both best new band (by readers) and worst band (by critics) in the annual Rolling Stone music awards issue. Meanwhile, they pick up their first American Music Award and first Grammy nomination. Their second album, "Purple," debuts at No. 1. They open for the Rolling Stones. Weiland marries Jannina Castenada. The future seems blindingly bright, but while the band tracked their music for "Purple" in Brendan O'Brien's Southern Tracks studios in Atlanta in just eleven days, Scott's vocals take a little longer to produce and his behaviour starts to be less reliable than before. The band tour for just 16 weeks of the year to support "Purple" both in Europe and the United States and Canada.

1993 - The band is on the road for most of the year, opening for Megadeth in January and February before heading to Europe for the first time. They are putting in a lot of work and it is paying off with commercial success. In March, they even fly to Florida in the middle of their European tour for one performance at MTV's Spring Break Rocks, only to return to Europe two days later. STP plays the Bar-B-Q Mitzvah Tour with Butthole Surfers, Basehead, Flaming Lips and Firehose over the summer. According to reports, it is at this time that Gibby Haynes introduced Scott Weiland to heroin. Also in the middle of this tour, Stone Temple Pilots recorded the 'Purple' classic "Lounge Fly" at Prince's Paisley Park Studios in Minnesota on July 12. After the summer, the band returns to Europe for another club tour in August and September. After performing "Wicked Garden" on the Late Show with David Letterman, the band continue to tour the West Coast of the United States and Canada before heading to Japan in November. They close off the year by performing their iconic MTV Unplugged set on November 17 and their Saturday Night Live appearance the next day.

1992 - Mighty Joe Young is signed to Atlantic Records on April 1st on the strength of its demos and live reputation. They go into the studio in late May and record their debut album. In August, when their debut record and artwork were already done, they find out there is another artist with the same name and they have to come up with a new band name. They eventually settle on "Stone Temple Pilots". Before the release of their debut "Core", the band play their first show as Stone Temple Pilots at the side stage of Lollapalooza '92 in Phoenix, Arizona on September 8. Unfortunately the show is cut short due to very high temperatures and the band has to leave the stage after just a few songs. The band returns to Lollapalooza four days later on the tour's second day in Irvine, California. These two shows mark the only Lollapalooza dates that Stone Temple Pilots have appeared on, contrary to popular belief fueled by inaccurate information on Wikipedia and Setlist.fm. After a solo club show tour, the band start opening for Megadeth in Long Beach on New Year's Eve.

1991 - Mighty Joe Young continues writing songs and performing shows.

1990 - Mighty Joe Young plays as many live shows as they can in Southern California (see Concert Chronology for detailed information), building their reputation and recording more demo songs.

1989 - Robert's brother Dean replaces Corey Hickok on guitar and by that time, Britt Willits had also left the band. A second demo tape by the band 'Swing Tape 2' includes an early version of the song 'Piece of Pie', which is the first song Dean played on. They soon change the band name to Mighty Joe Young. Dean DeLeo has been quoted saying "I refused to be in a band called Swing".

1988 - The band bio of Swing from late 1988 (or early '89) stated: "Swing orginated in the month of October, 1987. The first six months Swing concentrated on mixing a combination of their roots and commercialism that they felt was necessary to spread them apart from any other band. Swing feels they have a strong sense in what it takes to become the next big thang, and incorporates these ideas in their words and music. Swing started off playing the club circuit in Orange County. After several months of great response from crowds, Swing realized their career could only go so far behind the Orange curtain. They all decided that moving to Los Angelos and putting one hundred percent effort into the band would strengthen their chances of getting somewhere. Presently, Swing seeks management, a booking agent, and eventually a record deal, to set them on their way to what they believe will be success."

1987 - Bassist Robert DeLeo meets Scott Weiland at a Black Flag show in Long Beach. They decide to form a band, Swing, back at home in San Diego. Swing also includes drummer Eric Kretz, guitarist Corey Hickok and keyboardist Britt Willits. Weiland, Hickok and Willits had previously played in a band called Soi-Disant.