Stone Temple Pilots

[bassist_25]

This weekend, I got on YouTube and was checking out a lot of concert footage from these cats. They were always one of my favorite rock bands from the 90s. I always thought it was funny that the critics trashed them so much, because they were always heads and shoulders above their peers in terms of musicianship and songwriting, IMO.

While checking out their videos, it occured to me that perhaps STP was one of the last truly great rock bands. The four of them all had their own unique individuality. Scott Weiland was a charismatic frontman (though I think some of his stage antics would get his ass kicked in Altoona ), Dean DeLeo had this mysterious, almost Jimmy Page-like presence about him. Robert DeLeo had the fashion sense of a low-level mafia boss, but it worked for him. Eric Kretz looked like your mechanic, but could pound the drums. Robert and Eric were a killer rythmn section, and if you're even a 32nd note off trying to cover their stuff, it throws the entire pocket. They were also one of the last mainstream rock bands that evolved in their sound. Core was very heavy and dark. Purple was very alternative sounding, whereas Tiny Music... had almost a Brit pop meets indie thing going on.

It sucks that Weiland started on the smack and seems to still be battling with it. I was hoping that he had kicked it for good when he was in Velvet Revolver, but it looks like that wasn't the case.

Anyone else here a huge STP fan?

[skipisode]

I saw them at The BJC a number of years ago and it was one of the best concerts I have ever attended. They did 3 full sets of different styles, and played nearly every song they have recorded. They used 3 separate stage setup for their show as well. They came out rockin', then changed to a more low key acoustic style, then came back out rockin' again. I have always enjoyed their music.

[DirtySanchez]

liked the grungey stuff.

unlike Joe Queer, heroin ruined his music. He started singing like a pussy.

[bassist_25]

unlike Joe Queer, heroin ruined his music. He started singing like a pussy.

...and started worshipping Bowie a little too much. I'd love to see Weiland get clean and STP come out with another kick ass album. Unfortunately, I think I'm being a little too optimistic with that.

[RobTheDrummer]

I always get a bag of shit at practice when I mention doing some STP. Fucking assholes anyway....

[UNEARTHA7XMatt]

I saw them at The BJC a number of years ago and it was one of the best concerts I have ever attended. They did 3 full sets of different styles, and played nearly every song they have recorded. They used 3 separate stage setup for their show as well. They came out rockin', then changed to a more low key acoustic style, then came back out rockin' again. I have always enjoyed their music.

I was at that same show and when they dropped that 2nd stage from the ceiling and did the acoustic set that was just amazing, then pulled the stage back up and did another electric set. What a show!

[VENTGtr]

Love them. One of my favourite bands. Like a lot of the Alt bands, used
great, interesting and complex chord voicings and terrific progressions.

Deleo was a huge Page guy and, ya, his disjointed "lead-y" playing takes
a lot from JP (The non-Professorial variety).

Was in a band for a little while with a bass player who's mainly a Jazz guy.
Didn't care for much Rock stuff. Gave him some STP to take a listen and
he was knocked out: "This guy knows his stuff".

I, too, liked how they progressed and really did like the later stuff as well.
I have some stuff that didn't make albums (From the earlier couple) and
it's really lounge-y/Jazzy. Between that, the later STP, and Weiland's new
album, you can hear a lot of Roxy Music in there. Maybe not for everyone,
but I dig it.

Just saw Weiland on one of the late night shows. Didn't care too much for
the tune he did on there, but some of the other I've heard bits of, pretty
cool.

[DrumAndDestroy]

definitely like their early 90's stuff

[Asundor]

IM A HUGE STP FAN. ALSO SEEN THE SHOW AT THE BRYCE JORDAN CENTER A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO!!!! I HEARD THEY WERE BACK TOGETHER!!!

[Hawk]

My son Shawn played Little League with a Polito boy. Years later Mr. Polito (the dad) ask me how Shawn was doing. I said he moved to Baltimore and was playing in a band.

Mr Polito told me two of his nephews played in a band, but he couldn't remember the name of the band. He added that he once went up to the Bryce Jorden Center to hear them. He wasn't into their music. (Some opener I guessed).

Weeks later I ran into Mr. Polito and his wife at a church function. In our conversation I asked if he remembered the name of the band his nephews were in. He yelled over to his wife, "What's the name of that band that Robby and Dean are in" ?

Mrs. Polito walked over and said, " Oh, ah, Stone Temple Pilots". I just said, "Wow" ! And Mr. Polito ask, "You heard of them "?.

"Yeah, they're famous."

"People did seem like them at the Jorden Center."

[THEM BONES]

Paul, you know I like STP, but Alice in Chains were better....than everyone!

Anyway, I finally heard some of Weiland's solo stuff, not bad, kinda David Bowie-ish.

[bassist_25]

Paul, you know I like STP, but Alice in Chains were better....than everyone!

LOL I had a feeling you were going to say that. Maybe it's because that was "my time period of music," but IMO, a lot of really great rock music came from out of the 90s. All of the bands had an original sound. It wasn't so cookie cutter like it is nowadays.

[RobTheDrummer]

I think AIC is my favorite of that era as well.

[onegunguitar]

I like STP but I gotta agree,Alice In Chains wrote some killer tunes.

[VENTGtr]

LOL I had a feeling you were going to say that. Maybe it's because that was
"my time period of music," but IMO, a lot of really great rock music came
from out of the 90s. All of the bands had an original sound. It wasn't so
cookie cutter like it is nowadays.

Although I guess it wasn't <i>technically</i> my period of music, most of my favourite
rock stuff was released then. Just the cross-section of the genre was great.
Between all the "Seattle" stuff (Screaming Trees, CandleBox, PJ, Soundgarden...
with the exception of Kim Thayil....), Matthew Sweet was doing well, Sugar, Aimee
Mann's solo stuff was just coming out, Chris Isaak's best albums, Collective
Soul I really dug, Counting Crows has some great stuff, IME, OLP, STP, AIC and
a lot of others whose initials aren't commonly used.

I wasn't big on most of the "hair" stuff at all, and it had all gotten to be pretty
much the same as it is now...though often with even worse lyrics, as impossible
as that can seem...so it was all pretty refreshing.

[whitedevilone]

At least they're not Pearl Jam.

[HurricaneBob]

I remember playing Dead and Bloated with Korruption. Great band.
Cool story Hawk!

[bassist_25]

Although I guess it wasn't <i>technically</i> my period of music, most of my favourite
rock stuff was released then. Just the cross-section of the genre was great.
Between all the "Seattle" stuff (Screaming Trees, CandleBox, PJ, Soundgarden...
with the exception of Kim Thayil....), Matthew Sweet was doing well, Sugar, Aimee
Mann's solo stuff was just coming out, Chris Isaak's best albums, Collective
Soul I really dug, Counting Crows has some great stuff, IME, OLP, STP, AIC and
a lot of others whose initials aren't commonly used.

I wasn't big on most of the "hair" stuff at all, and it had all gotten to be pretty
much the same as it is now...though often with even worse lyrics, as impossible
as that can seem...so it was all pretty refreshing.

Dave, I dig all of that stuff. Of course, I Mother Earth will always be the most underrated band to ever come out of Canada...and in the scheme of things, Rush is pretty underrated, so that tells you just how underrated is I Mother Earth. Collective Soul was definitely one of my favorite bands from that time period as well. I still remember finding Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid at the indoor flea market in Ducansville when I was like 13. I listened to that disk nonstop. They got a little too produced for me, but those first three or four albums were awesome. They're one of those bands that I've seen people try to cover, and they always end up short.

I think I first became aware of Chris Isaak from the television show, Parker Lewis (Can't Lose), which was another piece of awesomeness from the 90s. I think I'm one of the few people who get the line, "Syrnchronize watches." I remember that Parker's rocker friend made a reference to Isaak.

[VENTGtr]

I Mother Earth will always be the most underrated band to
ever come out of Canada...and in the scheme of things, Rush is pretty underrated,
so that tells you just how underrated is I Mother Earth.

Absolutely. I'd really like for IME to do something now. Jag Tanna does a lot of
Production and A&R, nowadays. The IME albums always sounded so good. Would
be cool to hear it now (Unlikely though).

I also agree that the CS stuff got too slick. BUT, guess it's just part of the way
thigns are now. One of my favourite parts of all that stuff was the not-overslick,
overdone, bland production.

For me, the best Chris Isaak album is "San Francisco Days". Just great songwriting,
The Silvertones are/were amazing players who were ALWAYS tasteful, musical,
restrained, and every note, every sound was perfect. Nothing to prove except
playing for the song like nobody's business. Was just sitting in the backyard last
night and played a few tunes off it as the mosquitos tore into me and I tore into
some Black & Tans.