Grunge Pioneers Are Back Again

Back in the 1990s, Stone Temple Pilots were one of the most prominent names in the grunge movement. Creatively spearheaded by the DiLeo brothers, Dean and Robert, and featuring the incredible talents of Scott Weiland out front, the band had a string of successful hits throughout the decade.

However, Weiland’s struggles with drugs and erratic behavior led to a falling-out with the rest of the band in 2002. They regrouped in 2010 and released a critically acclaimed self-titled record, but tensions with Weiland reached new heights, to the point where the legendary singer was officially fired from the band. In 2013, STP decided to go a new route, bringing in Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington. Despite the stark contrast between the two voices, Bennington, a longtime fan, performed well with the group. However, he began to have trouble balancing the rigorous touring schedules that fronting two legendary bands required, and in 2015 he amicably parted ways with the band to focus more on Linkin Park and his family.

In 2018, STP is debuting a new vocalist, Jeff Gutt (most well-known for his second-place finish on The X Factor in 2013), and releasing a brand new, self-titled record, Stone Temple Pilots. On this record, one can tell right off the bat that Gutt’s voice sounds a lot more similar to Weiland’s than Bennington’s ever did, in both tone and range. Musically, the band sounds like they haven’t aged a day, as the songs on Stone Temple Pilots rock just as hard as the ones on Core, their debut, did 25 years ago.

Both DiLeo brothers and drummer Eric Kretz have just as much energy as ever, despite all of them being over 50. Songs such as “Meadow” and “Guilty” are fist-pumping arena rock anthems, while “Thought She’d Be Mine” and “The Art of Letting Go” showcase the group’s softer side.

It’s not groundbreaking or genre-busting territory for the band, or for rock music in general, but it’s at the very least fun to see them making new music again. Here’s hoping they continue to do so for as long as they feel like it.