Though the Stone Temple Pilots are firmly classified under the "Frat-douche rock" category, they have a place in my musical heart for how great their singles were. Critics passed off STP as another band riding the Grunge wave that Nirvana and Pearl Jam launched into the National conscience, but Scott Weiland and company carved their own niche within the music label manufactured genre with touches of punk and psychedelic rock.
Weiland possessed what you would expect from the frontman of a widely successful band. The overt sexuality and flamboyance of David Bowie with vocals that had shades of legendary Doors leader Jim Morrisson, along with a reckless stage presence. Brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo manned the bass and guitar respectively and contributed heavily to the band's memorable riffs throughout their career.Drummer Eric Kretz rounded up the lineup, who got their big break by signing with Atlantic Records.
STP debut-ed with Core, and it's lead single "Sex Type Thing" reached #23 on the Billboard charts in 1992. It was followed up with "Plush" which became a massive hit for the San Diego based quartet that quickly infiltrated rock radio stations across the country. 1994's Purple established STP as front runners in the alternative scene. "Creep", "Vasoline", "Interstate Love Song", and "Big Empty" were all major hits that pushed the album to go platinum six times.
After the releases of Tiny Music...Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop in 1997,No.4 in 1999, and Shangri-La De Da in 2001, the band went on an extended hiatus. The break was mainly fueled by Weiland's excessive and highly publicized battle with drug use, which plagued the band since it's formation. Weiland went on to front the rock supergroup Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined Army of Anyone with Filter singer Richard Patrick. In 2008, STP got back together, playing radio station KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas. In 2009 they announced that they were in the process of recording a new record that could be out later in the year (But given the volatile nature within the iconic group, don't hold your breath.)
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