I went to see the Stone Temple Pilots on Sunday night in Wallingford Ct. On the drive down from Boston I was thinking about how much history there is between Aerosmith and STP and also a little bit involving me too. I remember my cousin, who was from Pasadina CA, giving me his copy of “Core” when he came to visit around Christmas 1992. I thought now this is my kind of music. I liked Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and even early Pearl Jam but STP was the s*#t for me. Then came 1993’s Aerosmith blockbuster album “Get a Grip.” I remember when the band was going through the list of candidates for openers in the Spring of 1993 and STP’s name kept coming up. The band wanted them so bad and then finally management came back and said we made them an offer and they have decided to pass. I was thinking how can this band pass on such a great tour. That’s when I realized that STP was different and they wanted to make their own rules and they did. Fast forward 3 years later and they are headlining Madison Square Garden. They invited Steven and Joe down to the show. We were at Avitar Studio’s working on Nine Lives in NYC at the time. The guys popped down and played “Sweet Emotion” and “Lick and a Promise” if memory serves me right. 2 nights later I got to see them play in Boston at the Fleet Center. They were at the top of their game. The following year Joe and Steven had Robert Deleo come down to the Marlin Hotel in Florida to write some songs. Although none of the 4 songs that the trio worked up during that time have been used you can still hear Steven humming them from time to time. Maybe they will see the light of day soon. In 1997 STP took some time off and Robert and Dean formed “Talk Show.” Talk Show opened a bunch of shows for the ‘Smith’s on the Nine Lives tour in America. The first couple of shows they were met with a luke warm response. After the 2nd show Joe stormed into their dressing room and practically ordered them to add some STP songs into their set. Joe has been there and done that. He knew from experience that for the crowd to get into them they had to play something that was familiar to them. “Swallow your pride and give them what they want” he said. I think Joe, Steven and Robert got together for a few days after that tour to write some more but again nothing substantial came about it. It’s no secret drug problems plagued STP like they plague a lot of bands. STP was all set to open up some dates for KISS on their reunion tour but had to cancel. Ironically enough they were replaced by Alice in Chains. Alice in Chains opened up for KISS at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on the opening night of the tour and then played 3 more shows. Those were AIC’s last shows with Layne Staley. He died of a drug overdose some years later.
Enter Velvet Revolver:
With the band taking 2005 off I found myself with some extra time on my hand’s. Ross Halfin asked me if I would be interested in working with Velvet Revolver and I jumped at the chance. This is when I first got introduced to Scott Weiland. I had quickly found that Steven and Scott are very similar. Both amazing front men. They both command the stage and are great singers. I would have to give ST the edge in the vocal department only because I get to hear him night after night and I can count on one hand the number of clams I have heard after close to 1000 shows. Scott like Steven is a perfectionist and it shows. After I left VR and went to work with Sabbath I still kept up with those guys. Mainly because they opened a bunch of shows for us. After their next album and tour you could almost see the writing on the wall and it was in this time I believe Joe said in an interview that they should reform Stone Temple Pilots. They have always been one of Joe’s favorite bands and you could tell because he constantly gives them props in the press and is always blaring from his boombox in his dressing room. Incidentally Joe asked Robert and Dean to be in his solo band. They had to decline because they were heading out on tour with their band Army of Anyone.
Now they are back and they have a bunch of Aerosmith’s crew with them. Joey’s drum tech and former employee of the week, “Magee” is Eric Kretz’s tech. Steve Drymalski who is Aero’s production manager is driving the ship in camp STP. Sam Ridgebrider who patrolled the backstage with his wardrobe henchwomen Liz Meyer and Lisa Bruno on many Aerosmith tours can be seen being Scott’s right hand man. Look for Scott’s megaphone and Sam won’t be far off.
Do yourself a favor and go see this band. They will be playing all summer long at a venue near you.
Dean DeLeo, Magee, John B. and Robert DeLeo
Scott Weiland - Photo By: John Bionelli
Which brings me back to the beginning. 3 months after my cousin Eric gave me his copy of “Core” he tragically passed away. I still have it. Thanks buddy!
See you on the Road!
John B.
