In a recent interview with Rick Beato, bassist Robert DeLeo reminisced about the early days of Stone Temple Pilots and the pivotal decision he made with the band’s late frontman, Scott Weiland. The two had to navigate their way through fate and tough choices before they finally formed the legendary rock group. DeLeo shared details about the formation of the band in his interview.
Stone Temple Pilots, also known as STP, emerged in the early 1990s, quickly becoming a prominent alternative rock band. Their unique blend of grunge, hard rock, and psychedelic influences garnered them a dedicated following and solidified their place in rock history, which all began with the disbandment of another band in their past.
In his conversation with Beato, DeLeo revealed that before Stone Temple Pilots was formed, he, Scott Weiland, and drummer Eric Kretz were part of another group that didn’t quite align with their musical vision. The three decided to part ways with the other members of the band, and DeLeo took on the task of convincing his brother, Dean DeLeo, to rekindle his passion for guitar playing and join them in creating a new group.
DeLeo recounted the moment in the interview, saying:
“He was the person. Yes, [I randomly met him through an ad.] It turns out that him (Eric Kretz) and Scott [Weiland] were both born in San Jose in the same hospital. Then, we kind of went on with Scott, Eric, and myself with two other members that – it just kind of dissolved. It wasn’t musically what I was wanting to do. I said to Scott – I remember the call – I said, ‘I want to continue, and if you want to continue, then let’s do this.’ He told one of the members, ‘We’re not doing it anymore.’ And I got to tell the other member, ‘We’re not doing it anymore.’ Dean [DeLeo], at the time, was getting back into [the] guitar. He put it down for a while to get this job in San Diego, and working at Mesa Boogie, I got him some gear, which got him back into his playing. It was the kind of thing when the four of us got together. It just was like, you know [explosion sound]. It all kind of came together.”
Robert DeLeo’s candid recollection of the band’s formation highlights the challenges that musicians often face in their pursuit of creative fulfillment. The story of Stone Temple Pilots serves as a testament to the power of determination and collaboration. It is a reminder that sometimes, making tough decisions can lead to something extraordinary, and in the case of STP, a lasting legacy in the world of rock music.
