Holy crap is right. I know this is not really breaking news at all, but I’ve been a fan of STP’s from the very, very beginning. Way back in my college days at SUNY Cortland, circa 1992, I was the metal music directory at our college radio station 90.5 WSUC FM (”SUC on your FM dial and we’ll come in your ear” - seriously we said that). One afternoon a CD single single (remember those, true believers?) came across my desk, it was “Sex Type Thing” from a new band called Stone Temple Pilots. Now many of my colleagues brushed them off as “Pearl Jam ripoffs” - but quite frankly, I never saw or heard that at all. I recognized them for exactly what they were…incredibly talented and incredibly fresh. I distinctly remember writing my notes on the jewel case (so the DJ’s would know which tracks to play on air for the new music rotation) and finishing them up with a “these guys will probably be insanely popular.” Prophetic, maybe. Fanboy, definitely.
The fanboy was cemented in my mind when I saw them live in NYC during the CMJ Music Festival in 92. STP is one of those bands that just completely come alive when they perform. If you’ve never seen Weiland come out on stage in a Zorro outfit, flailing his arms widely as he grins and grits his teeth, well… you haven’t lived, my friend, you just haven’t lived.
“Sex Type Thing” kicked my ass from the second it hit my ears and I’ve followed STP ever since. The band helped define an era for me with music that was not only skillfully written but had a lyrical soul that was sorely needed at that time in music. Don’t get me wrong, I was a HUGE fan of 80’s hair metal (and still am) - but after a while, I really didn’t want to hear about how many girls you can bang and who long you can do it for. STP wrote intelligent songs and never insulted their audience. They even helped usher in the unplugged era (along with Tesla) when Dean with just his guitar and Scott with just his mic performed “Plush” live on Headbanger’s Ball.
I’ve followed the members of STP through several incarnations including Weiland’s solo album, 12 bar blues; the Weiland-less STP (with Dave Coutts on vocals) as Talk Show; The Guns & Roses/STP mash-up Velvet Revolver, and the Filter/STP mash-up Army of Anyone. I’ve loved it all - there is true musical genius flowing through all of those bands.
So, needless to say I’m excited to catch them on tour and can’t wait to hear what’s next. I’m already on line at the Vatican gift shop.
- Official STP Site
- STP Tour Dates
Oh yeah, set your TiVo’s for Jimmy Kimmel Live on May 1st. They’re reported to be one.
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