Stone Temple Pilots are paying tribute to their former singer, Scott Weiland, on the first anniversary of his passing.
Weiland – who parted ways with STP in 2013 and spent the next two years working on solo music and his group The Wildabouts – died in Bloomington, MN on December 3, 2015 at the age of 48 from an accidental overdose while on tour.
“Here we are. A year has passed since you've been gone,” writes STP by way of a Facebook tribute on Saturday. “We often think of you and are reminded of you daily with many memories. Then there is the music the four of us carved out allowing us to listen and feel how brilliant you are.
“There was a time when we looked up to one another. Each of us wanting one another's approval. The songs we wrote had to have complete impact on us in order for them to shine. When it did... it was unearthly.
“Perhaps you are in a place now to better describe it. We miss you Scott.”
Weiland teamed up with bassist Robert DeLeo, guitarist Dean DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz in San Diego, California in the late 1980s and performed as Mighty Joe Young before the group changed its name to Stone Temple Pilots.
The band’s 1992 debut, “Core”, peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 on its way to selling more than 8 million copies in the States alone. Their 1994 follow-up, “Purple”, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to sell 6 million in the US.
STP rode a string of hits and declining album sales before disbanding in 2002 after Weiland reportedly wore out his welcome with the DeLeo brothers.
The singer joined supergroup Velvet Revolver in 2003. Featuring former Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, the band was rounded out by former Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner. Touring and a second album, 2007’s “Libertad”, followed before Weiland returned to STP in 2008.
The reunion resulted in tours and 2010’s self-titled release before Weiland was fired from the group in 2013 and replaced by Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, who remained in the lineup until exiting in 2015.
This past spring, STP issued an open call for submissions as part of a search for a new lead singer, and recently confirmed they are rehearsing with several candidates as they work towards adding a new member to the group.
See also:
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Stone Temple Pilots prepare to begin new singer auditions
VIDEO: Stone Temple Pilots reunite with Chester Bennington for charity show
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Search Stone Temple Pilots at hennemusic
