Chester Bennington on Joining STP: "We Definitely Need to Prove Oursleves."

[EyesOfDisarray]

I'm right with you.  Don't mistake LP fans joining this site as true supporters of STP.  This is STP w/ Chester or whatever they're trying to call it, not STP.  As soon as people hear the new music, it will be a quick death and we'll see these guys touring the greatest hits as they've done since the start.  Because nobody will give a shit except some LP fans out there.  And maybe some drunk people in Oklahoma who live near Indian casinos that were given free tickets at the local 711.     

You know, you're certainly entitled to your opinion, so I don't think there's anything wrong with what you're saying here, but I do just want to point out the irony that all the talk about free tickets being given out has been around Scott and the Weedwackers, not STP with Chester.

[LPAssociationDerek]

I'm right with you.  Don't mistake LP fans joining this site as true supporters of STP.  This is STP w/ Chester or whatever they're trying to call it, not STP.  As soon as people hear the new music, it will be a quick death and we'll see these guys touring the greatest hits as they've done since the start.  Because nobody will give a shit except some LP fans out there.  And maybe some drunk people in Oklahoma who live near Indian casinos that were given free tickets at the local 711.   

Riiiiiiight. Those TWO LP fans who have joined the forum are why the majority on this site are supporting the new line-up.

Yep I'm one of those two fans who have joined the forum.

I laugh when reading Chris's posts because Chris fails to realize I've been into Stone Temple Pilots since 1992 (when I was pretty much a kid and my dad used to blare Core on repeat) and that I grew up on STP and own every one of their albums. I only started listening to Linkin Park in 2001.

That's almost a full decade of fandom before Linkin Park came into the picture. Therefore I think it's safe to say I have as much of a right to say what I feel about STP as other fans do. I'm not some newb who has no idea about STP and are a bandwagon jumper. STP were my childhood, and this 'change' was just as hard for me to digest as everyone else. I was in no way biased or an LP fanboy. I approached this project with a critical eye, and have been critical from the very beginning.

And here's my thoughts: Scott fucked up. He didn't get the help when he was supposed to, and he's paid the price for it by getting fired. There were no other vocalists from the 1990s that were like Scott Weiland, and I don't think there's a single person on these boards (myself included) who doesn't wish that things didn't have to be this way and that Scott could've sobered up a decade ago.

But he's not. He's heading down a self destructive path and all these people like Chris can do is turn a blind eye, and it's disgraceful. Scott needs serious help and anybody who is supporting his addictions should be ashamed of themselves. Scott doesn't seem to care much about fixing things, nor did he really seem to care about it before he was fired. He showed up late to shows, sounded positively horrible at shows in 2011-2012 (and most recently as two weeks ago) and he [and only he] is responsible for his termination from the band. He's no better than Axl Rose, and I applaud STP for refusing to deal with his shit. He's a good vocalist, but it's BS that some people on here think that STP should just keep being late to shows, and doing rough performances so a drunk-as-shit Scott Weiland can continue to embarrass them onstage by being a shadow of his former self.

Chester respects the role he's in, and knows he has a lot to prove. He's been tasked with the absolutely impossible job of filling in the shoes of someone who is quite possibly one of the most well known "alternative rock vocalists" of the 1990s. Someone who when he was in his prime, was untouchable and unique to the rest of the 'grunge' movement that exploded in the early 90s. It's a tough job to fill, and Chester has approached it with respect.

Say what you will about him but at least he's showed up on time and been professional since he joined the band. When's the last time we were able to say that about Weiland?

Weiland was great, but anybody who thinks he's still the same as he was in his prime is just being delusional.

[EyesOfDisarray]

Bravo, Derek! Very well said.

It doesn't sound to me like you're "sucking the Deleo brothers' dicks," as Chris would say.

[Strat]

Great post Derek - an adult response to a childish post.

[StoneTempleBrett]

Derek your view is exactly the same as mine, couldn't have said it any better myself.

[LPAssociationDerek]

Bravo, Derek! Very well said.

It doesn't sound to me like you're "sucking the Deleo brothers' dicks," as Chris would say.

Not at all. I just want to see this band continue, and keep making music. It pissed me off how many times this band would seem to go on long hiatuses with Scott at the helm, and how we went from 2 years, to 3 years, to eventually 9 whole years(!!) before we heard another record from them. Linkin Park used to pull that crap with their release schedule (taking 3-4 years between discs - until they followed the 18 month thing they do now) and it annoyed me to no end. With Stone Temple Pilots, I was afraid that after what happened in 2011/2012  we'd never see another record after S/T, and now there's a chance we might get music regularly again.

Yeah it's without Scott, but I stand by the theory that the BS with Scott had a lot to do with why the band kept going on hiatus and barely making music. If Weiland had his act together, I am certain we would've had 2-3 albums since Shangri-La Dee Da instead of just one.

[megafonemaniac]

Interviewer asked great questions.  And I thought Chester did a nice job answering him.  But why didn't the interviewer ask him, if you're out there trying hard to prove yourself why not just start a new band.  Not looking for responses from the peanut gallery but would've been nice to hear the answer.  Always like Chester.  Still not supporting this effort.   

seriously?? peanut gallery?

[Kingpetty]

Nicely done Derek. I think all of us here wish Scott was still the lead man, but sometimes in life major decisions have to be made. Are the Deleos/ Kretz supposed to grow into their 60's / 70's always being at the mercy of Scott ? Reading between the lines it sounds like Robert was on the verge of needing a psychiatrist putting up with this crap. His relationship w/ his family was on the brink & who knows about Dean & Eric's personal situation. They absolutely could not continue w/ the hiatuses, late showings, no showings & drunkenness. Basically it was Scott's way or the highway.

Maybe this firing will wake Scott up, maybe it won't. In the meantime we have a band w/ great energy that's continuing to put out good music for us fans. Chester is giving everything he can to this & really, was there a better choice out there ?

Clearly, I want Scott to be the lead singer, but unless he makes some major changes it won't ever happen again. Let's enjoy this ride while we can. To all of you who can't accept this situation, I totally understand.

[LPAssociationDerek]

Clearly, I want Scott to be the lead singer, but unless he makes some major changes it won't ever happen again. Let's enjoy this ride while we can. To all of you who can't accept this situation, I totally understand.

Sadly, even if he makes those changes I don't know if Robert/Dean would want him back. Robert said in an interview recently that they haven't even been friends for a long time and he seemed pretty adamant that they are done talking entirely and potentially permanently.

Shame cause as much as I do enjoy STPCB, I loved the music the original STP lineup made as well and it's tough to see their relationship deteriorated to basically "your lawyer can talk to my lawyer".

[Chris Pepper]

I'm right with you.  Don't mistake LP fans joining this site as true supporters of STP.  This is STP w/ Chester or whatever they're trying to call it, not STP.  As soon as people hear the new music, it will be a quick death and we'll see these guys touring the greatest hits as they've done since the start.  Because nobody will give a shit except some LP fans out there.  And maybe some drunk people in Oklahoma who live near Indian casinos that were given free tickets at the local 711.   

Riiiiiiight. Those TWO LP fans who have joined the forum are why the majority on this site are supporting the new line-up.

Yep I'm one of those two fans who have joined the forum.

I laugh when reading Chris's posts because Chris fails to realize I've been into Stone Temple Pilots since 1992 (when I was pretty much a kid and my dad used to blare Core on repeat) and that I grew up on STP and own every one of their albums. I only started listening to Linkin Park in 2001.

That's almost a full decade of fandom before Linkin Park came into the picture. Therefore I think it's safe to say I have as much of a right to say what I feel about STP as other fans do. I'm not some newb who has no idea about STP and are a bandwagon jumper. STP were my childhood, and this 'change' was just as hard for me to digest as everyone else. I was in no way biased or an LP fanboy. I approached this project with a critical eye, and have been critical from the very beginning.

And here's my thoughts: Scott fucked up. He didn't get the help when he was supposed to, and he's paid the price for it by getting fired. There were no other vocalists from the 1990s that were like Scott Weiland, and I don't think there's a single person on these boards (myself included) who doesn't wish that things didn't have to be this way and that Scott could've sobered up a decade ago.

But he's not. He's heading down a self destructive path and all these people like Chris can do is turn a blind eye, and it's disgraceful. Scott needs serious help and anybody who is supporting his addictions should be ashamed of themselves. Scott doesn't seem to care much about fixing things, nor did he really seem to care about it before he was fired. He showed up late to shows, sounded positively horrible at shows in 2011-2012 (and most recently as two weeks ago) and he [and only he] is responsible for his termination from the band. He's no better than Axl Rose, and I applaud STP for refusing to deal with his shit. He's a good vocalist, but it's BS that some people on here think that STP should just keep being late to shows, and doing rough performances so a drunk-as-shit Scott Weiland can continue to embarrass them onstage by being a shadow of his former self.

Chester respects the role he's in, and knows he has a lot to prove. He's been tasked with the absolutely impossible job of filling in the shoes of someone who is quite possibly one of the most well known "alternative rock vocalists" of the 1990s. Someone who when he was in his prime, was untouchable and unique to the rest of the 'grunge' movement that exploded in the early 90s. It's a tough job to fill, and Chester has approached it with respect.

Say what you will about him but at least he's showed up on time and been professional since he joined the band. When's the last time we were able to say that about Weiland?

Weiland was great, but anybody who thinks he's still the same as he was in his prime is just being delusional.

I dig Chester.  And the whole fucking universe knows Scott's got problems.  I'm just not into settling for karaoke.  You want to spend your time and money on the product that's being served up, it's a free country.  But I will not.  I'd much rather here some new music than 1.5 hours of karaoke.  I get the curiosity, but at some point these guys will have to stand on their own.  I realize that it's not today, but it will come.  And the new EP sucks the life out of a room, it's just not good music IMO.  Thus, I'm concluding they'll be back singing music Scott wrote just like they always do.     

[EyesOfDisarray]

It is sad, and I think it's something the Scott defenders here seem to be forgetting: From what we've heard so far, Scott's relationship with his bandmates had become solely a business arrangement. They didn't talk, they didn't travel together on tour, hell... I don't think they really liked each other. And how can you blame the other three after all the embarrassments Scott caused STP? It sounds like it had gotten to the point where when Scott had an obligation with the band, he showed up [late and drunk], did his part, collected his check, and went home. If you need to reach me, contact my manager and he'll get me the message. Who would want to be in a band with that guy? Whether because of ego or addiction (probably both), he had become an awful bandmate. Even at that level of success, I would think bandmates should still get along well enough that they can call each other on the damn phone.

Enter Chester -- a guy who is an established singer in his own right, with another wildly successful band, who happens to be a huge STP fan and has a history with the band. Not only that, but the guy shows up on time, is a joy to work with, and does a damn fine job of crafting quality vocals, while staying faithful to STP's legacy. It's a no-brainer.

Seriously, how can anyone defend Scott anymore? I love the guy, but he fucked up. Plain as day. The Deleos and Kretz are 100% in the right to have fired him and brought in Chester to continue as Stone Temple Pilots.

I don't think Scott is a bad person. He was my idol growing up, and I still admire him for everything he's achieved as an artist. But even our idols make mistakes, and let's face it: he has made A LOT. I wish only good things for Scott, and I will still be following him in his career, because I will always be a fan of his. But I also hope he finds some humility. I think his life and his music will be better for it.

[PigsinZen]

And unsurprisingly everyone comes to the defense of the Deleos... Scott needs help, he has fucked up and held the band back but the band cannot be STP without him. When people compare them to the modern day Zeppelin, they are correct. Just like Zeppelin, STP cannot be STP without all 4 members.

[EyesOfDisarray]

Scott needs help

Yes he does, and the help is out there, but he needs to be the one to seek it out. He knows it. This isn't his first rodeo.

[chloesdad]

And unsurprisingly everyone comes to the defense of the Deleos... Scott needs help, he has fucked up and held the band back but the band cannot be STP without him. When people compare them to the modern day Zeppelin, they are correct. Just like Zeppelin, STP cannot be STP without all 4 members.

Agreed that Scott needs help.  With that said, it's easy to defend the Deleos when they have never been the reason for a late or cancelled show.  How many reviews have you read after an STP show where people were pissed off because Roberts bass sounded horrible?  Or Dean playing the wrong riffs of a song?  People seem to have forgotten rather quickly just how bad the last tour was and how bad the reviews were because of Scotts performance/behavior. 
The band, in my opinion, is doing the right thing by labeling themselves as Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington.  They aren't trying to pass this off as just STP.  You know you're getting the real music of STP with someone else singing.   

[lovemachine97]

The bottom line is that great music will help people think of this as Stone Temple Pilots. Are there people who still have never accepted Sammy Hagar's tenure in Van Halen? Absolutely. I have mentioned several times that the fights happening here happen in perpetuity at Van Halen websites. And there were some people who just could not accept the music even though they tried. But 5150, for the time, had some great, melodic, catchy hit songs that made the album incredibly successful.


If this and STP's next release sort of fall flat, it will be much harder to get that acceptance.