Ok folks, Rik clearly is not allowed to, or does not feel the need to talk. Totally respect that.
So let’s do what we have been doing at a world-class level for over 20 years: speculate and make up wild things.
Take this with a grain of salt, a bit of humor and a tad of reality all jammed together. Anything that looks like it is stated as a fact below is totally in my head and I wanted to unleash it onto the STP world.
Without further ado, Long Way Home’s totally made up theory, entitled “Stone Temple Pilots: delighting fans since 1992 and punking them since about 1996”
—-STP pays Rik to keep this site going. It’s a great investment for them because their site stinks and the real fans are here. That is why things had cranked up on the site within the last year or so.
—-When STPs launch of Perdida crashed because of Jeff’s “back” cough “problems” cough, they decided to get cheap and pull their deal. Rik, understandably, said heck with this, pulled the site and had me huddled in the corner crying for 90+ days waiting for the site to come back. Totally get that move by Rik.
—-By the way, Jeff was in drug or alcohol rehab. Boy, I hope I am wrong. He looked great in San Diego last Fall. But sorry STP, I don’t believe back problems, vocal rest or any other BS you throw my way. Not going to be able to ever do it. I still love you. I think you are incredible. You still get my money. But I don’t believe you. Plus he looked like hell in one of the video interviews he did with Robert about Perdida.
—-STP is just forever doomed. They missed being able to blame their cancellations on COVID by like four weeks. It is hilarious, and a perfect microcosm for their career and our fan experience.
—-By the way, Perdida is cool. They did a nice job. Jeff was on drugs. Those two things are not related, but this is fun.
—-STP finally came to their senses and decided to reengage Rik with their previously agreed to deal. Whatever they are paying him is probably one-fifth of the value of Rik’s work. Once they started paying again, Ta-da — Below Empty is back online.
—-If that’s what is and did happen, good for Rik. He deserves it!
—-If it was some Mary BS like people have said, that is really short sighted on her and her idiot lawyers part. Below Empty is about the only place keeping her kids’ father’s legacy alive. Rik should probably get 1/100th of every STP royalty dollar. Just saying.
—-If Brendan O’Brien is the fifth member of the original STP, Rik is the sixth.
—-Back to Jeff: He seems like a good dude. No, he’s not Scott, blah blah blah, but more importantly he puts on a hell of a live show, is on time, and seems to respect fans except for this bout with drugs or alcohol that killed that intimate theatre tour in February.
—-I hope they bring back that theatre tour idea. I was pumped for that and already had a ticket for the Los Angeles show.
Hope you enjoyed!