IT’S OFFICIAL: STONE TEMPLE PILOTS REUNION TO TAKE PLACE SUMMER 2008

According to a recent report by Billboard, Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash confirmed what the rumor-mongers have been hawking all week: Scott Weiland will resurrect Stone Temple Pilots with his former bandmates for a handful of shows this coming summer. In the meantime, Velvet Revolver will continue touring under already contracted dates through April. There is no word on whether Velvet Revolver plans to record another album, though recent events seem to suggest it’s doubtful.

Last week Weiland was a no-show for a gig in Utah at the Sundance Festival; he later issued a press release revealing that due to severe weather his pilot was unable to fly. Fair enough. Then Duff McKagan had this to say to Classic Rock Magazine: “Why wasn’t Scott there? Scott missed his plane. Yeah, let’s say that, Scott missed his plane…”. When asked about the STP rumors, Duff said, “That’s the rumor that I’ve heard too. Good for him. You can’t plan ahead in this thing and if you do, you’re going to be disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing live and we love this band, but I don’t have expectations any more. This is a great band and I’m proud to be a part of it, but it doesn’t define me anymore.” The long and the short of it: there seems to be some discontent all around in the VR camp.

Libertad was a pretty good album, but the excitement of the whole thing seemed to be missing from the fans once the whole supergroup hubbub wore off. These interviews seem to suggest the band feels the same way. And it’s understandable; how can you feel the same way about a new group (“super-” or not) as you did about the band you cut your teeth in? I think we all knew an STP reunion was inevitable; GN’R remains a mystery. But I’m not gonna lie; I loved STP in their heyday, and Weiland seemed a hell of a lot more comfortable on stage with them than he does in Velvet Revolver. I’ll definitely go see an STP show this summer if it’s anywhere near me.

-VN

Scott Weiland with STP, live at the Rolling Rock Town Fair in Latrobe, PA, 2001:

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