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Stone Temple Pilots Roll Out the Hits for Return at Rock on the Range Festival

5/19/08, 10:40 am EST

“Good to see you again,” said a casual Scott Weiland on Saturday, as if delivering a greeting to an intimate cocktail party rather than 30,000 people in a soccer stadium. Luckily, the feeling was mutual as the newly reunited Stone Temple Pilots headlined the first night of the Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio Saturday night, their first full-scale show together in nearly eight years.

Opening with the sleepy Purple single “Big Empty,” the tone of the show was more subdued than most of the previous bands on the bill, especially Disturbed, who went on just before STP and whipped the crowd into a mosh-happy frenzy. The crowd surfing, at least, made a late night come back at STP followed the opener with harder rocking fare like Core’s “Wicked Garden” and Tiny Music…’s “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart.”

With a cigarette in his mouth and a dapper three-piece suit hanging off his slight frame, Weiland, joined by bassist Robert DeLeo, guitarist Dean DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz, led the crowd on a tour of the band’s greatest hits, including “Creep,” “Plush,” “Interstate Love Song” and “Sour Girl,” each providing enough of a sing-along to compensate for the relative lack of edge that most of the crowd seemed to crave and reminded everybody within earshot that this band was built for massive arena-ready singles.

By the time the night was over and the band launched into an encore of “Dead and Bloated,” Weiland had ditched his jacket, vest, tie, hat and the buttons on his shirt, propelling him into full rock-god mode, a return to form just in time for the 60-some shows yet to come. He was clearly glad to be back, and the crowd was happy to have him.

[Photo: Brecheisen/WireImage]


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Comments

nick s | 3/31/2009, 1:42 pm EST

i loved your show to it was the best

RS Couldn't review a ham | 5/27/2008, 4:50 pm EST

sandwich much less a band reunion. Stick to the Hanna Montana articles RS, that is all you are good for anymore.

Slash | 5/25/2008, 7:27 pm EST

I will be the lead singer on my next album bitches!

FiascoRhymes | 5/24/2008, 6:04 pm EST

It’s about time they got back together. Sadly if Staind and Disturbed are the opening acts I will be in the parking lot until that crap is finished. They should be touring with R.E.M. or newer bands and not some washed up jock/testosterone dork bands. Jaagerbombs

Darren J | 5/23/2008, 7:25 pm EST

actually STP is an excellent, totally professional and original rock band - they have written classic songs and are extremely well rehearsed. the guitarist is one of the best in the business, who pursues vintage tone and gear and their singer is one of a kind. if you don’t like them, it’s a personal thing, so get over it. oh, and whoever said that Whitesnake was a reunion to look for… Whitesnake? are you serious? they were a prepackaged bunch of glam rock corporate crap to begin with… wow… Whitesnake? that’s really, really comical. for shame!

O'C | 5/23/2008, 5:54 pm EST

Saw them last night in chicago and thew completely rocked. Great, great show.

Paul | 5/23/2008, 2:57 pm EST

nearly eight years? i saw them in 2002. thats six im pretty sure. and if you don’t like stp, why waste time posting about them?

Paul | 5/23/2008, 2:57 pm EST

nearly eight years? i saw them in 2002. thats six im pretty sure. and if you don’t like stp, why waste time posting about them?

Anonymous | 5/23/2008, 2:57 pm EST

nearly eight years? i saw them in 2002. thats six im pretty sure. and if you don’t like stp, why waste time posting about them?

rick | 5/23/2008, 1:40 pm EST

give me a break arliss

arliss | 5/23/2008, 1:21 pm EST

STP are terrible. If you wanna talk reunion tour, check out Whitesnake. Much, much better than STP

arliss | 5/23/2008, 1:21 pm EST

STP are terrible. If you wanna talk reunion tour, check out Whitesnake. Much, much better than STP

me | 5/22/2008, 8:53 pm EST

stp rocks

Anonymous | 5/22/2008, 5:08 pm EST

another extremely overrated ‘band’coming for a comeback, well hard to comeback when the dude fronting it can’t keep his life together, what a poser Weiland is. For a band that’s been ‘around for a while’ I can’t think of any tunes of thiers that zare at all memorable. When they first came out, everyone thought they were pearl jam knock offs, later they just became a huge cliched joke. and still are given the lack of new ‘music’ wait till either he falls off the wagon this summer, goes back to jail, or just finally kicks it on dope, frickin loser!

Janice (Victoria, B.C. Canada) | 5/22/2008, 3:59 pm EST

I flew down to this festival, fantastic will be back next year. However we left after the Vasoline about the 4th song in. Very disappointed he looked as though he was barely hanging on andlooked like crap. I heard that after about the 6th song he kicked in. VR was much better in concert.

DownTownDJBrown | 5/22/2008, 1:07 pm EST

Drove from Tx to Ohio just to see the boys. That wonderful chemistry was back, they joked and played off of one another. Being a true STP fan for life, I enjoyed myself and hear those great riffs again. I saw them in Vegas right before they split and I’d have to say they are playing very well. Can’t wait to see them again in Dallas!

Jamie | 5/22/2008, 1:07 pm EST

My best friend and I drove from Texas to Ohio just for to see STP. I had never seen them before and they were all I had hoped for! The weather was perfect, the people we met were awesome. I was a little surprised at the lack of enthusiam from the crowd. In Dallas the crowd is always out of control and the pit is a little scary at times! :-) Good times were had though and we’ll definetly make that trip again!

Anonymous | 5/22/2008, 9:29 am EST

I was there. STP sounded great, but not that same. I didn’t stay through their entire show, leaving before the last three songs. 12 hours in the crowd, the heat, being dehydrated, and hungover had taken their tolls on myself and others. While they did a good set, I didn’t get to hear one of my favs, “Unglued”.

boatman | 5/21/2008, 7:16 pm EST

I only listen to VR because of Weiland but you can’t beat Slash’s guitars. Why not invite Slash to join STP? As a 2nd guitarist?

SP | 5/21/2008, 10:58 am EST

I love STP, and I am glad to see them together again. But please, don’t screw it all up Scott with drugs. Stay sober and it will be a big success. STP rules!!

Dave | 5/21/2008, 12:17 am EST

Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy have chunks of bands like VR in their stool!

boatman | 5/20/2008, 9:44 pm EST

I still don’t understand Tiny Music……. STP experimented more than VR but I prefer those chords Slash uses on Libertad.
If Axl was serious about making music he’s collaborate with Slash but he’s too scared of messing up.
Anyway, the new King’s X is fantastic.

Clinton Fewls Contraster | 5/20/2008, 2:30 pm EST

Dante is correct. I was at a FULL-SCALE show of STP in October of 2002. Scott got naked and wrapped himself up in the American Flag…it was the ultimate display of patriotism…

harry | 5/20/2008, 1:35 pm EST

They sold twinkies for $7 a piece and I ate 9…heheheh. I drank a gallon of buttermilk during the show and ate 2 pounds of scallops.

Lloyd | 5/20/2008, 11:43 am EST

Oh, and P.S. i hope they play “lady picture show”

Lloyd | 5/20/2008, 11:43 am EST

Oh, and P.S. i hope they play “lady picture show”

Perry | 5/20/2008, 11:36 am EST

You’re a dumb ass!

Sybill | 5/20/2008, 5:05 am EST

I feel I have to come clean.

Joe R, Jessica, Sara Jon G., Dante, morgan, boatman, Bayliss, Ali, Swingline, Bobby, Josh, black bottom, arch stanton, Anonymous, Midwest, Brian, Slash are all me!

Please forgive me.

I have to keep typing in order to stop the HORRIBLE VOICES IN MY HEAD! aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Slash | 5/19/2008, 11:44 pm EST

Good riddance to rubbish. Flash in the pan redux.

Brian | 5/19/2008, 11:25 pm EST

I was there, and they were everything I had hoped for. Weiland sounded amazing, and the band was just as good as they were 12 years ago! I was so happy to see a band that I had wanted to see since high school.

Midwest | 5/19/2008, 10:35 pm EST

I saw VR at a show here in Iowa in February. No opening act, just VR. The show was AMAZING and there was no sense of problems between the band members. The show absolutely ROCKED and they killed. The only thing that will make me happier than that show did is to finally see STP live. VR will be fine once they find a new singer but this is STP’s summer and old fans are ready to see them again.

Anonymous | 5/19/2008, 9:32 pm EST

I’m guitly as charged. I wrote all the comments here!

arch stanton | 5/19/2008, 9:04 pm EST

Weiland is a joke. Slash booted him by simply letting him get near rock bottom and then bailing. STP wont last the summer. By then it will be a just enough money for Weiland to profess his “new” sobriety before falling off again and resorting to be the loser he truly is. Long Live Cobain…..

black bottom | 5/19/2008, 8:38 pm EST

It’s great to see some love within STP again. I want to hear a new STP album. And then a heart-tugging VR reunion.

Josh | 5/19/2008, 7:53 pm EST

You are insane if you think Velvet Revolver is better than STP. Not as heated as some band breakups, but these guys did more or less hate each other by the time Shangri-la-dee-da came out. It’s great to see them back together, and I can’t wait to hear new music from them!

Bobby | 5/19/2008, 7:41 pm EST

It’s nice to see Rolling Stone give so much coverage to STP these days. Now if they would just stop putting so much focus on Pete Doherty. What exactly is the fascination with this guy?

Swingline | 5/19/2008, 5:12 pm EST

Festival headliner=opening song=soft ballad?
At the end of the best festival days, most people are too tired to stand up and need a reason to catch a second or fifth wind. Then again, in their day, I can’t think of a single festival they’d have come close to headlining.
Yet another endorsement for the sad state of rock music…

Ali | 5/19/2008, 5:05 pm EST

That is a complete crock that neither Weiland nor Axl appreciated Slash’s talent. It isn’t just about talent. Sometimes people in bands aren’t good fits and sometimes they just grow apart.

Bayliss | 5/19/2008, 4:52 pm EST

the most over rated band ever

boatman | 5/19/2008, 4:43 pm EST

STP are good but VR was better. Libertad is a great album. Slash should’ve tried harder to keep the band together. Unfortunately neither Weiland nor Axl appreciate his talent.

morgan | 5/19/2008, 4:11 pm EST

come on! you know in a year -2years tops scott will screw up again.he’s a classic loser in the sense of how can I piss everybody off? STP countless times,velvet revolver,now its time to do it again! yay!.no thanx scott.

Anonymous | 5/19/2008, 2:50 pm EST

I never Smoked So Much of other people weed in my life…….

Rock on Columbus!!!!!!

Great 2 Day Party

I loved the $8.00 Beers

Dante | 5/19/2008, 2:48 pm EST

Sara,

I saw them in October 2002, and it was a FULL SCALE set.

Jon G. | 5/19/2008, 1:33 pm EST

Anyone know how LONG their set was?

Sara | 5/19/2008, 1:08 pm EST

Dante - First FULL-SCALE set in nearly 8 years.

And OMG!!! They were amazing! Disturbed has crazy energy before STP went on. But Scott and the guys did great. I am still so pumped from this weekend.

Dante | 5/19/2008, 1:01 pm EST

It hasn’t been 8 years since their last show, its been 5 and a half.

Jessica | 5/19/2008, 11:48 am EST

The show was well worth the drive from st. louis to columbus this weekend!! Too bad the release date for the show in Maryland Heights, MO was unknown until after the tickets for columbus were bought! Oh well, I’d do it again!

Joe R | 5/19/2008, 11:44 am EST

Went to show and I have to say it was one for the ages. If you have the opportunity to catch STP near you, take it.

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