Update: Stone Temple Pilots Fire Scott Weiland
Stone Temple Pilots have parted ways with lead singer Scott Weiland. The group announced the decision this morning in a single sentence press release: “Stone Temple Pilots have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland.” STP reformed in 2008 after a five-year hiatus and toured heavily through last year. It’s unclear if they plan on carrying on with a new vocalist.
By apparent coincidence, Rolling Stone spoke with Scott Weiland late yesterday and he denied all rumors that he had been fired from the band. “STP has not broken up,” he said. “I haven’t quit. I haven’t been fired.” The rumors began a couple of months ago when Slash said in an interview that STP had fired Weiland.
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“Slash doesn’t know anything about STP,” Weiland countered yesterday. “We’re talking right now about when we want to tour next.”
Weiland is launching a solo tour next month that will focus almost entirely on material from the first two STP albums, but he insisted the band very much remains a priority. “My personal feeling is that we need some new blood in the band,” he said. “We’ve been playing the same greatest hits set since we got back together. I’d like to make a new record. It will breathe new life into the group.”
He does acknowledge the group has been going through a rocky period. “There were some hurt egos,” he says. “But that’s the way it is. No one has ever fired anybody in STP. We’re like a family. It’s also a partnership. I started the band. We’ve always kept things going. We’ve taken time off before. They’ve done their own projects and I fully support that. No one has been fired and I haven’t quit. That’s all hearsay.”
Check back soon for an extended interview with Weiland about his upcoming solo tour, his desire to return to Velvet Revolver and why he feels his reputation as a difficult bandmate is undeserved.
UPDATE, 2:40 PM EST: Scott Weiland has released the following statement to Rolling Stone through a spokesperson:
I learned of my supposed “termination” from Stone Temple Pilots this morning by reading about it in the press. Not sure how I can be “terminated” from a band that I founded, fronted and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that’s something for the lawyers to figure out. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing all of my fans on my solo tour which starts this Friday. – Scott Weiland