Stone Temple Pilots und Local H

Stone Temple Pilots, formerly known as Swing and Mighty Joe Young, was originally formed of frontman Scott Weiland, bassist Robert DeLeo, drummer Eric Kretz and guitarist Dean DeLeo. As Mighty Joe Young the band recorded and released a demo in 1990, many of which tracks featured on the band’s debut LP. After developing a fan base by playing regularly in the San Diego area they were informed the name Mighty Joe Young had already been claimed and thus came Stone Temple Pilots.

The band signed with Atlantic Records in 1992, the same year Stone Temple Pilots released their debut album “Core” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The album claimed significant commercial success, however the band were seen by the critical press as grunge imitators, copying the revered band such as Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains.

Stone Temple Pilots debuted the song “Big Empty” on an episode on MTV Unplugged in 1993 in anticipation of their sophomore album “Purple” in June 1994. Selling over three million copies in just four months, “Purple” was led by the hits “Vasoline” and “Interstate Love Song”.

Taking a more glam rock, psychedelic rock direction Stone Temple Pilots’ third studio album “Tiny Music… Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop” was recorded at a rented mansion in Santa Barbara, California, U.S. The album was a favourite of the band’s among critics although it failed to hold such popular commercial appeal as its predecessors. After the release Weiland, who had previously struggled with a heroin addiction, relapsed and the band cancelled their tour and support lot on Kiss’ reunion tour.

The band without Weiland under the moniker Talk Show released one eponymously titled album in 1997 before calling it a day. A year later frontman Weiland released his debut solo album “12 Bar Blues” in 1998 to moderate critical acclaim. The same year Stone Temple Pilots reunited and began work on “Shangri-La Dee Da” which got its release in the summer of 2001, although with a lack of label promotion the album was a commercial disappointment.

In 2003 label Atlantic Records pushed a greatest hits album, and frontman Weiland formed the successful supergroup Velvet Revolver with Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan and former Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner. After releasing two album “Contraband” in 2004 and “Libertad” in 2007, Weiland left the group.

Stone Temple Pilots’ members reconciled with one another at a private beach party they were asked to play which led to the announcement of a 65-date North American tour and an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Shortly after in 2008 Weiland released his sophomore solo album ““Happy” in Galoshes” and the Stone Temple Pilots release a self-titled sixth studio album on May 25, 2010.

In 2013 it was announced Weiland had been fired from the group and his official replacement Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. Stone Temple Pilot's include Bennington release the single "Out of Time" in May 2013.

Originally formed whilst in high school, guitarist Scott Lucas and drummer Joe Daniels began jamming together and later invited John Sparkman and Matt Garcia to fill out the sound. Garcia and Sparkman left in the early ‘90s however, and Lucas and Daniels decided to continue on as a duo. After honing their skills as a novel two piece, with Lucas playing a six-string with added bass pick-ups, Local H signed with Island Records in 1995. The band made their debut the same year with “Ham Fisted”, which failed to create a stir with similarities drawn with high-flying Nirvana.

A year later however Local H made their mark as feedback wielding, cynical-lyric delivering rock Mid-westerners, with the 1996 album “As Good as Dead”. Aided by No. 5 single on the US Alternative Billboard chart “Bound for the Floor”, as well as the singles “Eddie Vedder” and “Fritz’s Corner”, the album was later certified gold and earned the band a considerable following. “Pack Up the Cats” was issued in 1998 and maintained the group’s alt-rock and hard rock appeal, however lacked some of the focus of its predecessor.

After Island Records’ parent company Polygram was bought out by Universal Music, the band were lost in the merger, which resulted in Daniels leaving the band, and Local H took three years off from recording music. Replaced by former Triple Fast Action drummer Brian St. Clair, Local H returned in 2002 and released “Here Comes the Zoo” on Palm Pictures Records. Featuring more frantic and aggressive drumming, and lyrics, cutting in their design, the album proved there was still life in the Local H beast. After supporting the album with an extensive touring schedule, the band followed the release with the EP “No Fun” in 2003.

Local H subsequently released their fifth studio album “Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles?” in April 2004, followed by a cover of Britney Spears’ “Toxic”, which earned the band significant publicity. The full-length concept album “Twelve Angry Months” appeared in 2008, and two years later their seventh studio album “Hallelujah! I’m a Bum” hit the shelves. 2011 brought the band first best-of compilation entitled “The Island Years” and in 2013 the EP “The Another February” found its release on Slimstyle Records.