SCOTT WEILAND Says STONE TEMPLE PILOTS 'Termination' Is Publicity Stunt

Singer Scott Weiland claims that STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' announcement of his "termination" from the band is nothing more than a publicity stunt in order to hype an upcoming concert tour.

Speaking to TMZ.com at the Los Angeles airport prior to the launch of his new solo tour, Weiland said: "STP is not broken up. It's a whole thing to try to boost ticket sales."

According to Scott, there the members of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS are forbidden from using the name STP on another group unless all the individual musicians are involved.

Asked if he's still fronting the band, he replied, "I started it."

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS issued a terse statement on Wednesday that simply read, "STONE TEMPLE PILOTS have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland." No further details were revealed. This is the second time that the band has parted ways with its often troubled frontman, following a split in 2002. This is also the second gig that Weiland has been dismissed from within five years, after he was given his walking papers by VELVET REVOLVER IN 2008.

The singer responded with his own statement, saying, "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."

Rumors that STP's relationship with Weiland was on the rocks again first surfaced late last year, after the singer hinted that he was possibly rejoining VELVET REVOLVER.

But VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash shot that down, saying that Weiland was talking about reuniting with VELVET REVOLVER because he got fired from STP."

Weiland rejoined STP right around the time of his firing from VELVET REVOLVER, with the band touring constantly for the next few years and releasing its self-titled sixth album in 2010.

That last album was recorded with the band playing together in one studio and Weiland recording his parts on his own at his own facility, but bassist Robert DeLeo told The Pulse Of Radio at the time that the band was able to make it work. "There's a certain understanding you have with each other at that point, that you know what the person is gonna like and dislike, and you know what's gonna work," he said. "And, you know, even though it is challenging, you're not in the same room, I think we've gotten to that point where it's a great achievement being able to write and produce and do this record the way we did."

As usual, Weiland's behavior on tour was unpredictable, with the singer often showing up late or going missing before shows, giving lackluster performances and even falling off a stage at one gig.

It's not clear at this point whether STP plans to carry on with a new singer. As for Weiland, he is indeed hitting the road on Friday (March 1) for a solo tour with his band THE WILDABOUTS.

The show on this trek will focus heavily on material from STP's first two efforts, "Core" and "Purple", along with other material.