STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' DEAN DELEO Is 'Very Grateful' For JEFF GUTT: The 'Peace Of Mind' That He Brings To The Band Is 'Immeasurable'

In a new interview with Baby Huey and Chasta of the San Francisco radio station 107.7 The Bone, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS guitarist Dean DeLeo spoke about the band's decision, nine years ago, to move forward with a new singer, Jeff Gutt, after spending nearly a couple of decades working with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' original frontman Scott Weiland and Weiland's initial replacement, LINKIN PARK's Chester Bennington. Dean said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, first and foremost, you have to find the right person. That's the biggest thing. And when we were really digging into moving forward with a new singer, there's so many things that have to fall into place. How well does this person know their way around a song? How's their lyrical content? There's so many things. And I just gotta say I'm very, very grateful for Jeff — really grateful for him.

"We went through a lot trying to keep things together," Dean explained. "We went through a lot. I'm talking three decades of a lot. [Laughs] And I can't tell you the value of peace of mind that Jeff brings to this now, and it's immeasurable… He's the first one geared up, eared up, ready to go."

Dean also talked about the status of ONE MORE SATELLITE, his collaboration with U.K.-based vocalist and lyricist Pete Shoulder, which released its self-titled debut album in 2025 via Symphonic. Regarding how the idea for the project came about, Dean said: "I just had a lot of songs. And I have a great friend on that record, Pete Shoulder. Need I say more? An incredible singer. And when I had all these songs kicking around, I just called up Pete, who lives in England. And I said, 'Hey, man. You wanna do some things?' He was, like, 'Yeah, of course.'"

Asked if he was worried about the geographical distance between him and Pete and how that would affect the final product, Dean said: "No, no. Not at all. That was how rested in my heart I was that Pete could handle anything I threw at him. And he is nothing shy of great. And I love him dearly. Yeah, so that's kind of how that came about."

As for ONE MORE SATELLITE's future plans, Dean said: "Well, [album] number two's coming out real soon… I think a single's coming out in November or December, and then the record will be out in January. And I have a third one cut already too. [Laughs]"

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS features three original members — Robert, Dean and drummer Eric Kretz.

Gutt, a 50-year-old Michigan native who spent time in the early-2000s nu-metal act DRY CELL, among other bands, and was a contestant on "The X Factor", joined STONE TEMPLE PILOTS after beating out roughly 15,000 hopefuls during an extended search that began more than a year earlier.

Weiland, who reunited with the group in 2010 after an eight-year hiatus but was dismissed in 2013, died in December 2015 of a drug overdose.

Bennington, who joined STP in early 2013, departed nearly three years later to spend more time with his main band LINKIN PARK. Bennington committed suicide in July 2017.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS released their first all-acoustic album, titled "Perdida", in February 2020. The disc was Gutt's second with STP. His recording debut with the group was on its self-titled seventh album, which arrived in March 2018.

ONE MORE SATELLITE played its first-ever shows in November 2025. Joining DeLeo and Shoulder at the three California gigs were Julia Lage on bass and Brian Tichy on drums.

ONE MORE SATELLITE released its self-titled debut album digitally on July 18, 2025 via Symphonic. A worldwide release of the vinyl and CD followed in September 2025 through Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group).

Dean DeLeo and Shoulder had previously collaborated on songwriting, including for the album "Lessons Learned" by STONE TEMPLE PILOTS bassist, and Dean's brother, Robert DeLeo. They had also worked together in the studio on projects, including a collaboration with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and TRIP THE WITCH. Shoulder also collaborated with Robert DeLeo on the aforementioned "Lessons Learned" LP and co-wrote songs for it, including "Love Is Not Made Of Gold".

In addition to his work with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, Dean DeLeo is known for his role in the short-lived bands TALK SHOW and ARMY OF ANYONE, the latter of which featured Robert DeLeo, FILTER frontman Richard Patrick and session drummer Ray Luzier.

Image and concert video credit: Pics from the pit