STONE TEMPLE PILOTS Pay Tribute To SCOTT WEILAND On First Anniversary Of His Death

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS have paid tribute to their former singer Scott Weiland on the first anniversary of his death. They wrote in a Facebook post: "Here we are. A year has passed since you've been gone. We often think of you and are reminded of you daily with many memories. Then there is the music the four of us carved out allowing us to listen and feel how brilliant you are.

"There was a time when we looked up to one another. Each of us wanting one another's approval.

"The songs we wrote had to have complete impact on us in order for them to shine. When it did... it was unearthly. Perhaps you are in a place now to better describe it.
"We miss you, Scott."

Earlier in the year, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS guitarist Dean DeLeo revealed in an interview with Celebration Rock that the last time he saw Weiland alive was in a courtroom. DeLeo recalled: "The last time Scott and I were nose to nose, we actually were in the judge's chambers, we were sitting across one another when we were in this court thing. It goes well beyond what you probably read. Our relationship was strained for many years, man."

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS dismissed Weiland in 2013, five years after the band reunited in 2008. The band later sued Weiland, citing his erratic behavior, poor performances and prioritizing of his solo career as reasons for letting him go. Weiland countersued the group, although the dispute between the band and singer was eventually settled.

Weiland died from a lethal mix of drugs and alcohol while on a tour with his solo act, THE WILDABOUTS.

DeLeo added: "I spent half my life just full of false hope, with every intention to try to help him, and try to get him together. It led to what we're talking about right now, the guy died. No matter how you look at it or how you slice it, it's just so tragic that that is where he went."

The guitarist also said that Weiland's ongoing troubles while he was in STP led DeLeo to despise the term "rock star," explaining, "When I was a kid, the term rock star was intriguing to me, it kind of meant something. As I got older, and I was in business with someone who abused that term, I found it more and more repulsive. Because I don't know any other line of work where I could simply just show up late, not show up at all, show up really out of it, and it's kind of glorified, and I think it sucks."

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS joined forces with LINKIN PARK frontman Chester Bennington in 2013 for an EP and several tours, but Bennington exited last year. The band has yet to announce a new vocalist.