Stone Temple Pilots

The alternative rock phenomenon of the 1990s was framed as a triumph of authenticity: grunge erased the sleazy hair metal of the 1980s and set in motion an era of genuine, dangerous rock. This concept was quite complicated by the Stone Temple Pilots. The quartet was set up in two seemingly opposing camps, cutting its teeth on the Southern California hard rock circuit of the late ' 80s, but still collaborating with Brendan O'Brien, who also created Pearl Jam albums, one of the biggest bands from Seattle, the birthplace of grunge.

Stone Temple Pilots were founded in the late 1980s, initially known as Mighty Joe Young. They signed with Atlantic in 1992 and made their debut, Core, later that year. Purple was their only Billboard 200 chart-topper, home to their longest-lasting hit, 'Interstate Love Song.' After Purple's success, the band took some time off. Tiny Music...Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop is the third album of Stone Temple Pilots released in 1996. Two of the three hit singles on the album went to number one on the mainstream rock chart, gaining platinum status. Stone Temple Pilots did another split between 2003 and 2008. The band returned with their self-titled sixth album in 2010. In 2020, the STP switched direction for their eighth studio album, the acoustic affair featured an unexpected instrumentation flute, a string section, a saxophone and even a marxophone, and the track 'Fare Thee Well.'