The Songs Remain the Same

• Jeff Gutt steps in to fill the role of not one, but two famous former lead vocalists

• Stone Temple Pilots play their hit “Purple” album (1994) from front to back

• The sometimes-dismissed band proves how important it remains to the alt-rock era

Even in death, a charismatic singer’s light can never be snuffed out. That said, God help the person stepping in to fill those boots. That’s exactly what Jeff Gutt has done for Stone Temple Pilots, whose original vocalist, Scott Weiland, defined ‘90s alternative rock with his deep, commanding vocals.

That’s not to say there isn’t precedent: Brian Johnson successfully took over for Bon Scott in AC/DC; Adam Lambert did the same for Queen some years after Freddie Mercury’s passing. And sometimes, even singers who are alive and well find themselves replaced, as in the case of Journey, Van Halen, Black Sabbath, Yes, Styx, Genesis, Foreigner and too many more to name.

The risk factor is high. If the voice that in many ways defines a band’s sound is no longer part of the mix, there’s no guarantee that audiences will remain loyal. Journey, for example, never really recovered from losing Steve Perry. What’s more, Gutt has been charged with replacing not one, but two high-profile STP singers.

After Weiland and the band parted ways in 2013 after a long run of commercial successes, Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington took over behind the mic. Weiland died of an accidental drug overdose in 2015, and Bennington left the band to return to Linkin Park. In 2017, Bennington committed suicide. In the wake of these tragic deaths, STP decided to regroup and held auditions for a new leader.

At the time of the 2016 singer audition, the band stated, “No one will ever ‘replace’ Scott, that was never the intent. The intent is for Stone Temple Pilots to continue on, to evolve, and to do what we do…make music!”

Gutt has been up for the challenge, as he’s demonstrated on two studio albums with his new band mates: a self-titled 2018 release and the 2020 full-length, “Perdida.” Here, he and band cofounders Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo and Eric Kretz celebrate the two Weiland-era multi-platinum albums that turned the group into an alt-rock mainstay: “Core” (1992) and “Purple” (1994).

All eyes and ears are on Gutt as he and STP play these classics front-to-back in the studio, both evoking a breakthrough era and prompting comparisons to the original versions of songs that have endured. It’s obvious that Gutt is an STP super fan and capable singer. He hits all of the notes and demonstrates a studied understanding of lead-singer ‘tude, but he’s no match for Weiland’s mercurial charisma. But Gutt does his due diligence in capturing the sonic rhythm and flow within STP’s earliest cuts.

The band doesn’t fuss with the songs or try to reimagine the arrangements; it prefers to let perennials such as “Interstate Love Song” and “Plush” speak for themselves. Longtime fans looking to see and hear their favorite deep cuts performed as originally recorded will get their nostalgia buzz. If you take anything away from Gutt’s performance, it’s that the guy earnestly cares about honoring his source material.

Even more impressive, watching the group roll through its beloved standbys this intimately serves as a moving reminder of just how crucial STP still is to its era. The San Diego quartet was originally disregarded by some critics as a third-rate Pearl Jam when it first came out swinging with “Core.” But STP has the last laugh. Time-honored cuts on both the debut and sophomore LPs (“Sex Type Thing,” “Wet My Bed,” “Interstate Love Song,” etc.) still swagger with sticky, pop-perfect melodies. Rock’s aesthetic might look entirely different nearly 30 years after STP first showed up on the scene, but the unsettled emotions “Core” and “Purple” stir up — aggression, fear, anxiety, arousal — are universal.

With 25 years perspective, the band describes how these genre-defining songs first materialized and shares memories of the singer who helped create them. Before launching into the “Purple” track “Silvergun Superman,” the group reiterates how “fulfilling” it was to work with Weiland. Though another singer asked to play the same role can never realistically live up to a deceased rock icon’s legacy, it’s still oddly gratifying to watch Gutt try.

Stone Temple Pilots “Core” Setlist

1. Dead & Bloated

2. Sex Type Thing

3. Wicked Garden

4. No Memory

5. Naked Sunday

6. Creep

7. Piece of Pie

8. Plush

9. Crackerman

10. Where the River Goes

Stone Temple Pilots “Purple” Setlist

1. Meatplow

2. Vasoline

3. Lounge Fly

4. Interstate Love Song

5. Still Remains

6. Pretty Penny

7. Silvergun Superman

8. Big Empty

9. Unglued

10. Army Ants

11. Kitchenware & Candybars