By Therese McKeon

L.A. rockers Stone Temple Pilots are at it again - playing music that is. This time around the foursome is taking nothing for granted, earning its keep and regaining the trust of fans and promoters alike with a performance that is something worthy of writing home about. Currently on tour with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, STP bassist Robert DeLeo phoned in from the road to let us know what the band has been up to, their plans for a new record, and his feelings on other popular Shoutweb bands.

Scott Weiland – lead vocals
Dean DeLeo – guitar
Robert DeLeo – bass, backing vocals
Eric Kretz – drums, backing vocals

Shoutweb: Hello Robert. Thanks for calling.

Robert: Hello! Where are you?

Shoutweb: I’m in White Plains, New York.

Robert: White Plains, New York.

Shoutweb: Where are you?

Robert: I’m in Charleston, West Virginia.

Shoutweb: Oh, well, lucky you! (laughter)

Robert: I’ve seen a lot of one-armed people in the past couple of days. We don’t get out to these neck of the woods very often.

Shoutweb: I figured you might be used to it. Maybe you just forgot after all this time of not being on the road.

Robert: I kind of forgot. I took a little time off so it’s new to me again. (laughter)

Shoutweb: This is not necessarily a good thing though.

Robert: You know when you’re asking the hotel guy, "What’s the best thing to do around here?" and his answer is, "Well, there’s a Hooters across the street" that something is wrong. (laughter)

Shoutweb: White Plains is just North of New York City.

Robert: I love White Plains. Is it in Westchester County?

Shoutweb: Yes, it is.

Robert: Dean and I are from New Jersey. I was born in Montclair.

Shoutweb: I was about to ask, "what exit?!" (laughter)

Robert: 98! Actually we were born in Montclair but we grew up down in Point Pleasant Beach – down at the shore (Robert pronounces it "shaw" in his best New Jersey accent).

Shoutweb: That’s nice. It’s kind of a cushy life down there.

Robert: It was nice growing up in Point Pleasant Beach.

Shoutweb: You have that naturally tanning skin too. I’m Irish so I burn at the first sight of sun.

Robert: Luckily I have the Italian in me so it works out okay. I grew up a beach bum.

Shoutweb: The Italians in New Jersey are getting a bad name there with "The Sopranos" series on HBO.

Robert: I guess if I had lived there and grown up in that area I would have talked (Robert pronounces it "tawk" with his best Italian accent). Thank God I moved down to the shore where it was more like growing up in California. It had more of a California vibe.

Shoutweb: So moving to L.A. eventually wasn’t a big switch for you?

Robert: No, L.A. was because I moved out there by myself when I was eighteen. I did a lot of playing gypsy. I loved living in my car. (laughter)

Shoutweb: The nomad lifestyle.

Robert: Absolutely.

Shoutweb: So, before I start shooting questions I want to say that I promise not to get into the "how is the band doing now that Scott is off of drugs" type of thing.

Robert: Did somebody say not to do that?

Shoutweb: No. I just think it’s been overdone already.

Robert: Oh, I was just wondering. You can ask me whatever you’d like.

Shoutweb: Thank you for that. I know that it can get very tiresome.

Robert: Yeah, I get really tired of talking about myself! (laughter)

Shoutweb: You’re in a band! Isn’t that the reason you got into a band? (laughter)

Robert: I know. I know. But it’s like… I’m only in a band. That’s how I look at it, you know? I’m only in a band. That’s all. I’m not flying to the moon or anything. I just play music.

Shoutweb: And that’s still a good thing for you?

Robert: It’s a very good thing. I’m very, very fortunate to be in the position I’m in.

Shoutweb: So even when they say, "There’s a Hooters across the street" you are still thanking God for being in a band? (laughter)

Robert: Wow, that’s a tough one there. You can’t ask me that one. That’s the only one you can’t ask me. That’s a tough one. I don’t want to go there!

Shoutweb: (laughter)

Robert: That’s part of touring.

Shoutweb: So let’s talk about touring. You’re out with the Red Hot Chili Peppers right now. How did that come about?

Robert: At the time we were finishing up our record and wondering what we were going to do this summer we had that offer. It just sounded like a good bill. I think it’s a really strong bill for a tour. For literally two headlining bands to be out on one bill I think really gives people their money's worth and gives them a really great show. I think at the time, we didn't know what was up. Scott was just out of jail. We were literally sitting there trying to resuscitate a record that came out a year ago. We just didn't know what our options were. I think that there were some bridges burned between us and promoters due to Scott's absence or canceling shows. I think when we first went out a couple of months ago we did some two to six thousand seat places, which we sold out immediately. And we did some radio shows just to build back the relationships with those people. Quite honestly, I think we really proved to people that this band had never really gone away and that we’re definitely back.

Shoutweb: I’ll say! I was at the WBCN River Rave earlier this year and you guys blew me away. It was the first time I had heard you live in years.

Robert: Where was that?

Shoutweb: In Boston.

Robert: Oh, right.

Shoutweb: That was Memorial Day weekend.

Robert: That was at the Patriot Center?

Shoutweb: It was at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Robert: Yeah, it was an outdoor stadium show. It was a great show.

Shoutweb: It was Powerman 5000, Dope, Static-X, Filter, Godsmack and a bunch of others.

Robert: There were over sixty thousand there that day I think. We had a really fun time.

Shoutweb: It was one of those things that was like, "Oh, yeah, Stone Temple Pilots." It’s kind of a mainstay where you mention it to anyone and they say, "Yeah, I know that song. It’s Stone Temple Pilots." But the feeling I got when you guys got on stage was that this is not about Scott anymore. It was a band and the music just overpowered everyone. You guys never sounded so good. You just took that audience and ran with it.

Robert: It was literally the first time we had been on that size of a stage in front of that size of a crowd in three years. Here’s a band where we hadn’t even played together in a number of years besides little secret shows here and there in clubs. It was kind of new to me to get up there in front of sixty thousand people. I think it just shows the strength and the love in the band. It absolutely shows the bond that we have with each other. I think that’s something that, like you said, will always be there like the songs. The chemistry is really important with this band.

Shoutweb: The crowd can definitely feel that if there are interactions between the band members.

Robert: There are a lot of songs there that through this decade that I think we’re some of the most popular songs of this decade. They did and still do mean a lot to people. That’s an interesting place to be for us.

Shoutweb: I am wondering how you found these radio festivals because having to go back to doing smaller kind of gigs and then radio festivals. It almost is like a rebirth. You’re starting out again and yet you have this trump card.

Robert: It’s really funny with the other bands that are out now. There is a lot of respect there towards us. We made friends. It’s funny talking to a band like Godsmack who are literally telling me that they were playing my songs in a cover band four years ago. It’s really interesting to hear that.

Shoutweb: Does it make you feel old?

Robert: No. It makes me feel proud of the songs that I’ve written. It really does.

Shoutweb: You know that they’re good solid songs. They’re kind of a mainstay of Americana.

Robert: What is old? Old is really in your head. I think the band is looking and sounding and performing better than we ever have. I think we look better now than we did six years ago.

Shoutweb: I would have to agree with that.

Robert: We look better now then we did back then. And what is old? You look at a band like Aerosmith. I think they’re looking and sounding better than they did fifteen years ago.

Shoutweb: I would definitely have to say that you guys are better dressed! (laughter)

Robert: That might help. (laughter)

Shoutweb: I had to ask about the "Sour Girl" video. It’s being nominated for the VH-1 Fashion Awards.

Robert: (laughter) I didn’t know about that. What is it now?

Shoutweb: (laughter)

Robert: (intense laughter) Oh boy, what is it now?

Shoutweb: The category is "Visionary Video".

Robert: (in his best pretentious impression) Visionary (pause) Video.

Shoutweb: There you go. (laughter)

Robert: (big pause) Right. I did not know that. (laughter)

Shoutweb: Really?

Robert: No. That’s amazing.

Shoutweb: I thought that it was quite a category. It must mean that Tellie Tubbies are in! (laughter)

Robert: (intense laughter) Listen, I just showed up. I had nothing to do with the Tellie Tubbies!

Shoutweb: (laughter) Right.

Robert: Actually, I think the video came out really cool. I think it came across. If you had seen what it looked like on the video set you would have thought "this is never going to come across." I think the whole idea came from David, the director. I thought it was really cool. I mean it’s cheesy enough being there faking your song in front of a camera.

Shoutweb: But then you had these little fairies running around.

Robert: It didn’t seemed like the kind of song that you would want to sit there with drums and bass playing. We’ve never done a video like that. There’s always a chance to do your "November Rain". (laughter)

Shoutweb: There’s a lot of trust involved there!

Robert: We made sport of it. Did you see the "Making of the Video"?

Shoutweb: Yes, that was fun.

Robert: It was just such a funny day and we were just having such a good time.

Shoutweb: I know you guys did a webcast recently in Boston as well.

Robert: Yes. That was great. That was once again in a small club atmosphere that is always fun. I think that is when you really get the energy off the people when you’re right in front of them. That’s when it really counts to me. I really dig that vibe. That was a great show. It was a really fun show. I don’t know how it looked on the webcast though – probably very robotic, huh?

Shoutweb: It all depends upon your connection speed.

Shoutweb: What is with the names of the places you guys are playing – Waterworks, Mud Island… they sound like an episode of the TV show "Survivor".

Robert: Mud Island… where is that?

Shoutweb: Mud Island is in Memphis it says here.

Robert: Memphis. Oh, right. Mud Island is a shed right on the Mississippi. I don’t know who names these venues but…

Shoutweb: It made sense at the time I guess. (laughter)

Robert: I guess so. It sounds like a place you wouldn’t want to play let alone go to. I have to assure you that it was a great place. It was actually a really good show. Actually Scott, Dean, and myself went to Sun Studios that day. We got the tour of Sun Studios. It was a really fun time for us.

Shoutweb: Had you been before?

Robert: No, it was my first time. You should really go check out Sun Studios. It’s really, really interesting being in the room where all those really great tracks – not just the Elvis and Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash ones. The Howlin’ Wolf tracks and the Ike Turner tracks that went down there.

Shoutweb: Speaking of greatest, I’ve read about your experience recording the Doors track "Break On Through". It was all pre-planned to have actual members there and have that whole vibe?

Robert: It was their suggestion actually. Out of all the tracks that were contributed to the Doors compilation, I think Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek only played on a couple of tracks with people. I don’t know the other track that they played on but they actually suggested that they wanted to play with Stone Temple Pilots.

Shoutweb: Excellent.

Robert: That’s when you’re pinching yourself wondering whether you’re on the moon or not. ‘Cause here’s some people who literally raised me and they want to play together. It’s documented – the whole three days of being in the studio or two days that we were in there. We just started from nothing and just put it together. I think it’s going to be the first track on the CD and I’m really happy with it. I think Scott did a wonderful job. I think Scott has always had a Jim Morrison influence.

Shoutweb: I would say so.

Robert: Going back to the first record that was misconstrued as a grunge influence. If you listen to "Wet My Bed" off the first record, it’s Jim Morrison. It’s a total Jim Morrison influence. I had a really good time. It was amazing to meet and play with these people, like I said, who literally raised me. We did a show a couple of nights after that which was used for the "On Demand" and we did "Road House Blues" with Robby Kreiger who came out at that show. That’s one of those areas where you go "wow". We’re really fortunate to be able to be doing this.

Shoutweb: So this Red Hot Chili Peppers just came along at the right time?

Robert: I think it was just coincidence but an interesting coincidence. We have a lot of similarities in what’s gone on between us band-wise.

Shoutweb: The touring plans for going into the Fall are rumored to be Deftones and maybe Family Values.

Robert: We plan on touring all through the end of the year. We’ve been talking to the Deftones. We’ve done some radio shows with them. Those guys are really cool guys. They want to tour. I think they’re a great band. I think they’re probably one of the more creditable bands out of what’s happening right now.

Shoutweb: What makes you say that? Have you heard the new record?

Robert: I’ve heard a little bit of it. From what I hear of what kind of people they are. More of it is just from the music, just from meeting them and seeing what kind of people they are. That really means a lot outside of being a musician. I think you can be judged or even act a certain way simply because you’re a musician. I think that’s bullshit. I think you’re a person that plays music in a band. If a person is an asshole, it’s not because they’re a musician. It’s because that person is an asshole. You know what I mean? You don’t need to stand behind being a musician to be an asshole like… uh… Fred Durst… I mean, anyway, so.. you know what I mean though?

Shoutweb: Yes, I know exactly what you mean. It’s funny because I’ve had musicians say to me that the whole "keeping it real" thing or "be cool" vibe is such bullshit because you either ARE real or you ARE cool. You can’t *make* it happen.

Robert: That’s a really good point. I think it’s actually small penis syndrome. That’s what I think it is. (laughter)

Shoutweb: (laughter)

Robert: I think guys who aren’t cool but try to be cool are suffering from small penis syndrome. Wouldn’t you agree?

Shoutweb: (laughter) Yes, I would have to agree with you. It’s that whole wannabe thing. You know they’re always overcompensating for something.

Robert: Exactly. I mean, there was a saying that goes something like "walk softly and carry a big stick".

Shoutweb: (laughter)

Robert: Wasn’t there a saying that said that?

Shoutweb: Yes, I think it may have been a famous president even!

Robert: I think there is some truth to that.

Shoutweb: So that explains why you’re the mellow one then. (laughter)

Robert: (laughter)

Shoutweb: We could start some really BIG rumors. (laughter)

Robert: Oh, Scott and Dean and Eric have already done that! (laughter)

Shoutweb: So you’re all like, "Okay, today in the interviews let’s all say... this".

Robert: They’ve already filled people in on that size thing.

Shoutweb: Oh boy. Next topic! So, tell me about the possibility of being on the Family Values tour.

Robert: That’s one of the options. I can say that we’re definitely going to be touring. It’s just a matter of what we’re going to put together. I think Family Values is one option. And I think us, Deftones, and maybe Queens of the Stone Age is another, which is a great bill. Both bands are really great bands.

Shoutweb: So I was backstage at the KROCK Dysfunctional Family Picnic.

Robert: Oh, you were.

Shoutweb: Yeah, I was witness to the whole Limp Bizkit and Creed thing in front of the stage and in back of the stage.

Robert: Yeah, well, Limp Bizkit had called us up. They told us they were stuck in New York. They said that they wanted to go on after us because they were stuck in New York, which was total bullshit.

Shoutweb: That was their manager or who?

Robert: It was someone from their camp. But you just don’t go doing things like that. You just don’t go burning bridges like that. Especially to a band that is much more seasoned than you are. And little boys learn lessons I guess.

Shoutweb: Fred said that the guy from their management company was going around trying to switch times without the band’s knowledge.

Robert: Right. Well, I mean, out of that who suffers is your fans. They don’t know what’s going on. All they know is you’re sitting back there eating your dinner while you should be on stage. You’re basically pissing our management off and you’re pissing Sharon Osbourne off. That is one person I would not want to piss off. It was actually Sharon who pulled the power on those guys.

Shoutweb: Really? I had heard that she was going to but I didn’t know if she actually did it.

Robert: Yes, she did. You just don’t want to do things like that in this industry, you know what I mean?

Shoutweb: I thought that was cool for Scott to make the comments that he did. It was very appropriate I thought and also to say something like… "Nothing against Fred. He’s a friend of mine but it’s just not cool to do this no matter what the circumstances are."

Robert: Right. To each his own. I don’t really worry about what somebody else is doing or saying. I’m just doing my thing.

Shoutweb: Besides the Deftones, what do you think about these bands that are out now?

Robert: I gotta be honest and say that I haven’t heard a lot of their music but upon meeting these people at the shows we’ve been doing with them there is so much respect. They’re really nice people. I mean, I meet the guys from Slipknot and they were asking us for our autographs and really cool people. They were really nice people. That’s what counts to me. You can’t judge someone off their music. I think it’s really unfair to judge people off their music. The Godsmack guys were really cool. The Slipknot guys are really cool. All these bands are really cool. There’s a lot of respect there towards us. That means a lot to me coming from another musician. Musician to musician – that means a lot to me.

Shoutweb: You guys fall into a unique category because you defined the 90’s. If you had to create a time capsule and put only certain things in there. There would be Stone Temple Pilots songs in there!

Robert: Hopefully that’s a good thing.

Shoutweb: Yeah, for me it is. I’m just curious to hear what you think the future holds. I know you said that it’s kind of like revitalizing a record that’s been out for a while.

Robert: I can honestly say that we’ve recently gotten rid of our management that we’ve had for the past ten years. We’ve just recently signed up with Q Prime. That is a big step for us because what that shows me is that the band is in a healthy enough situation to be able to continue and maybe in a way perhaps start anew and make things happen from here on out. We’ve had a wonderful, great run with our old manager. It was split up amicably. I think we’re really looking forward to making more music and continue to make music. I always catch myself because as far as Scott goes, I always catch myself saying, "Wow, I haven’t seen him like this in a long time." The truth is I’ve never really seen him like this as long as I’ve known him. Even without the drugs, there’s a maturity there on his part. I’m really proud of him! I really didn’t think that he was going to be where he’s at right now. I really didn’t think he was.

Shoutweb: I didn’t think he was either. I saw you guys on MTV’s TRL and he’s just a totally different person.

Robert: A totally different person. Believe me. It’s a blessing.

Shoutweb: You can tell that he really loves himself now.

Robert: He’s really a different person. I think it’s maturity too. He realizes that there are no other choices that he has. He’s got a new wife and he’s got a baby on the way too. I don’t think he has any other choices and he’s really interested in being in the band. I think with everything you go through there is a certain point where you just start getting burnt out with what you do. I think it’s time to not just show people that we’re back or try to prove something. I guess I do have something to prove. We’re a live, kick ass band.

Shoutweb: The chemistry is still there and the fire is still there and the music is still there. You still want it bad.

Robert: It’s there more than ever. It really is.

Shoutweb: It some ways I almost feel like you guys are in a better position. There are a lot of bands that will get that whole "last decade" thing thrown at them. It’s almost like you guys don’t have to deal with that really because you’re not re-inventing yourself. You’re literally starting over again.

Robert: I think that kind of shows that all the people that were so willing to peg us as a grunge band are learning that we’re just a rock and roll band. We’re a rock and roll band that came at a time when everything was really labeled something strongly. I remember doing interviews in ’92 and ’93 and thinking "how the hell can you base a band off of one song?" Why don’t you wait four or five records from now and then see what kind of band we are. I think that’s when a band really starts becoming a band when they’re into their career. You know, I don’t really see any of the bands that we were getting compared to around anymore so it’s interesting to me. I think we’re big fans of music and we enjoy making music. We’ll just continue making music and make the music that we do make. We’re just a good rock and roll band that has a lot of influences and a lot of flavors and hopefully people will see that.

Shoutweb: For lack of a better term, your stuff is not used up.

Robert: Thank you.

Shoutweb: You can take new risks and try new things and it’s not seen as trying to re-invent yourself. You’re a musician and this is totally natural to move on to the next thing and try out some new stuff.

Robert: I think what it really comes down to is that we really try to make the best songs and good songs are the things that are going to make you last. Hopefully I’ll hear "Interstate Love Song" or "Plush" or "Big Empty" ten years from now.

Shoutweb: In that time capsule!

Robert: It’s almost like, "What’d I do?"

Shoutweb: So I heard you were maybe coming to New York to put together a new track for the Greatest Hits record? You’re the one behind this whole thing so you’re the man to ask.

Robert: We were going to do a Greatest Hits record. We thought it was a good idea. I think we certainly have the songs to do Greatest Hits record but I don't think it's really the right time and I don't think it's really what we want to show people after we started thinking about it. It goes back to the fact that we're on a Chili Peppers tour right now and we didn't know what was going to happen six months ago. Now that we're here, we're in this position where we could be headlining right now. I think A Greatest Hits record is not really the best thing to show the public right now. I think it's time for another record so we'll probably work on that probably some time in Spring. We have two outtakes from "No. 4" that we were going to put on the Greatest Hits plus another track that we were going to write. I think we're going to leave them for soundtracks or movies or something and just do something like that. We'll see what happens.

Shoutweb: There is all this talk about a new record and a Greatest Hits record and is it "best of" or "greatest hits" or what it is?

Robert: We’re not thinking that far ahead. I’m just trying to get through today in West Virginia! (laughter)

Shoutweb: I have "You Can't Drive Me Away" and "Heed The Water Whisper". "You Can't Drive Me Away" sounds like the Stone Temple Pilots relationship with each other! (laughter)

Robert: It's a song that Dean wrote and it's got a kind of Stonesy country vibe to it. It's a really great song. "Heed The Water Whisper" is one that I wrote and it's got more of a Bosonova influence that I really love. I love Bosonova music. They're two totally different tracks that we just didn't feel were maybe appropriate for a record like "No. 4" that needed to come out and hit people over the head. So we're just going to save those and see what happens. Plus we were going to do a new track that I have written but that's probably going to go on the next record.

Robert: And I think I have to go here. I was supposed to check out ten minutes ago and I’m still in a towel here.

Shoutweb: Uh oh! More rumors! The last thing I’ll ask then is your touring plans for next year. I understand that in January you’re planning on hitting Japan and then New Zealand and Australia.

Robert: I think Australia has that Big Day Out down there. We’ve had three number one records. They debuted at number one in Australia and another one in the top five and we’ve never toured there. I think we owe it to the Aussies to go down there and show them a bit of STP. I’m really excited to go to New Zealand. I hear it’s really beautiful down there.

Shoutweb: So people can check things out on the web site at www.stonetemplepilots.com. Are you involved with the web site at all?

Robert: Absolutely.

Shoutweb: Okay, I’ll let you get out of your towel. Thanks Robert.