Complete List Of Stone Temple Pilots Band Members

Feature Photo: daigooliva, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Stone Temple Pilots was formed in 1989 in San Diego, California, and quickly became one of the defining bands of the 1990s alternative rock scene. Initially called Mighty Joe Young, the band changed its name to Stone Temple Pilots before releasing its debut album, Core, in 1992. The album became a major success with songs such as “Plush,” “Creep,” “Sex Type Thing,” and “Wicked Garden.” With a fusion of alternative rock, hard rock, grunge, psychedelic rock, and other influences, the band developed a sound that evolved considerably from album to album. Purple (1994) and Tiny Music… Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop (1996) further established Stone Temple Pilots as one of the most successful rock bands of the decade.

Stone Temple Pilots went through breakups and major lineup changes while retaining the original instrumental core of Robert DeLeo, Dean DeLeo, and Eric Kretz. Scott Weiland returned for the band’s 2008 reunion before being dismissed in 2013. Chester Bennington then fronted the group from 2013 to 2015 and recorded the High Rise EP with the band. Jeff Gutt joined in 2017 and has remained the lead vocalist through the 2018 self-titled album and the acoustic album Perdida (2020). The current lineup of Gutt, Robert DeLeo, Dean DeLeo, and Eric Kretz continues to tour in 2026.

Robert DeLeo

Robert DeLeo is one of the founding members of Stone Temple Pilots and has served as the band’s bassist and backing vocalist since its beginning. His melodic bass playing and songwriting have been central to the group’s sound from Core through its later albums. DeLeo wrote or co-wrote much of the music behind major songs including “Plush,” “Creep,” “Interstate Love Song,” and many others. His bass lines frequently move far beyond simple root-note support, giving the songs a melodic and harmonic character that became part of Stone Temple Pilots’ identity.

After Stone Temple Pilots split in 2003, DeLeo reunited with Dean DeLeo in Army of Anyone alongside Filter vocalist Richard Patrick and drummer Ray Luzier. He returned to Stone Temple Pilots when the band reunited in 2008 and has remained part of every subsequent lineup. DeLeo played on the 2010 self-titled album, the 2013 High Rise EP, the 2018 self-titled album, and Perdida in 2020. His songwriting continued to play a major role during the Jeff Gutt era.

Eric Kretz

Eric Kretz has been Stone Temple Pilots’ drummer and percussionist since the band’s formation. His tight grooves and powerful playing helped define the rhythm section on albums including Core, Purple, Tiny Music… Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop, No. 4, and Shangri-La Dee Da. Kretz also received songwriting credit on several Stone Temple Pilots songs, including “Plush” and “Sex Type Thing.” His drumming on songs such as “Plush,” “Big Empty,” and “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart” remains a major part of the band’s sound.

After the band’s 2003 breakup, Kretz remained active in music and recording. He rejoined Stone Temple Pilots for the 2008 reunion and has continued with the group through its later eras with Chester Bennington and Jeff Gutt. Kretz also owns and operates Bomb Shelter Studios, where Stone Temple Pilots worked on later material including Perdida. His steady presence has made him, along with the DeLeo brothers, part of the instrumental core that has remained constant throughout the band’s history.

Dean DeLeo

Dean DeLeo has been Stone Temple Pilots’ guitarist since the band’s formation and is one of the principal musical architects of its sound. His playing combines heavy rock riffs, unusual chord voicings, melodic leads, and influences that reach well beyond the grunge label often attached to the band. DeLeo’s guitar work is central to recordings such as “Plush,” “Wicked Garden,” “Big Empty,” “Vasoline,” and “Interstate Love Song.” He and Robert DeLeo have both contributed heavily to the band’s songwriting and arranging throughout its career.

After Stone Temple Pilots became inactive in the early 2000s, Dean DeLeo joined Robert DeLeo in Army of Anyone. He returned to Stone Temple Pilots for the 2008 reunion and has remained one of the band’s central creative figures through every later lineup. In the Jeff Gutt era, Dean and Robert continued bringing musical ideas into the studio while developing new material collaboratively with Gutt and Kretz. Dean’s guitar work appears throughout the 2018 album Stone Temple Pilots and the acoustic-focused Perdida.

Jeff Gutt

Jeff Gutt became Stone Temple Pilots’ lead vocalist in 2017 after the band conducted an extensive search for a new singer. His arrival followed Chester Bennington’s departure from the band in 2015 and Scott Weiland’s death later that same year. Gutt recorded the band’s 2018 self-titled album, including songs such as “Meadow” and “Roll Me Under.” Rather than attempting to duplicate Weiland’s voice, Gutt brought his own approach while taking on a catalog closely associated with two previous singers.

Before joining Stone Temple Pilots, Gutt fronted Dry Cell and gained wider recognition through appearances on The X Factor. He remained with Stone Temple Pilots for the 2020 album Perdida, the band’s first full acoustic studio album, and wrote much of its lyrical material. The lineup of Gutt, Robert DeLeo, Dean DeLeo, and Eric Kretz has continued performing together through the 2020s and remains active on the road in 2026.

Scott Weiland

Scott Weiland was the original lead vocalist of Stone Temple Pilots and one of the band’s founding members. His voice, melodies, lyrics, and charismatic stage presence became essential to the identity of the group’s classic era. Weiland sang on Core (1992), Purple (1994), Tiny Music… Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop (1996), No. 4 (1999), Shangri-La Dee Da (2001), and the 2010 album Stone Temple Pilots. His performances on songs such as “Plush,” “Interstate Love Song,” “Big Empty,” and “Vasoline” became some of the defining vocals of 1990s alternative rock.

Stone Temple Pilots split in 2003, and Weiland went on to front Velvet Revolver with Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, and Dave Kushner. He returned to Stone Temple Pilots when the original lineup reunited in 2008. The relationship deteriorated again, and the band dismissed Weiland in February 2013. Weiland continued his solo career and later performed with the Wildabouts before his death in December 2015. His work with Stone Temple Pilots remains central to the band’s legacy.

Chester Bennington

Chester Bennington joined Stone Temple Pilots as lead vocalist in 2013 after Scott Weiland was dismissed from the band. Bennington was already internationally known as the co-lead vocalist of Linkin Park and had been a longtime admirer of Stone Temple Pilots. With Robert DeLeo, Dean DeLeo, and Eric Kretz, he recorded the five-song High Rise EP, released in October 2013. Songs including “Out of Time” and “Black Heart” introduced this version of the band while allowing Bennington to bring his own vocal identity to Stone Temple Pilots’ music.

Bennington toured with Stone Temple Pilots while continuing his responsibilities with Linkin Park. He left Stone Temple Pilots in 2015 because balancing the demands of both bands and his family had become increasingly difficult. Bennington remained close with members of Stone Temple Pilots after leaving. He died in July 2017 at the age of 41. His two-year period with Stone Temple Pilots remains a distinctive chapter between the Scott Weiland and Jeff Gutt eras.