Stone Temple Pilots: Grunge Rock Royalty and Their Hard-Hitting Return to Kitchener-Waterloo
Emerging from the explosive early-90s alternative scene, Stone Temple Pilots (STP) carved a lane all their own — a band that blended the raw edge of grunge with glam, classic rock, and a melodic sensibility that set them apart from their Seattle peers. With over 40 million albums sold worldwide, multiple chart-topping hits, and a sound that’s both heavy and hypnotic, STP became one of the defining acts of their generation.
Formed in San Diego in 1989, the original lineup — Scott Weiland (vocals), Dean DeLeo (guitar), Robert DeLeo (bass), and Eric Kretz (drums) — rose to fame with their debut album Core (1992), which featured now-iconic tracks like “Plush,” “Creep,” and “Sex Type Thing.” They followed up with genre-expanding albums like Purple (1994) and Tiny Music… Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop (1996), showing a willingness to evolve beyond grunge tropes while keeping their riff-heavy signature intact.
Despite internal struggles — most notably Weiland’s tragic battles with addiction and his eventual passing in 2015 — the band’s music has endured, celebrated for its depth, range, and unforgettable hooks. In 2017, STP introduced new vocalist Jeff Gutt, whose vocals paid respectful homage to Weiland’s legacy while ushering in a new era of creative resurgence.
Stone Temple Pilots brought their high-octane live show to Centre In The Square in Kitchener in 2019, a stop that marked both a nostalgic throwback for longtime fans and a bold reintroduction of the band’s current lineup. With Gutt at the mic, the band tore through their greatest hits alongside new material from their 2018 self-titled album — reminding everyone in the packed theatre that STP still knows how to shake a stage.
Kitchener-Waterloo, more known for its indie and classical roots, rarely gets a full-throttle, arena-caliber rock act within the refined walls of Centre In The Square. But STP brought the grit and grandeur, turning the venue into a rock temple for one unforgettable night. Fans from across Southwestern Ontario showed up, filling the room with the same energy that once reverberated through the ‘90s alt-rock era.
Their performance wasn’t just a greatest-hits package — it was a statement: STP is still here, still evolving, and still one of the tightest live bands in the business.
From their turbulent rise and reinvention to their status as one of alternative rock’s most influential acts, Stone Temple Pilots continue to write their story on their own terms. And for fans in Kitchener-Waterloo, their stop at Centre In The Square was more than a tour date — it was a night that echoed with power chords, crowd singalongs, and the unshakable energy of a band that still delivers like few others can.
