STP Reveal New Lead Singer, New Single
Stone Temple Pilots made it official on Tuesday night (November 14); Former The X-Factor finalist Jeff Gutt is the group’s new singer, debuting with the band at a private show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.
Gutt was the last of the STP members to take the stage, following bassist Robert DeLeo, guitarist Dean DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz and sporting a name tag on his chest that read, “Hi, My Name is Jeff.”
Gutt has been rumored for some months as the “winner” of an extensive STP search to find a third lead singer to follow in the footsteps of the late Scott Weiland and Chester Bennington, and Robert DeLeo tells us that the reasons for the group’s choice are pretty obvious:
“He can sing, you know. He can sing. He’s a singer…There are many singers that come in that can sing, too. That’s not only what we’re looking for. There’s a lot of things to look at to really, really choose someone to move forward with.”
The new-look STP played a variety of favorites from its catalog during Tuesday’s hour-long show, including “Plus,” “Interstate Love Song,” “Vasoline” and “Down” as well as a new single, “Meadow,” while MC5 veteran Wayne Kramer joined the group for a version of that band’s “Kick Out The Jams.”
Preston & Steve debuted the new single, Meadow, this morning, while an album announcement is expected shortly.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.
