Stone Temple Pilots’ First 1987 Photo Leaks On Scott Weiland Death Anniversary

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Photo credit: Corey Hickok

Late Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland died from a drug overdose three years ago today on December 3, 2015 on his tour bus in Bloomington, Minnesota. My heart goes out to his family and friends on this tough day. Scott’s loss was painful for me, I had become his social media manager just a month before his death after I interviewed him for Alternative Nation on his tour bus in Anaheim, and it was my job to post the death announcement with guidance from his manager Tom Vitorino, and select the photo for the announcement.

Interviewing Scott in the broken state he was in is shortly before his death is something I’ll never forget. My stepfather died from alcoholism just two years prior, and I’ve had loved ones who have struggled with addiction, it’s really a battle within oneself. If you love someone who is battling it, all you can do is offer them love (sometimes tough) and give the best advice you can, and let them know if they want help, you will be there for them. You can’t have expectations though, it is their battle, and you have to shield yourself from the path of destruction addiction leaves the best you can.

If you are reading this and you are young and deal with darkness and haven’t yet tried alcohol and drugs, don’t do it. Try to battle your demons through counseling and other means of support. The best way to not become an alcoholic or drug addict is to not touch it, especially if you are doing it to fill a hole in your heart. I used to drink heavily when I was a bit younger, I wouldn’t classify myself as an alcoholic necessarily, but I may have been on the path to becoming one. I no longer drink, and when dealing with challenges in life, I deal with it in reality and with the support of family and friends.

Scott Weiland put it best himself in his 2011 book Not Dead and Not For Sale as he was battling alcoholism, “A drink in my mouth is something like putting a lead blanket over my heart.”

Fortunately on this sad anniversary, some good news has surfaced. KnB Archive has just unearthed a never before seen early press kit from Swing, the earliest incarnation of Stone Temple Pilots featuring founding members Scott Weiland, Robert DeLeo, and Eric Kretz. It finally reveals the specific month the earliest incarnation of STP formed: October 1987. I’ve spoken to all of STP’s members in the past, and nobody could ever quite nail down the timeline of the band’s formation. There is also a photo that appears to be the first publicity photo taken of Swing in 1987 or 1988. They are joined by guitarist Corey Hickok, and keyboardist Britton.

The biography states, “Swing originated in the month of October, 1987. The first six months Swing concentrated on mixing a combination of their roots and commercialism that they felt was necessary to spread them apart from any other band. Swing feels they have a strong sense in what it takes to become the next big thang, and incorporates these ideas into their words and music.

Swing started off playing the club circuit in Orange County. After several months of great response from behind the Orange curtain. They all decided that moving to Los Angeles and putting one hundred percent effort into the band would strengthen their chances of getting somewhere. Presently, Swing seeks management, a booking agent, and eventually a record deal, to set them on their way to what they believe will be success.”

It then lists ‘The Swing Boys’ with Scott Weiland coming first, under his birth name of Scott Klein. This is newsworthy, as it was previously unknown when exactly Scott changed his last name to Weiland, his stepfather David’s last name. It appears that he must have changed it just a couple of years before Stone Temple Pilots signed their deal with Atlantic Records and released Core. Scott was referred to as just ‘Weiland’ much like Morrissey in early Atlantic Records STP publicity photos.

Swing’s gig history is also shown, revealing the venues they played in 1987 and 1988. The list includes Bogarts, El Paso Cantina, Dezigns, Pinnifinnis, Out of Bounds, Park Plaza Hotel, Meadowlark Country Club, Kiss The Club, Casey’s, Nightmoves, The Roxy, Fenders Ballroom, The Coach House, Club Hype Happy House, Pandoras Box, Where The Wild Things Are, Club Gossip, Cobalt Blue, Funhouse, Sandbox, and 99 Hits.

In 1989 Britton left the band, and Scott Weiland, Robert DeLeo, Eric Kretz, and Corey Hickok changed Swing’s name to Mighty Joe Young. Shortly after this, Hickok left the band and was replaced by Dean DeLeo. In 1992 Mighty Joe Young signed with Atlantic Records to record Core, and changed their name to Stone Temple Pilots. The rest is history.

You can view the biography and Swing photo below.