Pilots take wing with new lead singer

Expect to see a new lead singer on stage this Tuesday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre, but don’t expect Stone Temple Pilots to sound anything less than great.

The band has kept busy with their newest lead singer, Jeff Gutt, from the release of their newest single titled ìMeadowî to launching a Canadian tour with Seether, Default, and Age of Days.

Stone Temple Pilots began their search for a new lead singer in 2016 after firing frontman and co-founding member Scott Weiland in 2013. He was replaced by Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, who later left STP in November 2015 to focus solely on Linkin Park.

Weiland died of an accidental drug overdose in December of 2015, while Bennington took his own life in July 2017. Gutt joined the band in late 2017 after auditioning. “I almost felt a sense of duty to throw my hat in the ring,” he said in a phone interview. He had met Bennington several times in the past and knew STP very well despite never meeting the band.

“It was really strange seeing them in person the first time, it felt like I knew them. It was cool to be able to walk in there and sing songs that had such an impact on me.”

Being chosen as the band’s newest singer, he says, has been a blessing for him.

Gutt has remained true to his singing and songwriting methods, stating that he creates the melody with his bandmates first, and fills in the lyrics later.

“I try to do what the music tells me to do,” he said. “The music dictates what I have to do — and I try to keep it as organic and free as possible.”

STP is known for their iconic grunge sound, and lead guitarist Dean DeLeo previously said in a release that the band wanted someone who would do earlier songs justice while “carving out a new path” for the band, according to iheartradio.

Tickets for the show are on sale now at the SOEC box office and start at $42.50.