The Best of Grunge: Stone Temple Pilots

Stone Temple Pilots were one of the defining bands of the grunge era, and their best songs are essential listening for any fan of the genre. In this blog post, we’ll countdown the 10 greatest STP tracks of all time.

The Stone Temple Pilots

Though they are commonly lumped in with the Seattle-based grunge scene of the early ‘90s, Stone Temple Pilots actually hail from San Diego. The group’s sound was a unique blend of ‘70s hard rock and ‘90s grunge, and they enjoyed massive success with hits like “Sex Type Thing,” “Wicked Garden,” and “Creep.” Let’s take a look at the history of this influential band.

The Stone Temple Pilots’ Debut Album

Stone Temple Pilots’ debut album, Core, was released on September 29, 1992. The album was certified 8x platinum by the RIAA on December 18, 2001. Core sold more than eight million copies worldwide and established Stone Temple Pilots as one of the most successful grunge bands of the early ’90s. The album featured the hit singles “Sex Type Thing,” “Plush,” and “Creep.”

The Stone Temple Pilots’ Second Album

The Stone Temple Pilots released their second album, Purple, in May 1994. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and would go on to become one of the best-selling albums of the year. It would also eventually be certified 6x platinum by the RIAA.

The first single from the album, “Unglued”, was a moderate success, peaking at #18 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The second single, “Interstate Love Song”, was a huge hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and becoming one of the band’s signature songs. The third single, “Vasoline”, was also a success, reaching #13 on the Hot 100.

Purple was well-received by critics and is considered one of the best albums of the 90s. It has been cited as an influence by many subsequent grunge and alternative rock bands.

The Stone Temple Pilots’ Third Album

The Stone Temple Pilots released their self-titled third album on May 25, 1994, through Atlantic Records. The album is commonly referred to as “Purple” because of its cover art. The album was the band’s first to enter the Billboard 200, debuting and peaking at number twenty-seven. It is also the first album by the band to be certified gold by the RIAA.

The Stone Temple Pilots’ Fourth Album

The Stone Temple Pilots followed up their hit album, Purple, with the release of their fourth album, entitled Tiny Music…Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop. The album was released in 1996 to critical acclaim, and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. The first single from the album, “Big Bang Baby”, was a top ten hit on the Mainstream Rock chart. The album went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA.

The Stone Temple Pilots’ Final Album

The Stone Temple Pilots’ self-titled final album was released on May 25, 2018. The album was announced on the band’s website on May 18, 2018, with the first single, “Meadow”, being released the same day. The album is the band’s seventh studio album and is the first album to be released since the death of lead singer Scott Weiland in 2015.

The Stone Temple Pilots’ Greatest Hits

The Stone Temple Pilots were one of the most successful grunge bands of the early ’90s. With their debut album, Core, they established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the rock world. After a string of successful albums and tours, the band decided to call it quits in 2003.

While they may have disbanded, their music continues to live on through their fans. In 2010, the band released a greatest hits album, The Best of Grunge: Stone Temple Pilots. This album features some of their biggest hits, including “Sex Type Thing,” “Creep,” and ” Interstate Love Song.”

If you’re a fan of grunge or simply want to revisit the music of one of the most successful bands of the ’90s, then this album is a must-have.