Stone Temple Pilots exploded onto the music scene in 1992, a time when grunge was king. Their debut album, Core, was an immediate sensation, launching iconic tracks like “Sex Type Thing,” “Plush,” and “Creep.” While some critics initially labeled them as grunge bandwagoners, drawing comparisons to bands like Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, led by the charismatic and enigmatic frontman Scott Weiland, quickly proved they were a unique and powerful force in rock music. Their distinctive sound and songwriting prowess solidified their place in the pantheon of rock legends, and their catalog of Stone Temple Pilots Songs continues to resonate with fans worldwide.
Their sophomore album, 1994’s Purple, showcased the band’s impressive versatility and songwriting depth. With hits like “Vasoline,” “Interstate Love Song,” and “Big Empty,” Stone Temple Pilots cemented their status as one of the leading rock acts of the decade. Across five studio albums, including 1996’s Tiny Music… Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop, 1999’s No. 4, and 2001’s Shangri-La Dee-Da, they consistently delivered chart-topping hits and further engraved their legacy in rock history. These albums are packed with memorable stone temple pilots songs that defined an era.
Like many bands navigating the tumultuous waters of rock stardom, Stone Temple Pilots faced their share of challenges. Scott Weiland’s well-documented struggles with addiction and legal issues cast shadows, and the band eventually parted ways with him in 2013. They bravely moved forward, joining forces with Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, briefly known as Stone Temple Pilots Featuring Chester Bennington. This collaboration produced the EP High Rise in 2013 and hinted at a new full-length album before Bennington’s untimely passing. Despite lineup changes and personal battles, the core strength of Stone Temple Pilots lies in their remarkable music.
Stone Temple Pilots boast an extensive and impressive discography, filled with standout tracks. Narrowing it down to just ten is no easy task, but we’ve curated our picks for the band’s 10 best songs, celebrating the very best of stone temple pilots songs.
- “Sex Type Thing”
“Sex Type Thing,” the debut single from Core, served as Stone Temple Pilots’ explosive introduction to the world. The music video, a fixture on MTV in 1992, featuring a shirtless Scott Weiland swinging from chains in an industrial setting, perfectly captured the raw energy and rebellious spirit of the burgeoning grunge movement. This hard-hitting track, with its driving riffs and provocative lyrics, remains a powerful statement over two decades later, showcasing the band’s early grunge-infused sound and establishing them as a force to be reckoned with in the rock landscape. It’s a quintessential example of early stone temple pilots songs.
- “Lady Picture Show”
“Lady Picture Show,” a standout track from 1996’s Tiny Music… Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop, reveals a different facet of Stone Temple Pilots’ musicality. With its distinct Beatles-esque vibe, the song demonstrates the band’s versatility and willingness to experiment beyond their heavier grunge roots. This melodic and lyrically rich tune, showcasing Weiland’s evolving vocal style and the band’s refined songwriting, became one of three stone temple pilots songs to reach the top spot on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, proving their ability to craft diverse and commercially successful rock anthems.
- “Vasoline”
“Vasoline,” the second single from Purple, is an instantly recognizable rock anthem fueled by an infectious groove. The song’s lyrical content delves into Scott Weiland’s personal struggles with heroin addiction, a theme he openly explored in his autobiography, Not Dead and Not For Sale. Musically, “Vasoline” is elevated by drummer Eric Kretz’s intricate and syncopated drum pattern, adding layers of complexity to what initially appears as a straightforward guitar-driven track. This interplay between straightforward rock and nuanced musicality is a hallmark of classic stone temple pilots songs.
- “Creep”
“Creep,” the fourth single from Core, offered a glimpse into Stone Temple Pilots’ softer, more introspective side, a direction they further explored in later hits like “Big Empty” and “Lady Picture Show.” This emotionally resonant ballad features a haunting melody and deeply personal lyrics, capturing feelings of self-doubt and vulnerability. The song’s undeniably catchy chorus, with the memorable lines, “I’m half the man I used to be / This I feel as the dawn it fades to gray,” resonated with a wide audience, showcasing the band’s ability to connect with listeners on an emotional level through their stone temple pilots songs.
- “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart”
“Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart,” another standout track from Tiny Music… Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop, is an upbeat and creatively vibrant song that truly highlights Stone Temple Pilots’ exceptional musicianship. The song’s infectious energy and playful spirit are infectious, with a monster bass line from Robert DeLeo and a stellar guitar solo from Dean DeLeo. The chorus lyric, “I’m not dead and I’m not for sale,” later inspired the title of Scott Weiland’s 2012 autobiography, further cementing this track’s significance in the band’s history and within the canon of stone temple pilots songs. The music video offered fans a rare glimpse into the band’s daily lives and studio recording sessions, adding another layer of connection to this dynamic track.
- “Dead & Bloated”
“Dead & Bloated,” the opening track of Core, immediately grabs the listener with its heavy, driving sound and Scott Weiland’s haunting a cappella opening: “I am smelling like the rose / That somebody gave me / On my birthday deathbed.” This raw and powerful track, while perhaps not as commercially successful as some of their later hits, remains a fan favorite and a quintessential deep cut in the stone temple pilots songs catalog. It perfectly encapsulates the hunger, energy, and raw talent of a band on the cusp of superstardom, ready to make their mark on the music world.
- “Down”
Stone Temple Pilots’ 1999 album No. 4 marked a deliberate return to their heavier rock roots, and “Down,” the album’s lead single, exemplifies this sonic shift. Often cited as one of the band’s hardest-hitting tracks, “Down” delivers a crushing intensity with its aggressive riffs and powerful rhythm section. The song received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance, a testament to its impact and raw power within the hard rock genre, further demonstrating the band’s range and ability to create impactful stone temple pilots songs across different rock styles.
- “Big Empty”
“Big Empty,” the lead single from Purple, represented a significant sonic departure for Stone Temple Pilots, showcasing their versatility and willingness to explore different musical landscapes. The band actually debuted this now-iconic track on MTV Unplugged in 1993, months before the album’s release. Initially omitted from the broadcast, the stellar performance gained traction and heavy MTV rotation after the song became a hit. Featured on the soundtrack of the 1994 film The Crow, “Big Empty” became synonymous with the film’s brooding atmosphere and further solidified its place as one of the most beloved stone temple pilots songs. The MTV Unplugged performance remains a testament to the song’s enduring power and the band’s acoustic prowess.
- “Plush”
“Plush” is undeniably the song that catapulted Stone Temple Pilots to mainstream success. Released in 1993 as the second single from Core, “Plush” became a massive hit, winning the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance and contributing to the band’s MTV Video Music Award win for Best New Artist in 1994. With its instantly recognizable guitar riff, soaring vocals, and emotionally charged lyrics, “Plush” became an anthem of the 90s grunge era and remains one of the most iconic stone temple pilots songs, instantly recognizable to rock fans worldwide.
- “Interstate Love Song”
“Interstate Love Song” rightfully claims the top spot on our list and stands tall as one of the greatest rock songs of the 1990s. This concise and impactful track is a masterclass in songwriting, featuring a Led Zeppelin-esque riff, an incredibly catchy chorus, and exceptional musicianship from every band member. From Eric Kretz’s powerful drumming to Robert DeLeo’s melodic bass lines, Dean DeLeo’s unforgettable riff, and Scott Weiland’s superb vocals, “Interstate Love Song” showcases Stone Temple Pilots at their absolute peak. The song dominated the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for an astounding 15 weeks in 1994. Adding to its mystique, the song’s bizarre music video, featuring a man in a creepy mask with an ever-growing nose, remains as memorable as the song itself, solidifying “Interstate Love Song” as the quintessential stone temple pilots song.
What’s Your Favorite Stone Temple Pilots Song?
What are your thoughts on our list of the 10 Best Stone Temple Pilots songs? Did we miss any of your favorites? Do you think tracks like “Wicked Garden,” “Sour Girl,” or “Between The Lines” deserve a spot? We encourage you to share your own top 10 STP songs list in the comments below! Let us know which stone temple pilots songs resonate most with you.
