Critics Called Them COPY CATS... Band RETALIATED With This DYNAMIC #1 Rock Hit | Professor Of Rock

Everyone loves a love triangle, right? Just as long as you’re not the one on the outs. Well, today’s song was written by Stone Temple Pilots. Frontman Scott Weiland wrote the lyrics about a love triangle between he and his fiancee and the third party, who wasn’t human. The song was a massive hit on the rock charts in the 90s after STP’s first album blew up and critics trashed the band, but they had the last laugh with this hit that described Scott’s battle with an addiction that had a tragic result.
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Today we are taking a deep dive into the story of Scott Weiland and Stone Temple Pilots, and their 1994 hit interstate love song. mFrom the outset, it seemed like the critics had it in for Scott Weiland and Stone Temple Pilots. Launched into rockstardom with their debut album Core, this 90s alt-rock band garnered massive media attention. And most of it was pretty heartless. Labeled pretenders, rip-off artists, and grunge opportunists, really, their biggest crime was showing up at the party a little late. Core was released on September 29, 1992, a full year after Nirvana’s Nevermind kicked the doors open for the media’s grunge feeding frenzy.
Pearl Jam’s Ten hit a month earlier on August 27, 1991 and Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger arrived in stores on October 8. Alice in Chains’ Dirt actually came out the same day as STP’s Core, but with 1990’s Facelift already locked in and the benefit of being Seattle-born, they were just as legit as the rest. At the peak of STP’s early success, Weiland often sang with a deep, baritone vocal style that got him repeatedly roasted for sounding too much like Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder.
But despite the critical contempt, Core was an incredible album, raw and heavy-hitting. Powered by the singles Sex Type Thing, Plush, and Creep, along with the radio promo release Wicked Garden, Core success only poured more gasoline on the media’s burning distain.
Plush in particular was a mega-hit. And one the band didn’t want to be defined by it. So, in anticipation of its success... yeah, they knew it was going to kill... they refused to make it their first single and buried it deep in the record, as track 9.
Even so, this song that started out as a simple guitar exercise with a country riff and some ragtime chords, rocketed up the rock charts to #1. Plush inundated the airwaves. It was everywhere. But despite being a people’s favorite, the media bashing continued. In fact, in a January 1994 Rolling Stone poll, Stone Temple Pilots was voted both the Best New Band by readers and the Worst New Band by critics. But as we know, the the record buying public always win .

[@MrTimothypjr]

“The critics we’re wrong.” 100% Thank you.

[@effdonahue6595]

Yeppers! 👍

[@germanenglishengineer2054]

Scott Weiland surpasses Eddie Vedder as far as talent. He just naturally pronounces most of his lyrics better.

[@ronniewall492]

I HAVE A QUESTION DO ANY OF YALL EVER LOOK INTO THE MUSIC NOT PROMOTED?

[@ronniewall492]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nH-vfH2JnrKqodk

[@YouTube_can_ESAD]

@@germanenglishengineer2054 Both are/were supremely talented, I love them both for different things- you don’t have a f’n clue, pal. Your post was cringe at best. Simpleton.

[@paulrogers6037]

Saw them at the Arizona State Fair in 1993. Someone threw a flannel shirt onstage and Weiland held it up and chucked it back into the audience, growling: "I ain't a f---ing lumberjack and I ain't from f---ing Seattle."

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Ha ha! 😂

[@ChipEstrada]

Love it!

[@davej.meister5421]

Probably a grunge hating glam metal fan threw it onstage.

[@mariolopez3728]

@@davej.meister5421 I don't think so. Why would a glam metal fan have a flannel shirt? That's like a grunge fan having leather pants.

[@davej.meister5421]

@@mariolopez3728 Heckler who blames grunge for killing glam. And they do exist. They're abundant here at YT. Met a few of them. Jackasses.

[@imandan1966]

Never heard one STP song that sounded anything like Pearl Jam. STP chord progressions were always a notch above. RIP Scott

[@miboogaroo]

He's even singing with the same facial/mouth shape as Eddie in the clip at 4.30

[@lesboothe7291]

@@miboogaroo Honestly thinks that's where the "copycat" tag came from, Wyland just looked like he was doing a Vedder impression on stage. Ended up being a good thing because it pushed Scott to adopt his Lounge Singer stage persona which became pretty iconic.

[@chris_iapetus]

@@miboogaroo Never much of a Jam fan. Always been a craven, mindless, robe-enwrapt, flesh-eating STP disciple. No sonic relation betwixt PJ & our plucky heroes. (He rose. From a bed of viral casts.) I'll grant geographic similarity. As far as I'll go. RiPSTP

[@carolharris2357]

Nothing good comes from heroin and addiction.

[@johnathandavis3693]

I bought ONE Pearl Jam album. I owned EVERY STP album. THAT'S how I voted back then.

[@phoenixjim0527]

The critics were completely effing wrong. STP was a great, great band.

[@Donb1233]

I used to joke that I burned a hole in the CD with the laser constantly playing it.

[@punkassfunk]

They WERE copycats. They also were very talented. But Weiland was all but original. That all means nothing, because the fans liked them. The Offspring were also copycats, but they were super successful. Nothing wrong with that.

[@invictusbp1prop143]

@@punkassfunk oh c'mon man....don't compare the friggin Offspring to STP. Not even in the same realm. You can't downplay the impact STP had. The acoustic version of Plush is still one of the greatest songs ever and Interstate Love Song was playing in the background of every memory I have of my sophomore year in college and I'm not the only one.

[@toddgaak422]

@@punkassfunk How were they copycats? When a STP song comes on, they are immediately recognizable. They don't sound like anyone else. And don't ever compare STP to Offspring.

[@johnathandavis3693]

@@punkassfunk You could say that Bob Dylan "copied" Woody Guthrie. STP was "inspired" by other bands, like ALL other bands are...

[@Walk_on_Part_In_a_War]

In all the hundreds of times I've listened to this song, I'd never stopped to consider that the "inter-state" is from one state of sobriety/inebriety to another... So sad, given how intentional Scott was about his drug use, and where it eventually, inevitably, took him.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Me neither! I had no idea that the interstate was a symbol that was supposed to represent alcohol use. I thought the song was about driving on the highway and how he loves the interstate.

[@MrTimothypjr]

That’s what I really love about POR. I don’t always live the music he covers, but I always learn something new and interesting. I know, I sound like a review bot, but I really mean it!

[@halweilbrenner9926]

Sad

[@d.cbreneman1143]

Interstate Love Song was so good that in 2001 in Knoxville TN my band was paid $200 by a bar patron to keep playing it over and over all night...no one got sick of it.

[@seandooley7205]

STP was the first band I ever saw live that was significantly BETTER live. Jones Beach circa 1998ish. Weiland's stage presence was mesmerizing - a combo of Iggy Pop & David Bowie. I was already a fan of his poetic lyrics & STP's incredible music. But I left that show blown away by Weiland's performance. A FUCKING ROCK STAR....

[@MrTimothypjr]

Agreed. Saw in Portland ME in the mid 90’s and it was a really pleasant surprise how good they were. Cheap Trick opened, and they were pretty durned good too.

[@jeffreyaverett1800]

@@MrTimothypjr Cheap Trick... another timeless band and a must to see live. That must've been great, seeing them together. ✌️

[@Terk131]

Sean, that was a great show. Fellow long islander here

[@grungil7570]

On a good day, he was great.

[@TC1Z2L3]

I saw STP at the Santa Barbara Bowl around 2006. I figured they'd be old, addicted and apathetic by then. To the contrary they put on a great show and Scott Weiland was still a bona fide rock star.

[@sunshinefogleman127]

STP was always legit a kick ass band. F#ck what the "critics" said. Decades later they are still a favorite of, not just my generation, but the younger generations as well.

[@exodusfromearth6883]

Critics are usually jealous, failed musicians.

[@georgiarn3915]

💯

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

@@exodusfromearth6883 They always want to focus on the negative things.

[@Hogprint25]

They sounded nothing like the Seattle groups, they were their own group, their own sound. Totally legit as you say. The critics can go F themselves.

[@jmhaces]

"Purple" is my favorite STP record by far. I liked "Core" when it came out, but they never really fully clicked for me. A few years later I was driving around with a friend and "Interstate Love Song" came on the radio. We'd never heard the song before since the album had recently been released and neither of us had it, but we instantly knew it was the new STP song and that it felt somehow more realized than anything off "Core." I bought "Purple" not long after, and loved it from beginning to end. I still listen to it in its entirety to this day every so often.

[@aerynsunx]

Adam, I'm glad you mentioned "Sour Girl". It's at the top of my list of favorite STP songs. Aside from simply being a great song, it's a confessional from a vulnerable Weiland about how things went terribly wrong, and that he played a big part in that. STP was a great band and I thank you for giving them a spotlight.

[@austintrousdale2397]

I liked “Sour girl,” and then I watched the video, so I was like, that’s it. 🙌 🫶

[@fredtaylor9792]

My FAVORITE song to play on acoustic. Man, I just wish I could sing like him!

[@Principaledpragmatist]

My two favorite songs of STP are both on No.4. I loved Sour Girl the first time I heard it and it has become my favorite over the years. Atlanta is also a great song that hooked me the first time I heard it.

[@tjmjazz8002]

Love sour girl didn't even realize that was buffy till I read comments apparently when Scott got busted he binged buffy and she was cool to be in that video miss him so fuckin talented...

[@mrjon75]

Great jam.

[@ryanf3636]

Glad you covered this masterpiece of a song. It will always be one of my favorite songs of all time. The first time I heard it on the radio in 1994 I bought the album on my lunch break. Yes literally an hour later! I never did that with any other song/album. Purple was perfection! Hit play and let it go till it stopped. I feel so fortunate to have lived in the 90s!

[@moresnare]

STP's song 'Still Remains' gets me emotional every time I hear it... The music, of course, but the lyrics... damn.

[@Nickachu_NJ]

Love your show brudda!!! Scott Weiland wrote some of the most lyrically beautiful songs of our time. These in particular hit me, absolute chills: "Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine Take a bath I'll drink the water that you leave If you should die before me ask if you could bring a friend Pick a flower hold your breath and drift away..."

[@Merchant1521]

Still Remains is such a great song. Truly shows how good Scott really was at song writing. I didn't realize this until the mid 2000's. I grew up in the 90s and the whole Grunge and Alternative scene. Scott was a genius and sadly his own worst enemy. I say STP twice once at Rock Fest In Chicago July of 2000. There were the 3rd to last act. Played 4 songs maybe 5 and for a short set Scott went balls out. He gave it his all even though they were not the main act. Metallica was that day. The 2nd time was in October of 2000. The poor drummer was so sick he was puking into a bucket on stage. Scott and the band still gave it their all.

[@josefcosta8267]

...take a bath I'll drink the water that you leave...

[@homeworldmusic]

This man's voice was a work of art, and everything the band did was a step aside and a cut above. Nothing derivative at all about them, and while I can't listen to a Pearl Jam song to the conclusion, I play STP songs on repeat.

[@The-Mediator]

Interstate Love Song is a masterpiece. They've been my favorite band since 1993. I was blessed to see them in concert this past Saturday in Addison. Their new music with Jeff is good too. I'm happy to see they are still recognized as an awesome, influential band!

[@Donniesquid4]

This made me happy. STP is my all time favorite band. I saw them every time they played in the Philly area. Unfortunately, the critics still have it out for them, they still haven't been even nominated for the rock and roll hall of fame (they should already be in). I was hooked from the first time I saw Sex Type Thing on Headbanger's ball, ran out and got the tape the next day, and have been a huge fan ever since. I enjoy every album they put out and always will.

[@The-Mediator]

They're my favorite band too. I saw them play this past Saturday in Addison.

[@spannerturnerMWO]

I think you summed it up in one perfect statement... "Scott Weiland was such an underrated frontman." @Professor of Rock - I would love to see you cover Ludo. Probably one of the best "little known" bands in the US, both musically and lyrically.

[@ericthiel4053]

I never saw STP as a "copy" of anything grunge or other. In my mind I saw them as a modern "traditional" rock band and that's what made them epic. The musicianship, lyrical content and Scott's vocals blended beautifully and I always felt they sounded "fresh". They did deserve much better treatment by the music press.

[@Hogprint25]

Amen. Ultimately they were a prisoner of their time.

[@nolakirk3357]

Interstate love song is definitely my favorite STP track. Truly hard to believe that this song is 28 years old. Definitely a road trip windows open crank it Up song. I was fortunate enough to see the band live on two separate occasions in the early 2000s. Great band live.

[@josefcosta8267]

You're the best professor...as usual, incredible insights and history, then an attempt at understanding, and finally empathy concerning a complex condition like addiction...and as always, an intense love of the MUSIC!!! One of the best hard rock bands of all time, Stone Temple Pilots. Thanks again brother!!!

[@TheShadowKarl]

I love Stone Temple Pilots and I am so glad you sang their praises because they deserve it. Thanks for all the insights into the song. I never knew all of this about it but I love this song and it means even more now. This album was a masterpiece. It is still one of my favorites.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I thank Adam for telling me the inside story of this song. Things that I never knew beforehand!

[@stevebird9510]

Stone Temple Pilots. I remember them. STP is an oil additive. 🛢

[@k.b.tidwell]

I was born in 1970. You do the math. Your channel is the time machine I always told my buddies we needed. Thanks, man, you’re keeping me young. And can you please explain why you do not have millions of subscribers by now?

[@judithgoulding8046]

So much depth in "Interstate Love Song". Such gutwrenching lyrics never realizing the tug a war going on in Scot's heart and mind. How sad and tragic to hear his dimise..Thank you Professor for such a fascinating behind the scenes of this heartfelt great song. ❤️

[@xmizljm_2354]

So glad to see new videos, content on STP… they deserved so much recognition because of their body of work. Powerful singer with a dynamic voice, completely unique. The band also rocked hard and also made some beautiful soft melodies that perfectly tied with Scott’s voice. They definitely were one of the most interesting bands to watch for me and because their songs are so different, each have a different taste, character to them. Keep up the great work, happy to hear people are still talking about this great band. RIP Scott, Long love STP!

[@axelspaulding5558]

One of my first dates with my wife was the STP show in support of Tiny Music. Scott had such a presence onstage and his vocals were perfect. Later, my wife would comment that we must be in the car because a Stone Temple Pilots song would be playing on the radio. I believe it was Robert DeLeo that released a raw audio track of Scott singing ILS in the recording studio. It's a stunning example of how well Scott could sing.

[@mrsasshole]

Professor, thank you very much for covering STP. They're one of my all time favorite bands and as successful as they were, I don't think they get their full due. Their albums have aged extremely well and while I love all of their albums (the first 4 especially), Tiny Music is in my opinion not only STP's most underrated album, it's one of the best albums of the alternative era.

[@ArthurRChan]

This is one of my favorite songs from the '90s too - I really enjoyed the story behind it! Since you asked Professor, I would love to hear about the band Garbage. They've had quite a career up to the present. Come to think of it, also Live... and the Posies, a band from the Seattle area, but not part of the grunge scene.

[@laurat1129]

Yes, Garbage! So many great songs, Shirley Manson is underrated.

[@pinkmonkeybird2644]

I love Shirley; she’s definitely one of the great voices of rock.

[@austintrousdale2397]

Garbage touring with Tears for Fears this summer 🔥

[@MsThebeMoon]

Lot of great stuff from the 90's. My favorite decade for buying music, next to the 70's.

[@MsDee_777]

I concur!

[@leafbelly]

A quick listen to some of their less-popular tracks like "Sour Girl," "Days of the Week," and "Still Remains" tells you everything you need to know about their talent. An amazing band and I'm so glad that history is finally giving them the respect they deserve.

[@SpaceAce2022]

Purple is one of my fav albums of the 1990s. Even songs like Unglued are rocking, and I never get tired of the album. Truly a classic!

[@pk13910]

Of the two Scotts, I always thought Stapp was more of an Eddie Vedder impersonator that Weiland.

[@laurat1129]

STP music still rocks, but their lyrics are even better. While they seemed grunge or "alt-rock", they definitely had their own sound. "Interstate Love Song" is great for being just that, but the more somber "Sour Girl" always gets me. ETA: Thanks for reminding us to have compassion, Prof. (RIP, Scott)☮️

[@MF-le7fp]

I fell in love with a girl in 1992, while visiting my best friend down at Va Tech. I lived in Northern Va., at the time. She and I had an intense, but turbulent, long distance love affair for the next two years. Every weekend I would drive down there, taking I66 to I81 south, to visit her. It was a 500 mile round trip. And for me, Interstate Love Song became emblematic of the myriad of challenges one faces in the effort of maintaining this type of impossible relationship. The song still gives me goose bumps upon hearing it. Today was no exception. It brought back the memories of all those miles, and the hours spent making that hazardous journey, repeatedly. That section of the I81 corridor is one of the most dangerous roads on the East coast, due to the volume of the semi trucks. The relationship finally ended, as 99.9% of all long distance relationships do at that age (I was 22). And two songs instantly bring it all back. This one, and "Far Behind", by Candlebox. A song I would love to see you do a video on. Thanks for the flashback, today. 👍

[@RichWhiteUM]

At least part of the trip was on the I-81 corridor between Hagerstown and Winchester. I swear that is the only part of I-81 worth driving on. I was just at a Black Label Society show a couple weekends ago just off that section of I-81 in Inwood, WV. My wife hates driving on I-81, for the record.

[@craighenry2351]

I agree completely with Far Behind. What a song. I call that the second best apology song of all time. Only Feels Like Tonight by Daughtry is better. Great mention.

[@letstardust]

STP is so amazing! I always think about how underrated the band is… Scott was so talented. One of the bests. Miss him a lot 💜

[@mark65mc]

I remember seeing STP live. Weiland was amazing. His vocals were perfect and he had great energy.

[@michaelfrazia4569]

hell yeah

[@johdo_lodet]

FIrst time i saw STP, they had opened for Queensryche at a small venue in Toledo OH. First song was Crackerman, and when he pulled out the megaphone the place went nuts. There were more people there to see STP than Queensryche. I still have the ticket stub.

[@fivestring65ify]

I never gave STP the credit they deserved during the grunge years. They are one of my favorite bands now. They were one of the best bands to come out of that era. I don't consider them grunge. They are a hard rock band. It's a shame Weiland got lost in drugs. Unfortunately, a lot of the musicians from that time did, and we lost a lot of them. It really hurt when Weiland, and Lane Staley died. STP and AIC are my two favorite bands from the grunge years, even though they weren't grunge.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I bet he was on 🔥

[@katherineskrzynecki3347]

He was an awesome performer! Saw him in Velvet Revolver...dynamite!

[@craighenry2351]

I like what you said about not being too hard on those tragic souls who lost the battle to heroin addiction. I would never condone using for anyone, but I do understand the escape. First of all, if we are honest with ourselves, we all have our own addictions we use as coping mechanisms. Musicians, in general seem to have been marginalized individuals in society who find their voices through their music. This is especially true for rock and metal performers. Music seems to be even more cathartic for them, than it does for your average person or even musician. Especially for metal artists, this explains the heaviness of the genre. The aggressive angry music seems to get the anger out of their systems. Now this type of music may not work this way for everybody, but it does work this way for some. I know, because I am one of those people. And music works even better for vocalists. I enjoy singing, myself, and I can tell you if you truly put the emotion into a song that it deserves, you lose yourself in it and will find yourself slightly drained afterword. I also understand that high that Scott was chasing when he first used. You can get it when you sing. I tell people, when I sing, I’m not me anymore. I’m a completely different entity. It’s just me and the music. I think Scott felt that when he sang, but, sadly, it wasn’t enough. He got a better high (He thought, when he fixed) and then we all know where that led. He chased that high the rest of his life, right into the grave. Long story short, I respect what you said. His addiction was not something to be celebrated or emulated, but, we can have empathy for his situation. And we should. Another super talented soul who left too soon.

[@harihoedojo]

Always love Stone Temple Pilots from the beginning, they have tons of great song and varieties. One of my favorite band of all time.

[@IvanLendl87]

STP got a raw deal from rock critics. STP were The Real Deal without a doubt. I’ve seen hundreds of live shows but the single best live show I ever saw was STP in New Orleans in June 2000. Live music doesn’t get any better than what they did that night. Every Scott Weiland STP album is great. PURPLE is a stone cold classic album. When people talk about the diminishing influence of rock music I place a huge amount of blame on rock critics. They slagged off so many great bands - STP, Rush, Smashing Pumpkins, Duran Duran, ELO, Led Zeppelin (to name just a handful) - they hurt rock way more than they ever promoted it. Great episode, Prof 👍

[@OneManArmy23]

Loved this! Interstate Love Song is one of my favourite songs ever!. Thanks for sharing the meaning behind the song. Would love to see you cover Soul Asylum next! Runaway Train was probably one of the biggest hits of the 90s.

[@kpw84u2]

I was in Colorado for my cousin's wedding when she invited us the next day to see some bands at Red Rocks. The warm-up band was STP, the headliner was the Butthole Surfers... I never heard STP before and they were great. My cousin snapped a pic of me with a rainbow over my shoulder as they were playing. I headed back to Chicago to hear them all over the radio... and the next tour, they were the headliner.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Very cool. Ya they blew up fast at that time.

[@S_H9260]

Was the Flaming Lips at that show, too? I think that's the same tour I saw them on the east coast. It was my first concert and really fun.

[@kpw84u2]

@@S_H9260 they must have joined later for other dates... tours are like that sometimes.

[@jjrenae8021]

The STP song “Atlanta” is also an amazing interpretation of Scott fighting his personal demons. He had an amazing and versatile voice. Sad 😢

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I loved his voice. It is so tragic that he was struggling with addiction.

[@brandim7127]

YES!

[@RHINOSAUR]

Atlanta is the greatest song The Doors never wrote. 😉

[@jjrenae8021]

@@RHINOSAUR IKR! The similarities are uncanny.

[@SIvers-or2ke]

Story I heard was that she knew all along and that was basically the letter she wrote him. He basically wrote that into the song as his reply in a live song. Absolute honesty and genius

[@colico14]

I'm from the Seattle suburbs, and was in 7th grade in 1992 when grunge was at its height. We loved "Core." "Core" was as welcomed as any of the Seattle bands' records. I remember ordering it through Columbia House and absolutely loved it. "Purple" was a soundtrack for my summer of 1994. Kurt Cobain had recently passed away and I needed a great, timeless record like that to help me get through it. I remember "Big Empty" first appearing on the soundtrack to "The Crow," then was thrilled when it showed up on "Purple" as well. "Vaseline" got a lot of airplay on MTV, as did "Interstate Love Song." What a record! RIP Scott Weiland. I hope Janina has been able to make her peace with losing Scott and is doing well. Thank you for the great analysis and tribute, Adam.

[@patrickladucer4118]

I've always considered STP "Grunge" One of the best voices, lyricist, and front men ever. Also he'll never, never be replaced.

[@carlwalker1623]

Not replaced but replicated.

[@katherineskrzynecki3347]

Very true!

[@TheJbhmetal]

core is straight up grunge, albums after it have some grunge tracks

[@michellebliss1876]

When they kicked him out and tried putting Chester with them. I liked Chester but STP was always Scott!! Sadly we lost him Chester and Chris.

[@jordanmurray410]

Personally their guitarist is what does it for me, he's brilliant

[@jenfox3980]

This was that one song I played on repeat over and over again and still couldn’t get enough ❤️🤘 This is so well done and perfectly said I hope Scott is hearing this somewhere 🙏

[@charlesgeorge9266]

Hands down my favorite band of all time! Thank you for for featuring this song on your channel….it really takes me back. You have absolutely amazing content. Love the channel sir!

[@The-Mediator]

My favorite too!

[@bryangirod9173]

First STP song I heard was "Plush". Love it to this day. Shortly afterward, STP played Late Night with David Letterman. Scott Weiland starts singing through a megaphone and I'm just like WTF is this? They played Dead and Bloated and it blew my mind. Absolute genius. Criminally underrated band. R.I.P. Scott Weiland.

[@tristramcoffin926]

I bought Core when it came out as well as Purple and also was very into the rock press. I remember reading their hate for STP and frankly understanding their points. However, I just kept listening to the albums and ultimately my response to the 'copy cat' charge was "well maybe but the songs are good'. If you write good songs so much takes care of itself.

[@willowwillow1969]

I remember hearing this song, a lot. I could never really get the lyrics. My niece LOVED STP and Scott in particular. In an attempt to connect w/her I began listening to her jams. I agree w/all you said. I am a 70's-80's girl, but I like the bluesy vibe. Scott was a very enchanting front man. Lastly, I know so many people from this era who got tripped up with opiates. For many, it started with doctors giving it to them when they prob shouldn't have. By the time people starting figuring out the danger...it was too late. I will NEVER shame an addict. I know they want to stop but can't. It sucks, period.

[@RealHeyMark]

I never, ever got the people who griped that STP sounded too much like Pearl Jam or Nirvana. They didn't sound anything alike. The DeLeo brothers were among the few grunge-era artists who acknowledged a jazz influence and admitted they loved Led Zep.

[@georgiarn3915]

💯. Loved their cover of Dancing Days.

[@rsisente]

STP came on the scene at a pivotal time in my life. I was a little over 2 years into an 8 year stretch in the army, and was still trying to “find my way”. Long road trips on 3 and 4 day weekends, concerts galore. You could always find STP, and others, in the mix of cd’s we had. The days of the big cd wallets, and the copilot got to choose the music. Great memories.

[@godeplatformyourself7108]

The real genius behind STP was the inventiveness and interplay of the DeLeo brothers.

[@brandim7127]

STP is one of my favourites from the 90s. I listen to them often and when I needed to make a list of songs I wanted to learn on guitar, their songs were at the top of the list. I wish I’d known exactly how hard these songs are to play! Haha. Been working on the chord changes in this one for months.

[@KD-bk3it]

I was sophomore in high school and Interstate Love Song got me through a painful break up. I always assumed the song was about a girl that lied and cheated on Scott until I learned otherwise in the early 2000’s. In my opinion Purple was the best album of the 90’s.

[@soakedbearrd]

Same here, I was a sophomore in HS and I had this part time job in a warehouse and my coworker was an older 20s metal/rock head so we had a radio playing in the background and he would always put on K-Rock station. At that time I was into hip hop and rnb, but boy did I really like this song when it would get played. Now at 43 going on 44, I still play this song (and some of their other songs).

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

My wife and I seen STP in 1999, they opened up for the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Sleep Train Amphitheater in Marysville, Ca. Scott came out wearing a long black cape and a large floppy black hat, holding his trademark megaphone. One of the best shows I've seen, ever!

[@pablojones5613]

Hey Adam, I am well aware that the Australian band, Cold Chisel never made it big in the U.S, but in many people's minds, they were the greatest band in the world at the time. Many of their songs are totally anthemic in Australia, and other countries as well. I would be overjoyed if you could do an episode on them, you may, or may not remember the song "Working class man" which was a solo single for Cold Chisel's lead singer Jimmy Barnes. It was on the soundtrack of the movie "Working class man " with Michael Keaton. As I have already said, their music is a huge part of Australian culture, even 40 years after it was first released. What say you, Adam?

[@jrobertlysaght]

I became aware of Jimmy Barnes through his collab with INXS on The Lost Boys soundtrack "Good Times". Which lead me to buy his ""Freight Train Heart", a tremendous album, with coincidentally another road trip song, Driving Wheels. I was amazed nothing on that album made it to the pop radio. But Jimmy then lead me back to Cold Chisel. Fantastic band.

[@pablojones5613]

@@jrobertlysaght Cold Chisel, in my opinion is the one band that should have made it on the world stage, but never did. Their music may have been a bit too Australian for world tastes at the time.

[@ryancconnely]

Thank you for covering Stone Temple Pilots! Plush is one of those euphoria songs that take me back to being 13. Interstate Love Song was kind of it's older brother to me. Thicker and heavier in sound and lyrics. I'll eat up any 90s alternative rock you cover, but await the day for some Counting Crows to be discussed! I dig what you're doing!

[@weareidiotsfreeyourmind3585]

Scott was a neighbor of mine in Pasadena. Nice guy, I'd see him often while walking my dog. He would say hi! and call my dog by name always making small talk. One of the saddest events in my time. I went to "the Colorado" a local dive bar to grab a beer with friends one afternoon. I walked into the little restroom and caught Scott with a needle in his arm. He looked at me and you could see the shame in his eyes. I never saw him again. Great singer, Nice guy. Very sad

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Wow. You are very lucky to have Scott as your neighbor.

[@razorcatshark3223]

Well done. Your sensitivity on this song, singer, band and situation is greatly appreciated.

[@michaelfrazia4569]

my favorite 90s band...so glad to see you give them some love...the DeLeo bros are great songwriters and excellent musicians while Eric kretz has such a unique drumming style...SCOTT WEILAND....one of the greatest live frontmen ever......rob wrote the plush riff too...such a melodic bass player...also the album cover of purple is from a bag or dope Scott had bought

[@rodmandealerman3297]

I started a new job back in April of '94, and was finally in a position to start part 2 of my music collection in earnest (part 1 is all vinyl, of course). STP, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana were at the very top of my list. Up until then, I relied heavily on the music from the mid-60's to about '83 (ZZ Top/Eliminator was released then). I was THRILLED to hear something I could get behind, and put into heavy rotation on my thoroughly abused computer! I still have all 3 of them, along with the rest of my vinyl and CD's, and enjoy them now as much as I ever did back then. Professor, you have given us a HUGE gift covering STP, and this spectacular song. Many Thanks! 🙏 💿 📀

[@rodneygriffin7666]

It's so sad that many wonderful people and great artists of My Generation have lost their lives due to depression and substance abuse. I am 57 and I'm still alive. Hatred is already dead. Beauty still lives on.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Keep on living your life, Rodney! Be strong! 💪

[@Kenboslice3]

Solid album. I wore this tape out in '94! Of all the great songs on Purple, I was always partial to Pretty Penny. The writing on this album really separated STP from the grunge monacre previously used to describe them on Core.

[@pantherche]

Love the content and how you're keeping rock alive.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

We are proud of him for keeping the heart of rock and roll still beating!

[@Joliepinkyswear1]

Such a huge loss. He was so talented. To this day it still blows my mind how amazing his voice was even when he was barely able to stand up. I still listen to his music to this day. There are a few STP songs I loved but I have always been more into his Velvet Revolver music. I have a special playlist on my phone with a bunch of their songs on it that I listen to very often. Thanks for this eppy Professor. Hope you do more of Scott's songs.

[@MusicOrLoseItTVPlaylists]

90s alternative songs were so abstract we definitely need a professor to help us understand. Nice.

[@vladtheinhaler8940]

I have memories of this song in particular growing up in the 90's, I remember riding in the car and this song coming on and just singing along with it. Good times. You should do the Foo Fighters, their first album in particular.

[@craighenry2351]

Dean Deleo, another of the great rock/metal guitarists born in 1961. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) Akira Takasaki (Loudness) Billy Duffy (The Cult) Kurt Vanderhoof (Metal Church) Oz Fox (Stryper) Dean Deleo (Stone Temple Pilots) The Edge (U2) James Martin (Faith No More) Tommy Keifer (Cinderella) Nigel Pulsford (Bush) Ty Tabor (Kings X)

[@Elhastezy888]

WoW. Very poetic indeed. Breaking down the plot in the lyrics really changed this song up a bit, not knowing all this before. Very interesting... as usual Doc👍🏻💗

[@MetalMama-Mimi523]

507K????? How can this be? Your content is so well put together, marrying knowledge, interviews from the artists themselves & fun trivia. I mean seriously, what more could you ask for? Thank you, P.O.R. for your passion of music, like so many of us. I can't wait for you to hit a million, cause you deserve it 😊

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I am so ready for him to hit a million, and I am trying to help him accomplish that goal! I told most of the students and teachers at my school to subscribe to Professor of Rock on KZbin, tell all their family and friends and people who appreciate oldies music!

[@jeremyscarter]

STP always holds a place in my heart. Already a huge fan of the band, my buddy and I were driving to a funeral for a friend of ours who was in a car crash when Pretty Penny came on. We were all 20 years old and it wasn't fair she was gone too soon. Every time I hear that song, it takes me back 25 years ago to that sad day.

[@joermnyc]

The critics lambasted Led Zeppelin too, but the fans knew better.

[@TheSaintedOne]

Thanks for putting a spotlight on "Still Remains". One of my favorite STP tracks.

[@Rossturnerphoto]

I always liked this particular song, and hearing clips from some of their other songs on this episode made me realize how much I enjoyed listening to them as a band. I get the similarities to Pearl Jam, but I always felt STP had a style of their own. I didn’t realize at the time that they weren’t part of the grunge movement, but for them that was a good thing because their sound incorporated other styles. I don’t get the hate from critics, but like you said, the buying public likes what they like.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Not everyone liked grunge. Bands like Stone Temple Pilots might have been good suits for those people who wanted something different.

[@CharlesWillisBonsai]

STP is a way better band than Pearl Jam. Not that Pearl Jam is bad, but STP is on a whole other level imo.

[@Rossturnerphoto]

@@CharlesWillisBonsai I agree. I liked Pearl Jam, but I liked STP more.

[@garyv2498]

Interstate Love Song is one of the few times I've been right about evaluating a song. I remember as a teen driving 30 minutes to the nearest town with a record store in NW Wis. I remember where I was on the drive home when I heard 'Interstate Love Song' and I thought to myself "That's going to be hit single from this album". How right I was. Still comes up on classic rock radio to this day. And I love it every time.

[@WhiteOak09]

Professor of Rock looks like my grandpa and I'm not saying you look old but your features look so much like my grandpa when he was a young man , if you tell me you own a apple & peach orchard I'm going to freak out .

[@aaronpearson2168]

In 2004 I saw Scott with Velvet Revolver. It was the year that 5 hurricanes battered Florida really hard, and the guys were doing a hurricane relief benefit. I never had the chance to see GNR live, but was fortunate enough to see STP several times before they broke up. So the show was awesome. However in the middle of the set Scott tells the crowd that he normally doesn’t give up the microphone, but he hopes that we’ll make an exception for another singer to come sing a song for us. All of a sudden the band kicks into Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll and Brian Johnson comes out to sing for us. It was jaw dropping, and brilliant. I miss Scott. I really wish he was still around, and not struggling with his addiction. He was one of my favorites.

[@TheJohnnyswank2001]

I would have to say, the first four albums coming out of any band, never sounded more intense, deep and full of rich noise. STP and Weiland were a force that really had made an amazing contribution to rock. Gone from the trials and tribulations of drugs way too soon. But I have to admit, upon hearing of Scott's death, I wasn't shocked or hurt, I was just accepting that we all knew it was coming. Sad.

[@lukeaaron2716]

Love you’re videos man. Thanks for the content! I remember being given a copy of Purple on cassette when I was in high school. I’d walk around listening to it over and over again on my Walkman. Just being completely blown away by the music. It was unlike anything else I’d heard. And In no way in my mind sounding like Pearl Jam/Eddie Vedder. Interstate Love Song is a classic, and it was great to hear the back story. Even given the lyrical content. Thanks again. Enjoying all your vids. But would certainly welcome some more 90’s stuff. 🤘🎸✌️

[@bethshadid2087]

From the 70s (childhood) to the 80s (teen) and then 90s (young adult) I embraced good music (even cheesy stuff😁). STP and their work resonated with me. I never rely on the "critics" reviews of music or movies. I go with my own feelings 💗🕊️

[@btchhopperou812]

AWESOME comment- could not have said it better myself, as I feel the same way and am about the same age as you. It was a very cool time to 'grow up' with music!

[@bethshadid2087]

@@btchhopperou812 Thank you....it was and still is....shame gotta live in the past to hear great variety of music and genres. Today's music is so cookie cutter it just don't make sense.

[@wendyladybug355laurie4]

@@bethshadid2087 That's BECUZ Today's Music's Agenda Is About Blood oaths' With Satan.Look At ALL OF THE SYMBOLISM IN THE VIDEO S'!!!!WOW, RANDOM THING JUST HAPPENED,WHEN I TYPED "VIDEOS'", IT CHANGED, ON IT'S OWN TO THE BIDENS'😳😱!!!!👼👼💝💝

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Good for you, Beth! Don’t listen to those judgmental haters.

[@JP_IN_TX]

I enjoy STP. As an avid Depeche fan, Scott's rendition of "But not tonight" is remarkable.

[@RichWhiteUM]

The critics were absolutely wrong. STP was right up there with Soundgarden and Alice in Chains as one of my favorite bands in the early to mid-'90s. Nirvana was extremely over-rated and Pearl Jam got boring fast. I actually saw STP in concert on the day Plush debuted on MTV. They were the opening act for Megadeth on the latter's "Countdown to Extinction" tour. With "Core" being their only big release at the time, they still put on one hell of a show. They couldn't top the headliner, of course, but they put on one of the best opening performances that I have personally seen. The only one that I can honestly say topped them was Black Stone Cherry at a Black Label Society show I was at just a couple weekends ago in West Virginia. Getting back to the STP/Megadeth show. It was in Pittsburgh's Civic Arena. This was right before they changed the name to the Mellon Arena, in the era were all the old and new arenas and stadiums started to get the corporate sponsor naming that we see today. There were only around 2,000 seats for the show, even though The Igloo, as we called the arena in Pittsburgh, held around 16,000-17,000 people. What they had done was only use the far end of the arena for the show. They called it "Theater Seating." It was similar to the seating arrangement that you would see in a theater for a symphony orchestra, opera, or stage play. Every seat was a good seat. You could see the entire stage from any angle. My brother and his best friend camped out overnight to get our tickets. It sold out in less than an hour. This was in the days prior to internet ticket sales and is, yet, another experience that our kids will never have. Both bands were awesome and it's one of my favorite shows I have ever been to. It is sad that Scott's life ended the way it did. You would think that, with all those that have died from the same substance, people would learn by now. Sadly, they do not. They have to learn it for themselves and by then, in the vast majority of cases, it's too late. I lost a dear friend to opiate addiction back in the early '90s and there was nothing we could do to save her. If they don't want saved, it is the most helpless feeling in the world to watch them slowly kill themselves. I'll leave it there.

[@djmattese]

Awesome homage to STP!! My favorite concert I’ve seen online was the Stone temple pilots Concert at the Rolling Rock towns fair in Latrobe PA 08/04/01. Eric Kretz was incredible, the DeLeo Brothers Dean and Robert were insane, but Scott was a rock God, closest I’ve ever seen to Freddy Mercury at Live Aid to having a crowd in the palm of his hand.

[@flavellinator]

Wasn't a fan of of early 90s grunge, but I loved Interstate Love Song... There was 'something very infectious about it. One of the best of that decade

[@ronh.798]

Agreed

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s a masterpiece.

[@KaraMorassco]

I've been a fan of STP ever since I first heard Lady Picture Show. Interstate Love Song is my second fave from the group. Whenever I heard it (or any other of their songs) on the radio I always turned up the music and hummed along with the tune.

[@LOLAAUM]

With Weiland singing, one of the GREATEST bands ever! Critics are just that... Only the fans opinions matter.

[@Reggiela-zc3cc]

STP was my favorite band of the 90s and is one of the greatest rock groups ever.

[@lazerfocusedstriver9960]

Does this bring back MEMORIES!!!!! I was one of the rare Black Ladies who LOVED 😍 this particular group on the College Campus. I SO miss my Grunge phase.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I’m Black too and I am SO into grunge.

[@lazerfocusedstriver9960]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 COOL....I felt all alone then. I am glad that someone else of Color loves and went through the Grunge phase. NOW it is Corporate suits and the " Preppy look" for me. I think that I might switch things up a bit and start wearing some Grunge with my Corporate look 😂😂 Carpe Diem ❤️

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

@@lazerfocusedstriver9960 Maybe I might style my hair like Nirvana in the future!

[@lazerfocusedstriver9960]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Do you Buddy! Since COVID , I am going back to my Grunge and Futuristic Fashions. With a Dollop of Sophistication. 😊😊 Carpe Diem 😇

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

@@lazerfocusedstriver9960 Alright, enjoy yourself, my buddy!

[@Neilios1000]

Interstate Love Song remains one of my all time favourite songs. I remember being angry at the other members of STP when they kicked him out, and only really understood when he died. As much as it must have hurt to do that, it would have hurt more to have a front seat to it. But the thing I think of the most in regards to his passing was a statement from his ex-wife Mary Forsberg, saying we shouldn't glorify his death, because he should be "with his children barbecuing in the backyard and waiting for a Notre Dame game to come on."

[@IndohNintendo]

Would love a breakdown, history and insight on Jane's Addiction's "Jane Says". They might just be my favorite grunge band and you're the man for the job, professor! Love the content! Edit: Nevermind, I realized you put out exactly this over a year ago....with Perry's insight, no less. Solid gold, man!!!

[@autochad5519]

You know a song is legendary when others perform it live at concerts. Hootie and the Blowfish covered it live at Blossom in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio during their Fairweather Johnson tour. I can tell you Darius Rucker did it justice!

[@RussellRobinson971]

Loved this song from the day it was released. Don't think STP and Sound Garden got the praise they deserved, loved them both.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I agree.

[@mikek5958]

Loved all those guys man. Critics generally don't know shit so I usually put them on the "pay no mind list." Late 80's to mid-90's was a rebirth of rock from the glam, "hair bands" and we were there for all of it.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I think they should have gone to number one on Billboard.

[@dmitryowens]

STP were great - Soundgarden were god.

[@jenniferhough4135]

The DeLeo brothers have so much talent. Scott had an amazing voice… They didn’t deserve the hate they got

[@litgamer6205]

I saw them in 94 at the Florida State fairgrounds, Scott broke down about Kurt on stage having past and vowed to carry the torch for grunge

[@anthonio96]

Their unplugged is badass as well and it doesn't get talked about enough. The way they played "Plush" made me fall in love with that version more than the original.

[@craigriley1075]

I remember buying this song when it came out - at that stage the single that had been released of it was ‘Vaseline’ - so every song on it was a revelation to me. Played it constantly, and dove deep into the lyrics to decipher their meaning. I understood the meaning of this song immediately, but some lines I still ponder over. The most cryptic lines of the song, I believe, hold the key to its meaning: “Feeling like a hand in rusted shame; so do you laugh, or does it cry?” To me, it’s talking about self-induced loneliness and guilt: the ‘hand in rusted shame’ could have multiple meanings. Rust invokes the colour of blood; the hand could mean the historical part someone played in the ‘ shame’, or an actual hand stained in blood, either metaphorically-speaking, or after shooting up. ‘Rusted shame’ I believe applies to both parties: perhaps Scott felt Janina felt guilty for having played some part in his heroin addiction earlier, but that shame was rusting away, at the same time as Scott’s hand was ‘rusting’ with his continuing addiction, causing his shame to spiral. Either was, rust is corrosive. And that rust is what is at the heart of the elephant in the room. I always envisaged Scott standing in a phone booth talking to his girlfriend on the phone while on tour, and staring at his hand after hanging up the rusty receiver. “So do you laugh, or does it cry?” Always had me a bit perplexed, as ‘it’ obviously refers to an inanimate object (or at least dehumanises someone). I have come to believe that Scott is talking about two things here from Janina’s perspective: she’s asking him flat-out if he’s still using. ‘Do you laugh’ is asking him if he is heroin-free. ‘Or does it cry?’, would therefore mean that he was numbed by heroin, and in despair, with the primed needle crying tears. ‘Leaving on a Southern train’ I always took as meaning shooting up, and equating it to going on tour, where the temptation was waiting. From Janine’s perspective, she’s saying she knows he’s shooting up, and only yesterday he lied and said he wasn’t. His deceit is sending her on a ‘Southern train’ of her own in the form of negative emotions. Finally, the title’Interstate Lovesong’ gives away the meaning: a lovesong between two people in different mental states, different states of recovery; pulled apart by the tyranny of distance, but caring enough about each other to want to carry on and to try and make it work, if only the lies would stop.

[@interstellar618]

STP was awesome. I worked at a store on Melrose with Wieland just before they got signed. They were still Mighty Joe Young. Scott was a totally cool dude who would give everyone flyers to come see the band. He was a standout performer then as well. Some Hollywood peeps were a little snobby about them but a LOT of us musicians were admittedly blown away hearing the first STP album and now after all these years their tunes are some of the best, most timeless classics from that era. ..And now, most of the old snobs and neigh sayers will turn up the volume and sing along when an STP tune is playing;)

[@ProfessorCockrum]

I LOVED Scott Weiland and hated that he died pretty much alone on the road, GREAT content...

[@timzales5344]

Great vid, one of your best so far. Of all the bands from the early grunge era I listen to STP the most. Great legacy of music.

[@chuckm4540]

STP was Los Angeles/San Diego's answer to Seattle's Grunge scene - what a band they are!

[@josephferreira4917]

We're Rip Scott !!!!

[@theseattlegreen1871]

You just set the bar extremely high for this video. It's the best out there