STONE TEMPLE PILOTS guitarist Dean DeLeo recently spoke with Ultimate-Guitar.com. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

UG: Did you come to the realization a long time ago that either Scott Weiland had to get it together or it was going to end?

DD: "I think everyone did whatever they could. I'm talking wives, brothers, friends and everyone."

UG: It was very sad because you made some remarkable records with Scott. He was truly a great singer and lyricist.

DD: "He absolutely was, man. His lyrics were (amazing). In my humble opinion and it's easy for me to be biased. Everything he brought forth when we were all kind of running on all pistons per se - and that didn't really last very long - but when we were up and runnin', I don't think there was anybody better, man."

UG: Ultimately Scott Weiland leaves the band and you're thinking, "What do we do now? Call Chester Bennington?"

DD: "Look man, that's not an easy position to fill. I've come to terms long ago - I'm merely the guy that stands next to the singer (laughs)."

UG: When was Chester's name first brought up?

DD: "One day I just said, 'I think Chester is the person to do this.' Immediately Robert and I are going, 'That is amazing.'"

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Stone Temple Pilots released High Rise, their first EP with Chester Bennington fronting the band, on October 8th. In the Artisan News video below, STP talk about Chester being part of the process and send their thanks to LINKIN PARK for making it happen.

High Rise tracklisting:

‘Out Of Time’

‘Black Heart’

‘Same On The Inside’

‘Cry Cry’

‘Tomorrow’

High Rise EP EPK (Electronic Press Kit):

'Black Heart' lyric video:

'Out Of Time' lyric video: