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Friday October 4th, 2002
Stone Temple Pilots find Shangri-La at Gibson Custom
Brothers Dean and Robert DeLeo, guitarist and bassist for Stone Temple Pilots, and Russ Irwin, guitarist/keyboardist for Aerosmith, spent a leisurely Thursday afternoon touring Gibsons Custom, Art & Historic division, taking time to kick back and play the guitars. Tucked away into a demo room, the guys tried out several models including the double cut TV yellow Les Paul Special, a Super 400, a vintage sunburst Firebird I and a 58 Les Paul Standard in washed cherry. STP will open several shows for Aerosmith in the coming days and were in Nashville for their concert tonight, October 4.
Robert and Dean DeLeoThis is like a dream come true, said Robert DeLeo. I had Gibson make me a 59 Reissue and owning a 59 Reissue, to me, is one of those pinnacles in your career where you go, wow, this is a really great thing.
On this particular day, the TV yellow Special sparked DeLeos fancy. Im a huge fan of the P-90s [pickups], he explained. I think that goes back to Leslie West. I really love his sound that he got. I just love the way P-90s sound, they have that honk to them.
Another guitar player that comes to mind is Joe Walsh. All the great guitar players showed us what to play, and Gibson was part of that repertoire thats the way it was written, he laughed.
DeLeo started out playing guitar at age 15, and being the youngest of nine kids, had plenty of opportunities to be inspired by his elder siblings music. Older sib Dean bought his first Gibson Les Paul in New York City in 1978 and still has the guitar. Robert has a Gibson Ripper from the 70s that he likes to record with sometimes.
Shangri-La Dee DaAll our favorite guitar players were playing Gibsons. It was Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Hendrix there was so much great music in the 60s and 70s that we were really tied to, Robert remembers.
The brothers have been producing some bands lately and also working with country artist Glen Campbell, writing songs for him and recording with Campbell in Roberts home studio in Los Angeles. Hes been a big inspiration on Dean and I both. You couldnt deny Wichita Lineman and By the Time I Get to Phoenix when we were little.
Robert is working on a solo album that he hopes to release by the end of the year. He and Dean write most of the music for the Stone Temple Pilots, and he hopes to achieve a certain longevity with their songs.
Good songs I think thats the only thing youll really be remembered for. I guess its kinda clich, but good songs are timeless. Youll hear them 10, 20, 30 years. Thats really what I strive for.
Join STP for the fun at Gibson Custom.
Dean, Russ and Robert inspect the fine wood in the rough mill
Fitting the neck on a Flying V
Robert shakes hands with Custom's Ernie King
Bruce Kunkel shows off some of his art work
...like kids in a candy store!
...or Flys in the Vasoline!
Swapping licks on some nice '58s
Custom's GM, Rick Gembar thanks them for stopping by
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