Dean DeLeo
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| Dean DeLeo | |
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 Dean DeLeo performing with STP in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Born | August 23, 1961 |
| Genre(s) | Psychedelic rock, Grunge, Alternative rock |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1987–Present |
| Label(s) | Atlantic, Machine Shop |
| Associated acts | Stone Temple Pilots, Talk Show, Army of Anyone, Laughter Train |
| Website | http://www.stonetemplepilots.com/ |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| Gibson Les Paul Fender Telecaster |
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Dean DeLeo (born August 23, 1961 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey) is an American guitarist for the rock band Stone Temple Pilots.
He is also known for his role in the short-lived bands Talk Show and Army of Anyone, which featured his younger brother Robert DeLeo, Filter frontman Richard Patrick, and session drummer Ray Luzier. Their debut album was released on November 14, 2006.
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[edit] Stone Temple Pilots
Dean's younger brother Robert met future vocalist Scott Weiland at a Black Flag concert that represented a punk rock interlude whose ideological framework would soon be abandoned. Robert soon after introduced Dean to Scott and an idea of forming a band was brought up. Dean was a guitarist, and Robert managed to convince him to join. They eventually hooked up with drummer Eric Kretz, and the band was formed. They took the name Mighty Joe Young, inspired by the monkey movie of the same name. They played gigs in many bars around the Hollywood area, and eventually landed a record deal with Atlantic Records in 1992. However, they were forced to change their name, for the name "Mighty Joe Young" had already been taken. Scott decided on the name "Stone Temple Pilots"; although he states that it has no real meaning, he just liked the initials "STP".
The band exploded with the release of their debut album Core, which sold over 8 million copies [1] . The record sales propelled with the release of the singles "Sex Type Thing" and "Plush", and helped establish STP as a main contender in the newly mainstream music that began to be known as grunge. However, they were ripped by critics for jumping on the bandwagon and profiting from the grunge mania. Many confused STP with Seattle bands experiencing national corporate attention during the same period. STP rode this wave. With their second album Purple, they challenged critics and became a genuine commercial rock act. Stone Temple Pilots went on to record 5 studio albums and managed to sell over 30 million copies worldwide. In 2008, after over five years apart, the band reunited and are currently touring the United States and are planning on recording their sixth album later this year.
[edit] Talk Show and Army of Anyone
The band had many troubles however, mostly stemming from Scott Weiland's continuous problems with drug addiction. The band was forced to cancel most of the tours after the 1995 year, as Weiland popped in and out of rehab. The DeLeos and Eric Kretz eventually formed a new band, Talk Show which released one album. STP soon reunited, released two more albums, and soon disbanded. Weiland became the lead singer of Velvet Revolver, Eric Kretz opened a studio in California, and the DeLeo brothers began to work with Richard Patrick, lead singer of the band Filter to compose songs for Filter's fourth album. The end result was a song that the three liked, so they contacted Ray Luzier, a famed session drummer, and Army of Anyone was formed. The band's debut was released on November 14th, 2006, and they broke up in May of 2007.
[edit] Equipment
Dean owns numerous guitars, and he is an avid collector of vintage guitars. Some of his more notable guitars include;
- Three 1978 Les Paul Standards
- 1960's Fender Telecaster
- Another Telecaster (Sunburst) tuned to D A D F A D
- A PRS hollowbody electric by PRS Guitars
- A Gibson J-45
- '57 TV Les Paul Special with P-90's
- Gibson J-100 XT
Dean's live equipment has been described as "simple yet effective", and allows him to replicate the sounds he gets in studios. He primarily uses a modified Dunlop Cry Baby and a BOSS CE-1 stereo chorus pedal. His effects are handled via a Rockman MIDI Octopus pedal. His amp set up includes a Demeter TGP-3 three-channel preamp, a Rocktron Intelliverb and a VHT Classic stereo tube power amp that runs 50 watts per side into two Marshall 4x12 cabinets. [2] Dean's crunchy guitar tone was a main trademark of STP, and has a distinct tone . Not overbearing on distortion, his sound possesses a unique "crunch", and is often seen as spacey. He pays homage to many genres and tones, most noticeably hard rock with elements of "psychedelia, jangle pop, and other forms of melodic alternative guitar."[3]
[edit] Other works
- Dean is affiliated with Laughter Train, a Seattle band.[citation needed]
- He has played for Alanis Morissette on her Under Rug Swept album.
- Also played guitar for the newly released Chicago album; Chicago XXX.
- Co-produced Alien Ant Farm's second album truANT with his brother Robert.
- Played guitar solo on the song "Cool Magnet" by Local H on the album Pack Up the Cats.
- Co-wrote "Focus" with 10 Years on their album Division
[edit] References
- ^ "Top Selling Albums". Digital Dream Door. February 9, 2006
- ^ [http://www.musictoyz.com/articles/chopdean.php "Dean DeLeo" [Music Toyz. February 9, 2006.
- ^ "Tiny Music... Review". All Music Guide. February 9, 2006.
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