Stone Temple Pilots are to hold open auditions for a singer to replace temporary frontman Chester Bennington, who is returning to front his group Linkin Park.
The role of vocalist was left open following Scott Weiland's exit from the band in 2013, and Bennington was hired as a temporary replacement, but he announced in November that he would be leaving Stone Temple Pilots to reteam with his Linkin Park bandmates.
His announcement came shortly before Weiland was found dead on his tour bus on December 3, 2015 following an accidental overdose.
The rockers have now launched a new search for a frontman, and they will be holding open auditions to find a band member to "evolve" with.
"We are officially announcing that we are seeking a new vocalist to front Stone Temple Pilots," they wrote in a message posed on their website. "We've already heard from many talented people, but want to make this an opportunity for many more so we've set up a way for you to do just that.
"If you think you have what it takes to front this band, record with this band, and tour with this band, we would dig hearing from you. No one will ever 'replace' Scott, that was never the intent. The intent is for Stone Temple Pilots to continue on, to evolve, and to do what we do... make music! We look forward to seeing you."
They also posted instrumental-only versions of tracks including 'Interstate Love Song' and 'Vasoline' for budding vocalists to perform to.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, guitarist Dean DeLeo explained why they are taking the unusual step of holding open auditions.
"We kind of came to the realisation a while back that the situation with Chester was not really allowing us to do all that we would have liked to have been doing. His involvement with Linkin Park and, of course, his family limited the time that we had with him," he explained.
"We've played with a lot of singers over the last several months, and we felt that we'd be doing ourselves - meaning Robert, Eric and I - a disservice if we didn't allow all the talent that is out there to become a part of this. So, good or bad, we opened the floodgates."
And as for finding the person they're looking for, Deleo added, "We'll know when it's the right person before they'll even open their mouth, just when they walk into the room. We're looking to be moved by somebody.
"I want to be hit in that place in my soul where music buries itself. That feeling, man. That's what we want."
WENN
