Scott Weiland - Vocals
Robert DeLeo - Bass
Dean DeLeo - Guitars
Eric Kretz - Drums

Back in 1989-1991, four young musicians - Scott Weiland, Eric Kretz and the brothers Dean and Robert DeLeo- recorded various songs which are now known as the Mighty Joe Young Demo. Little is known about this period in the career of the musicians who later changed their band name to 'Stone Temple Pilots'. Only two photos are available on the web (Look for a short video clip of a MJY-gig in the MTV 'Stone Temple Pilots' Rockumentary Remix) but fortunately we still have the sound recordings with us.

"Why did they change their band name 'Mighty Joe Young' to 'Stone Temple Pilots'?," you might want to know. Well, the band actually signed a major record deal with Atlantic Records on April 1, 1992 under the name 'Mighty Joe Young'. Before that time the core of the band had already changed their name a couple of times. When Scott Weiland and Robert DeLeo met in 1986, they teamed up in a new outfit called 'Swing', with Corey Hicock on guitar. The idea solidified with the arrival of drummer Eric Kretz ('The Kretzel') and after a couple of months they asked Robert's older brother Dean to audition to replace Hicock. The DeLeo brothers had been in a band together before: it was called 'Tyrus'.
Dean DeLeo became the new guitarist of the band and they decided to change their name again: this time they chose 'Mighty Joe Young', a name taken from a low-budget 1949 Hollywood monster movie inspired by King Kong.

The band played their first gig supporting Henry Rollins in August 1990 at the Whisky in Los Angeles and before too long the band had built a sizeable local following for themselves and they signed to Atlantic Records on April Fool's day 1992.

But to the group's amazement they received a letter from an octogenerian Chicago bluesman also named Mighty Joe Young. He had last made music in the early-Seventies, but he'd been invited to join a package of blues singers who were mounting a tour right across the United States. Mighty Joe Young was making a comeback and, not unreasonably, he wanted his name back.
Young's claim was a totally legitimate one which the band didn't contest. The truth was that they were almost pleased. They'd felt for awhile that Mighty Joe Young was too similar to Ugly Kid Joe, an MTV-friendly heavy metal band with whom they had no wish whatsoever to be confused.

So they had to change their band name again. This time they decided to do something with the S-T-P acronym they knew and loved from the 'STP' Motor Oil company. Rumour has it that they first used the name 'Shirley Temple's Pussy' and playfully joked around with names like 'Stinky Toilet Paper' and 'Stereo Temple Pirates' before picking the definitive 'Stone Temple Pilots'.

-Rik Leushuis, with thanks to Ian Gittins

The Recordings

Wicked Garden: A early version of the song that later became the third track on Stone Temple Pilots' debut 'Core' (1992).

Only Dying: Formerly known as 'Shattered'. A truely great song which was later dissected for chord progressions in STP songs. Robert DeLeo told us: "That song is really called 'Only Dying' and parts of that song were used to connect pieces of other songs together. If you listen... one part was used as a bridge to Piece Of Pie (from 'Core' -ed)"
Dean DeLeo added: "The intro was used again somewhere. The song was dissected because we were approached to give a song to the 'The Crow' Soundtrack and we had to give them that as the others weren't ready" Eventually they put 'Big Empty' on the 'The Crow' Soundtrack. Which means that their retake of 'Only Dying' is still around somehere, because they didn't use that song after actor Brendan Lee tragically died on the set.

Naked Sunday: Another early version of a song that would later end up on 'Core' with a slightly different drum intro and guitar solo.

Fast As I Can: A fast funk-rocking song with a guitar and bass sound that you won't find anywhere on a STP record. "I'm just a man. Just trying to live my life as fast as I can. - Slow Down"

Spanish Flies: A Spanish acoustic guitar like we've never heard again on any STP album opens this rocker. "She said she'd be my woman / She said she'd me my man" are the lyrics that were used again in 'Lounge Fly' ('Purple', 1994)

Scary Area: The chords of the intro are almost the same as the lead riff of 'Plush', STP's major hit from 1993. The main difference is the playing mood and tempo - and the acoustic guitar.

Piece Of Pie: Flea, The bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, would probably kill for the bass riff and sound of this song. This is the best 'Musicman' Bass sound I've ever heard and it shows us that Robert DeLeo can do even more with his bass sound than everything he has already done on STP records. None of the lyrics of this version have made it to the 'Core' version of 'Piece Of Pie', but the main bass riff and the guitar solo are still intact.

Love Machine: Labeled as 'Untitled' on some tapes, this Funk-rocking Soul-song features Scott Weiland as James Brown and Dean DeLeo as John Frusciante. Robert DeLeo again uses the bass sound that was later made famous by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Eric Kretz' tight precision-drumming puts the sugar on top! 'Greasy'!

Dirty Dog: Funk Again! This again is something we have never heard on STP records. Robert DeLeo's funky bass is supported by some synth samples and a really funky wah-guitar. Female backing vocals complete the song.

Old Dixie: Now.... It's only 31 seconds long but oh-so-different. Hear Scott yodeling.

Where The River Goes: The 7-minute long Epic that was later extended to 8:20 on 'Core' is very close to the definitive version. Some minor changes in the drum fills are the most noticeable differences.