Only true artists will ever capture that middle ground. People need to exist within those two extremes because everyone feels both of them every day. That's the best compliment that you can get really. You're getting what we're about and what we set out to do. When you can be in the middle of those two extremes and say something, that's the mark of a true artist. When listening to one of STP's songs like 'Seven Caged Tigers,' you see the beauty, but you feel that darkness.

The Beatles could have the most beautiful melodies, but there was always a hint of uneasiness or darkness thinly veiled. Shangri-La kind of picked up where 12 Bar Blues left off. In some ways, it feels like it simply picked up where Shangri-La Dee Da left off in 2001. The songs inspire that reaction of, 'What the fuck is that?' You know? On your second and third listen, you realize that underneath all of the layers of craziness, there are basically pop songs. I didn't instantly get into it, but after listening to it more and more, it became one of my favorite records that you've ever done. Happy is a free record, musically and lyrically.

Duff and I have a lot of very similar influences just like Matt Sorum too. Just like STP, the guys in Velvet Revolver also have a lot of different influences. We knew the record that we were going to make was going to have more depth to it, and we were going to tap more into our other influences. We knew it wasn't just about straight-ahead punk rock, rock n' roll. We knew what kind of record we wanted to make. After touring for over four years straight, we were writing songs on the road and during rehearsals for tours. We were just getting to know who we were on the first record, Contraband. Yeah, I think where we were trying to go as a band on Libertad was a natural place. Some of these songs had the same vibe as Velvet Revolver's 'The Last Fight' from Libertad which you also dedicated to your brother. It's coming along really, really well! We have about 18 songs written, and vocals are written on about ten of them. I'm in the studio working on new STP music.

He might've even revealed a secret or too. Jude's Rock N' Roll Hope Show, Softdrive Records, new Stone Temple Pilots and much more. He spoke to in this exclusive interview about St. Something of a rock n' roll poet, the Stone Temple Pilots frontman has always had something to say, even if he's said it through a shroud of lyrical mystery. Scott Weiland remains alternative rock's most powerful voice.

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