Led by volatile lead singer Scott Weiland, the Stone Temple Pilots emerged out of Los Angeles in the mid-'90s to become one of the era's most popular alt-rock acts. Alongside Pearl Jam and Nirvana, the band was often categorized as grunge but catered more to the arena-rock set than those other acts. But after a bitter break-up, reportedly fueled by Weiland's drug use, the band called it quits in 2000. Now, after an eight-year hiatus, it's back for a tour that's already one of the year's highest grossing. Bassist Robert DeLeo spoke about the reunion via phone from his Los Angeles home. — Jeff Niesel

When did the wheels for the reunion start to spin? Did Scott's wife invite you guys to a party?
Yeah. The wives are always networking with each other. Scott's wife called my wife and told her that Scott wanted to talk to me. The timing was right. Everyone has gone off and done different things. It was the right time, I think. I feel pretty fortunate to be away from STP for six or seven years and have people interested. I'm pretty humbled by it. As an artist, I never lose sight of where I was. I spent a lot of time trying to get people's attention.

What was the vibe like at the LA show you just played?
It was great. The whole way it was put together, we had done a photo shoot at Harry Houdini's estate on Laurel Canyon. We decided to go back and do that show. It was such a great night. We couldn't have picked a better place. At this point in time, I want to absorb as much as I can. I have a 2-and-a-half-year-old son that I brought to the show. He was digging it and that's cool.

Are we to think Velvet Revolver is over for Scott, and Army of Anyone is over for you?
I think that will always be there. There is always an open door to do that. I think there's always that interest. I'm building a recording studio in my home. I'm really excited about that, but it's STP time right now. That's the thing. STP is always been the thing. It's a volatile place to be sometimes. I look at it like an unmade bed. It's messy but you crawl back in it. That's how it will always be. It's here today, and I don't know if it will be here tomorrow. I've grown to deal with that.

Scott's drug use has historically been a problem. How difficult has it been to put that behind everyone?
You know, it's challenging and frustrating. I think the bigger thing is that if I'm going to do this and invest my time, I want to enjoy this. That's what I plan on doing no matter what happens. I can think of worse things to be doing right now.

So is he clean?
I don't really know. I don't think he knows. As long as he shows up and we can perform, that's where it has to be. That's okay. It's here today.

I remember seeing a show at the Greek Theatre in LA with Redd Kross and the Meat Puppets opening. Everyone stood for the entire show. Can you talk a bit about what things were like when the band was at its peak?
I just consider myself such a big fan of music. To be up there with bands like the Meat Puppets and Redd Kross, interacting with people who have inspired me, was great. We just got done writing some songs with Peter Frampton. He inspired me to be a musician, and there's so many of those situations. If you told me as a kid, when I was rolling joints on Frampton Comes Alive and separating the seeds, shit man, if you told me that I'd be writing with that cat, that's amazing.

Have all the negative reviews you've gotten over the years bothered you guys?
I tell you, man, when you feel like you have something valid and you're caught at a time when there's a scene, there was so much negativity. People had their minds made up. I look back at that now and the height of us getting slammed for being grunge guys. But "Interstate Love Song" is still played on the radio between Aerosmith and Zeppelin. I think it's stood the test of time. I was just watching a Dylan documentary and he's getting slammed. When Bob Dylan is getting slammed, what can I say? Everyone gets slammed. Does it bother me? No. At the time, yeah, it did. I'd be naïve and stupid to think it didn't affect me at the time. I used to say don't judge me on this record. Judge me on my fifth record.

Stone Temple Pilots: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 at Playhouse Square's State Theatre, 1501 Euclid Ave. 216.241.6000. $49.50-$59.50.