Stone Temple Pilots no show in Tampa
August 23rd, 2008 by Wade Tatangelo in News, Reviews
My Sarasota-based coworker Amanda Schurr and her friend Eddie stopped by my place last night after visiting the Ford Amphitheatre to see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, which Amanda wrote about here. They had no interest in watching headliner Stone Temple Pilots and split as soon as BRMC’s set ended.
We were sitting on my back patio, catching up (Amanda and Eddie were friends of mine when I called Sarasota home in 2002-2003), and draining the Tecates they brought over. About an hour into their stay, my downstairs neighbor came home looking thoroughly pissed. “I just got back from the Stone Temple Pilots show,” she said. “They fucking canceled.”
Needless to say, Amanda and Eddie were glad they fled the Ford Amp early.
STP’s PR people are blaming the no-show on the weather. But we all know that’s bullshit. Here’s to hoping lead singer and former heroin addict Scott Weiland, pictured above looking aloof with cig dangling from his mouth, isn’t on a dangerous bender. I don’t feel like being snarky about this one. The guy has bipolar disorder and his brother died of an overdose. I’m not a huge fan of Weiland’s music but refuse to kick a man when he might be down. On the other hand, I understand the outrage expressed by “disapointed 10+ year fan,” who wrote:
shocking he was a no show. amp cut off alcohol sales at 9pm and vast majority of HCSO was waiting along the gates since venue didnt have the balls to make a formal announcement (at least not by the time I left 10:30pm) .. opening act sucked and the 3 tour buses that were backstage when I arrived were gone. I understand having officers nearby but the situation couldve been handled in a more timely fashion.
UPDATE: Here’s the official word from from Ford Amp regarding refunds:
The Stone Temple Pilots performance originally scheduled for Friday 8/22/08 at the Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa has been postponed. Those holding tickets for this performance will have them honored if a new date is announced. Those requesting refunds can receive them through their point of purchase. For any questions, contact Customer Support at 1-800-431-3462 Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm EDT, or by email at ticketsupport@livenation.com.
UPDATE 8/24: Here’s Amanda’s review of BRMC’s set.
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August 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
When we got the press release about this show a few months back, didn’t i say this would happen? I did. I too am not going to talk smack about Weiland, he probably needs help, again. But I told you so.
August 24th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Maybe so. Maybe it was a bunch of b.s…….but like everyone else, i waited…and waited ….and waited. And it happened. The swat team showed up and we knew it was over. But so what. What can you do??? Suck it up and learn. Could’ve been legitimate, but just cuz the guy has a history (and God knows , he has a history), there’s still not a damn thing that can be done. The behavior from the outraged fans was mad. Some of the assholes couldn’t resist trying to riot on our way out. I took the up and up and really really enjoyed BRMC! In fact, they are my new choice of music. I had an advantage being in the pit against the rail. I’m sure it sounded better there, and the sex appeal from the boys in the band were much hotter as well!
Im still up in arms about whether to collect a refund (it WAS 150.00 for just the two of us). But, all in all, i got to see a great opening show and enjoy the night anyway. You only live once for fuck’s sake.
August 24th, 2008 at 12:41 am
I was at the show and it was definitely handled wrong. But the reason it was handled badly was because its something the Ford amphitheatre doesn’t have to do on a regular basis, if ever before! The bands that play there are big name top acts. Until last night that is. How could the band not make a show due to weather? The Opening act made it, STP’s Equipment and Road Crew made it to the show ok, and most importantly the bands $40 shirts made it to the show with ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM! This was totally unacceptable. I saw someone arguing with one of the merch guys about getting his money back for a shirt he purchased. He didn’t want a concert shirt from a band that he didn’t see. Rightfully so! Fans who bought tickets for this show should have been able to not only get a full refund of their ticket price but the right to return all of the merchandise bought that night. I spent alot of time hyping this band and this show and you will never hear this bands name out of my mouth again!
August 24th, 2008 at 11:01 am
from all accounts, the STP no-show announcement was handled poorly by whoever was in charge of it. as james said above, their gear and merch made it, so where was the band? the ford amp had to have known before the show even started.
to erinkay and anyone wondering if they should just get a refund now (the other option is wait to see IF a new show is scheduled and then wait to see IF it even happens)… yes, get a full refund for your ticket. you enjoyed BRMC (and you should have, they are great!) but got left in the cold by STP. BRMC will get paid even if every ticket holder opts for a refund.
as far a folks who bought merch, you are probably screwed. if you’re really pissed about owning the $40 STP shirt for a show they didn’t play, i recommend calling the ford amp every chance you get and demanding a refund for it. the venue provides the merch sales people and takes a hefty cut of the merch sales. if it means that much to you, call them 5 times a day until you get your money back. if it were me, i would because i’m an asshole when it come to stuff like that. or sell it on ebay when STP breaks up again. next week. include your ticket stub with the shirt for proof that the shirt was bought at a show they didn’t play. maybe you’ll get $10 or $15 for it.
August 24th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Like it or not, Weiland is as Weiland does. If you are a fan of a band full of a LA LA Land drug addled malcontent, I wouldn’t expect the guy to be punctual like Barry Manilow. I saw him with leopard skin hair on the end of their Tiny Music tour, just days before he went into lock down for the first time and the guy was performing his ass off. After seeing him go through the motions on a super sponsored Velvet Revolver tour (only went ’cause of the guest list) I found myself disappointed. The only 90’s band left with any validity is unfortunately Pearl Jam. Kurt’s dead. Corgan’s head is up his arse. The rest bit the bullets or paychecks of incredulity long ago.
August 24th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
thankfully, a lot of great bands have known when to call it rather than tarnish their legacy. if a band is going to get back together, they need to be doing something new and relevant. STP, in my mind, never were or will be relevant. sometimes you just need to know when to say when; and with this band, they obviously don’t have a clue.
August 24th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
ErinKay: Glad you enjoyed BRMC and props for trying to stay positive. Go to your point of purchase, though, and get a refund for the $150 you spent. Gabe’s right. BRMC gets paid regardless if you and everyone receives a refund. And if STP does reschedule, you can always purchase fresh tix. It’s not like STP is going to sell out the Amp.
Shawn: Pearl Jam and Radiohead are the only bands left from the 90s that matter. Fortunately, they both proved that with killer shows here this year.
http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/tampacalling/2008/06/12/pearl-jam-reviewed-in-real-time/
http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/tampacalling/2008/05/07/radiohead-review/
August 25th, 2008 at 2:50 am
The shirts were $50. BMRC rocked (if you like Jesus and Mary Chain, you’ll love em). I was in the PIT and got clocked in the head with a drink, meant for an empty stage (tards). Everybody had to piss but didn’t want to lose their spot or miss the first song, so biology got in the mix. Ford knew at 9:15 - they suck. I hope they reschedule, I’m a fan of the music whether there are drugs behind it or not. I didn’t have to hire a sitter (like some) or pay for my ticket so I had a blast just seeing BRMC. If they do reschedule, I hope it’s in better hair weather, geeze.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
True, Wade, very true, Radiohead and to a lesser extent NIN seem to be the most continually relevant “big 1990’s” bands of them all- but notice how now in 2008 most people don’t lump them in with the Grunge explosion…by the same token bands like Spoon, Wilco, Modest Mouse and the Brian Jonestown Massacre continue to be relevant (and amazingly influential), and do anything but sell out, but when thinking of the multi platinum “Grunge and Alternative” movement, we are hard pressed nowadays to find any of those groups left that have any new grist in their mills, and didn’t succumb to the very corporate forces they seemed to detest when selling out was still selling out. Makes me so sad, I burned all my flannel shirts. Har Har.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Folks started walking out around 10pm Eastern then came the announcement that The Stone Temple Pilots would not be performing do to bad weather in Fort Lauderdale.
That is the biggest line of s–t I have ever heard. Here is the breakdown.
Tickets- 200.00
Beer- 40.00
Years waiting for the band to reunite
Walking a f—ing mile from parking to Venue
Missed the Smashing Pumpkins at the Hard Rock in Orlando to see STP in Tampa instead.
Your opening act made it.
Your equipment made it.
You played Hollywood Fl two nights before which (by car) is about four hours from Tampa.
Scott get the f—ing needle out of your arm and get some help!
I love you guys but you Fd your Tampa Fans hard tonight and you did the same to your Orlando fans a few days ago.
Don’t blame the weather that is BS.
Brent Bradley
Podshowradio.com