With music running through his blood and remaining his lifeline since he was a young guy growing up in Northern New Jersey, Dean DeLeo is a Rock-n-Roll guitarist with a rich history.
Famously recognized as one-half of the DeLeo Brothers, which formed Stone Temple Pilots, Dean DeLeo has been a vital part of the band’s sound and songwriting since the start. Assisting in Stone Temple Pilots’ multi-platinum career for eight studio albums, it is not lip service to say the band is one of the most defining Alternative Rock bands of the 1990s era.
Continuing to find success in the decades to follow with STP, Dean DeLeo has also dabbled in other projects, including Trip The Witch in 2021 with Tom Bukovac, and most recently, One More Satellite. Recently released on July 18, 2025, the debut One More Satellite album features thoughtful songwriting with a sound saturated with Dean DeLeo’s signature guitar playing, matched with the distinctive, powerful voice of English Singer-Songwriter Peter Shoulder. Excited to see One More Satellite blossom more, Dean DeLeo took some time to talk about the new music, reflect on Stone Temple Pilots, plus more.
Cryptic Rock – Your history in music goes far and deep for over four decades. You achieved tremendous success with Stone Temple Pilots in the early 1990s and sustained it through to the present day. Additionally, you have been involved in several other notable projects. So, how would you describe your incredible musical journey?
Dean DeLeo – It’s been pretty darn nice. If I really look back, it even starts going into making the Core record in 1992. It goes beyond where Robert and I were as kids, playing at parties and bars around the Jersey Shore. It was always just so fun. It involved music, which played such a big part in our lives. It even goes back prior to the days of STP. It was so much fun just getting out to play.
Then, of course, what came to mind when we got into the world of STP was this brotherhood that we had. And I can include Brendan O’Brien in that, as well, with how easy, effortless, and fun he made the studio feel for us. Brendan was just a big part of those records. A good time was had by all.
Cryptic Rock – That’s great to hear. You mentioned the Core album, and it was a huge record at the time. With STP, you followed up with the fantastic Purple in 1994 and Tiny Music… Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop in 1996. Essentially, STP became one of the most beloved Rock bands of the ‘90s era. It is understood that we all try to look forward, but taking a moment to look back is also nice. Do you ever look back on that?
Dean DeLeo – I mean, let’s be honest. I don’t know that I really look back on it. I kind of reflect in times like this when somebody asks me about it, but in my day-to-day life, I don’t pay much mind to it.
It is quite a thrill to get in my car and hear one of the songs come on. And as I said earlier, Brendan was such a big part of making those records. I’m able to listen to the stuff now. It’s taken 30 years, but I can actually listen to the stuff as a listener and not pick it apart, and think, “Oh, is the bass loud enough? Is the hi-hat loud enough?” You know what I mean?
It’s nice to be able to simply have a listen. It’s a thrill. It’s a thrill when one of the songs comes on the radio. It still gives me a little kick.
Cryptic Rock – That has to be surreal. And STP is still going strong. The band has had different chapters, featuring Scott Weiland, Chester Bennington, and, most recently, Jeff Gutt on vocals. STP’s last record, Perdida, was released in 2020 and is a great listen. It is understood that you have some STP tour dates coming up, and you have this cool new project, One More Satellite. That being said, can we expect some new STP music soon?
Dean DeLeo – I’m not sure…possibly.
Cryptic Rock – That would be something to look forward to. Let’s get into One More Satellite. This is a new project where you team up with the talented Peter Shoulder. The self-titled debut album from One More Satellite came out on July 18, 2025. All that can be said is that people need to check it out, because it is an excellent record. There were a lot of really cool collaborations on this record, including your son and daughter. So, what inspired this album and what inspired this project?
Dean DeLeo – Well, I don’t know if anything really inspired the project. This last year has been a very interesting year for me, to say the least. I had a fair amount of time on my hands to record. And I simply did just that. I couldn’t think of a better person to rope into this than Pete, the great Pete Shoulder.
I just got to say something about this… I absolutely abhor the two words ‘solo album.’ When people say, “This is my solo record.” This is not a solo record. I don’t believe in a solo record because there are too many people to make it what it is. As I mentioned earlier, Ryan Williams, with whom we’ve worked on many of our records. He also engineered and mixed the 2021 Trip the Witch record. He surely was a big part of this One More Satellite record. Without guys like this, there’s no solo. If I were to make a true solo record, it wouldn’t be very good.
So, there are a lot of people who have their mitts in this that make it what it is. And of course, Pete being one of them. Ryan Williams is one of them. The great Brian Tichy on drums. My son Rocco played drums as well. My baby girl, June, did a little vocal. So yeah, it surely isn’t a solo record. It’s a combined effort with all involved.
Cryptic Rock – Most certainly. That is an excellent point you bring up about a solo record. Is there any such thing as a solo record? There are so many people involved in recording, from the players to the engineers.
Dean DeLeo – It depends on how that person views it, I suppose. This is a very much Pete and my project, and we hope to maybe do some shows in November. We’ll have you know some people out there to bring this stuff to life.
Cryptic Rock – That would be fantastic. Now, you mentioned working with Pete. His voice sounds great on these songs. These songs’ initial ideas started as instrumentals, like most do. However, you felt like it needed some vocals. How did you involve Peter in the project?
Dean DeLeo – He’s over in Northern England, and you know we’ve become pretty close over the last ten years, maybe. I’m well aware of his talents. He’s an extraordinary musician. He’s not just an incredible lyricist and vocalist; he’s a great guitar player, drummer, and keyboardist. He brings a lot to the table.
I just simply love his voice. It’s as simple as that. (Laughs) I thought, “Wow, what a great opportunity for us to really kind of hunker down and do this together.”
Cryptic Rock – Like you said, his voice sounds phenomenal on these tracks. The whole album, from start to finish, is an enjoyable listen. It is dynamic too, which is something missing in many Modern Rock records. By and large, many modern Rock albums are no longer as dynamic as they once were.
Dean DeLeo – Yeah. That’s the beauty of Pete’s ability. He knows his way around a song that’s a little heavier, and he surely knows his way around the song that shows a bit more of a delicate side.
Cryptic Rock – And this debut record has a little bit of all of that.
Dean DeLeo – Yeah. I get a headache sitting in front of those speakers playing loud guitar all day. (Laughs)
Cryptic Rock – Right! Another aspect of this is that the way records are mastered these days seems to have lost their dynamics. It just seems like everything is on the same level, and it makes your ears hurt.
Dean DeLeo – Yeah, you’re absolutely right. That kind of lends itself to the mastering process, where everybody’s just slamming it to get it as loud as can be. Then it goes back to what I kind of proposed earlier about what Ryan brings to the table and his talents… those mixes are really, really nice. He lends a great hand in pulling up guitar tones with me, too. It’s a good thing.
The greatest thing of all is that I record at Ryan’s house. He’s literally just an 8 to 10-minute commute from my place. That is really nice.
Cryptic Rock – Fantastic. You also mentioned the potential for some live shows with One More Satellite.
Dean DeLeo – Yeah. I think we’re going to do a few shows on the West Coast here in November.
Cryptic Rock – Excellent. Hopefully, you can potentially throw in an East Coast date or two.
Dean DeLeo – Robert and I grew up in Jersey. I sometimes think I kind of want to get out of California. It’s like this weather just keeps me here. With this weather, I’m like, “Can I really go and do some cold winters again?”
Cryptic Rock – Understandable. How can you pass up 65 degrees and no humidity almost every day? It is the perfect weather.
Dean DeLeo – (Laughs) It is perfect. California winters are just the best, too. It’s really a beautiful time of year out here. All the mountains are green and all the streams are flowing and waterfalls are going. The cold as it gets during the day is in the low 60s. And you have these days that it goes up to the 80s, and you go up by the ocean. Like I said, it’s a love-hate thing because this weather just keeps me here.
Cryptic Rock – It is a nice place to be. Other musicians who initially came from the East Coast and relocated to the West Coast have stated in the past that the pace of the West Coast is different. Meaning, they felt it was harder to get things going because of the more laid-back attitude. Have you had that experience?
Dean DeLeo – No, I didn’t get that. Well, then again, people that I’m affiliated with are mostly East Coasters. (Laughs) Like, Tichy is a Jersey boy. It’s interesting because other than the people, California is really fast-paced. We’re used to just two-lane roads where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or 30 miles per hour. Dude, that’s not existing out here. Every road, even the roads through towns, is like two or three lanes in each direction, doing like 45.
Cryptic Rock – Valid point. And do not jaywalk in LA!
Dean DeLeo – (Laughs) Yeah, it’s very fast-paced out here. The roads out on the East Coast were set up for horses and carriages. That’s why all the roads around are two-lane roads. The roads out on the West Coast were set up for automobiles!
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