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Stone Temple Pilots are getting closer to finding their new singer

Band will continue auditioning hopefuls from April 18

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Rob McCallum, 5th April 2016

Stone Temple Pilots have announced that they are set to begin the final stage of auditions for a permanent replacement for Chester Bennington.

A statement about their search for a new singer on the band’s Facebook page said: “The three of us have chosen and are auditioning some very talented people. Auditions will start on April 18. We are thrilled to get in a room with each of these very talented individuals.”

Stone Temple Pilots started the process to find a replacement for Bennington in February, when the band announced that they would be holding open auditions to replace the singer, who took time away from Linkin Park to play with the band.

Instrumental-only versions of their tracks ‘Interstate Love Song’, ‘Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart’ and ‘Vasoline’ were uploaded to their website for hopefuls to sing along with.

A message put out with the songs read: “We are officially announcing that we are seeking a new vocalist to front Stone Temple Pilots. We've already heard from many talented people, but want to make this an opportunity for many more so we’ve set up a way for you to do just that.”

Now, after “many hours” sifting through applications, the band is set to start auditioning their final selections.

Stone Temple Pilots had been performing with Bennington since 2013, before announcing his departure last November.

The recently departed singer replaced the late Scott Weiland, who was fired by Stone Temple Pilots in 2013. He later passed away from what a medical report called a “toxic mix of drugs”, in December last year.

Earlier this month, Alternative Nation reported that AC/DC singer Brian Johnson is to join their band for their Not Deaf and Not For Sale tour, which is planned for this summer.

In their continued search for a permanent singer, Stone Temple Pilots’ guitarist Dean DeLeo also recently went on record to clear up claims by Highly suspect front-man Johnny Stevens that he turned down an offer to join the band in February.