During one of Stone Temple Pilots’ numerous unproductive spells, Talk Show was formed by that band’s Eric Kretz, and brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo, with the addition of ex-Ten Inch Men singer Dave Coutts. Their debut album, a self-titled effort drawn from collaborative writing sessions, was released by Atlantic Records in September 1997. It had actually been recorded a year previously, but its release was delayed while Stone Temple Pilots business was concluded. Part of the reason for the group’s formation was that Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland felt uncomfortable singing anything but his own lyrics, and this new project allowed the other members to air their own material. The critical response to the release of Talk Show was unsurprisingly dominated by comparisons with the parent band. Certainly there were similarities, but the album featured some subtle pop flavours in addition to the expected strutting, mournful rock.
