Icelandic singer auditioned with Stone Temple Pilots

Icelandic musician Einar Vilberg.

Icelandic musician Einar Vilberg. Photo/mbl.is

The beginning of this incredible story is however a sad one. When Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland died last year after a long standing battle with drugs and drink, Vilberg, who has been a fan of the band since his teenage years decided to honour his memory with a recording. "I decided to record an acoustic version of the song Interstate Love Song." He proceeded to put the recording on YouTube without any expectations of what would happen next.

Earlier this year, the remaining members of the Stone Temple Pilots, Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo and Eric Kretz advertised for auditions from singers wanting to join the band. 

Einar's twin brother Stefán Vil­berg urged him to send the recording to  send the recording, it wouldn't hurt. But seeing as over 40.000 people had applied, Vilberg didn't put his hopes up.

"In July, some five months later I got an email from the band's manager saying that they liked what I was doing and that they wanted to hear more. They asked me to sing another couple of songs and send photos. It was crazy and I think I went completely pale when I read the email."

What happened next is that Vilberg received recordings of the songs "Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart" and "Interstate Love Song" to which he added his vocals the following day and sent to Los Angeles. "Then everything began happening really fast. I got an invitation to come to LA to meet the band and go for an audition." Vilberg was one of three singers to be selected from 40.000 people. 

Einar performing  „Tripp­in' on a Hole in Paper Heart“

Vilberg was however asked to sign an agreement to not disclose any of this except to his nearest and dearest. "A short while later Dean DeLeo called me up. We had a good chat and he told me they were really excited about this and wanted to rehearse seven songs when I got to LA."

Three days before leaving for LA, Vilberg received news that he was to rehearse in a studio owned by Dave Grohl. 

When he arrived in LA for the first rehearsal session, Vilberg spoke with the band members for an hour and says that they were really interested in Iceland. The whole process was also filmed for a documentary on the band. 

"It was quite surreal when we began and when I heard the guitar in "Big Empty" fill the room. To be a part of the music, not just to listen to it."

Last week, Vilberg got a phonecall from Dean deLeo who told him that the band were now choosing between two other singers, but thanked him very much for his efforts and wished him the best of success in his musical career. 

"To have been selected personally as one of the three people out of 40.000 is the biggest compliment I've received in my career. The whole thing was just incredibly fun."

Vilberg, who has released four albums with his band Noise has just released the song Eventually which will feature on his new solo album. 

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