Lead singer Scott Weiland fired from Stone Temple Pilots

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Stone Temple Pilots said Wednesday it has fired founding member and lead singer Scott Weiland, but the San Diego rock band didn't explain why.

"Stone Temple Pilots have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland," the group said in a brief statement, providing no further details about the split.

The band was wildly popular in the early 1990s, broke up in 2003, got back together in 2008 and toured together last year.

Weiland recently told Rolling Stone the band has been going through a rough patch.

"My personal feeling is that we need some new blood in the band," he told the magazine.

"We've been playing the same greatest hits set since we got back together. I'd like to make a new record. It will breathe new life into the group," Weiland said, adding his fellow band members didn't like his ideas. "There were some hurt egos. But that's the way it is."

The New York Times said Weiland is scheduled to start a solo concert tour next month.