Jeff Gutt

Jeffrey Adam Gutt (born May 2, 1976) is an American singer and songwriter who has been the lead vocalist for Stone Temple Pilots since November 2017. He is also the former lead vocalist for the nu metal band Dry Cell.

Jeff Gutt
Gutt performing with Stone Temple Pilots at Hellfest 2019
Gutt performing with Stone Temple Pilots at Hellfest 2019
Background information
Birth nameJeffrey Adam Gutt
Born (1976-05-02) May 2, 1976
OriginMarine City, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1992–present

Gutt has appeared in two seasons of the American reality television series The X Factor. He first appeared in season 2 (2012) when he drew international acclaim for his heartfelt rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", before being eliminated in the following "Boot Camp" episode. Gutt competed in Season 3 (2013) of The X Factor USA, finishing in second place. In 2014, he was dubbed as one of the most "influential" X Factor USA contestants of all time by FoxWeekly.[1]

Early life and career

Gutt's family resided in St. Clair County, located in southeast Michigan, throughout most of his childhood years. He attended schools in both Algonac and Marine City, graduating from Marine City High School in 1994.

Gutt's prominent band during his high school years was Innerfaith. He was the frontman of Innerfaith, which he formed with friends Matt Brooks on bass, Jeff Sankuer on drums, and guitarist Patrick Sankuer. Innerfaith wrote and performed original songs, ultimately winning the "Blue Water Area Battle of the Bands" in Marysville, Michigan.

In 2012, two early extended plays featuring Gutt on vocals were made downloadable for free through his official site: a three-track 1992–1995 compilation (named Nautical Star by fans for its cover) and a four-track Dragonfly (1997). The latter was recorded by Gutt with the band of the same name which featured Steve Mazur of Our Lady Peace on guitar.[2] Lyrics from the Dragonfly song "Sugarpill" were later used for a Dry Cell song "New Revolution".

Dry Cell
Main article: Dry Cell (band)

Gutt became the lead vocalist for Dry Cell by joining the rock band Beyond Control which consisted of members Danny Hartwell, Judd Gruenbaum, and Brandon Brown. The band released a studio album titled Disconnected in 2002.[3] Gutt left the band in 2004 and Dave Wasierski replaced him as lead vocalist. Gutt rejoined Dry Cell in 2005.

The band went on a brief hiatus from 2005 to 2007, but in 2008 reunited with same members. In 2009 Gutt left Dry Cell for good.[4]

In early 2010 a compilation The Dry Cell Collection was released.[5] It contains previously released demos from 2003, 2005 and 2008, B-sides from Disconnected and one previously unreleased song, "So Alive". The band had no news on their MySpace page since 2010. In 2012, it was said on Gutt's official website that Dry Cell is now defunct.

In Acrylic, Band with No Name, and Punch

After parting ways with Dry Cell in 2004, Gutt recorded eight demo songs with a band named Acrylic.[6]

In 2005 (when Dry Cell went on hiatus), Gutt and his friend, guitarist Gary Pittel, formed Band with No Name (abbreviated as BWNN).[7] The band also included Aaron Hutchinson (drums), Justin "Antic" Hackman (keyboards), Mike Guy and later Ben Lula (bass). In 2007, BWNN released a five-track self-titled EP.[8] In 2008, they won 89X & TNTs Battle of the Bands in Michigan and received $10,000 and studio time to record a new EP.[9] Seven new songs were recorded, and a full-length album named Humanity was released in 2009.[10] In 2013, it was re-released under Gutt's name on iTunes and included the song "Stay", which was previously known as the album's B-side.[11]

Gutt, Pittel, and Hutchinson also perform live as a cover band, Punch.[12]

Gutt also appears on Solystic's songs "Carry On",[13] "Open Letter"[14] and "Almost Dead".[15]

Rival City

In January 2014, Gutt revealed members of his new alternative rock band Rival City Heights: BWNN/Punch bandmate Gary Pittel (guitar), ex-Dry Cell bandmate Brandon Brown (drums), Cyamak Ashtiani (guitar) and KC Jenkins (bass).

On May 3, 2014, Rival City Heights played the debut show at the Masonic Temple in Detroit.[16]

In December 2014, Gutt released "A Detroit Christmas" as a solo artist.

In late 2015, Rival City Heights toured the Middle East (Jordan,Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon) and India for a series of concerts in association with the Princess Alia Foundation.[17]

On February 19, 2016, Rival City Heights released the debut single "Take It Back" and from February to March 2016, played a tour with Trapt to promote it.[18][19] Before the tour Brandon Brown left the band and was replaced with Evanescence's Will Hunt on drums.[20] On November 29, 2016, it was announced that Gary Pittel and Cyamak Ashtiani left the band, Gene Lenardo (ex-Filter, Device) was to take guitar duties, and that Rival City Heights was renamed to Rival City.

On October 31, 2016, Rival City released "Fading Out / What's Going On", a double single produced by Kevin Churko.

Stone Temple Pilots
Main article: Stone Temple Pilots

On November 16, 2016, Entertainment Tonight reported that Stone Temple Pilots had recruited Gutt to be their new lead singer, replacing Chester Bennington, who had left the band one year earlier.[21] The following day, however, a representative for the band denied this rumor, saying that "the band has been rehearsing with several singers over the past few weeks" and "they haven't made a decision yet."[22] A year later, on November 14, 2017, Stone Temple Pilots officially announced Gutt as their new lead singer and played their first concert with him that same night at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.[23] Gutt's first single with the band is "Meadow".[24] Founding member Dean DeLeo said: "We wanted someone who would not only do our earlier songs justice, but would also write new songs and carve out a different path forward with us. It took some time, but we found our guy."[24]

The X Factor

Season 2

In 2012, Gutt auditioned for the second season of the American singing competition series The X Factor. In an episode broadcast on September 20, 2012, Gutt sang "Hallelujah", a cover of Leonard Cohen, getting unanimous four "yes"es from the judges Simon Cowell, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato and L.A. Reid.[25] However, he could not make it past the "boot camp" stage and was eliminated before the live shows. Several weeks later, Cowell stated to Access Hollywood that one regret he had was sending Gutt home early.[26]

On March 29, 2013, Gutt released a music video for his debut solo single "Hallelujah" through vimeo.[27] Gutt's bandmates from BWNN are also shown in the video. On April 28, 2013, the single was released on iTunes.[28]

Gutt's performances included:

Show Theme Song Original artist Order Result
Audition Free choice "Hallelujah" Leonard Cohen — Through to bootcamp
Bootcamp 1 Solo performance Not aired Through to bootcamp 2
Bootcamp 2 Group performance Through to bootcamp 3
Bootcamp 3 Duet performance "If I Die Young" The Band Perry Eliminated

Season 3

In 2013, he returned once again with the third season of the competition. He auditioned with the song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" from Aerosmith. After the judges objected, he was offered a second song, "Creep" from Radiohead.[29] Based on that performance, he was put in the Final 40, and one of ten finalists in the "Over 25" category mentored by Kelly Rowland.

In the newly introduced "four-chair challenge", Gutt sang "Amazing Grace" and was selected as a Final 16 candidate and one of four in the "Over 25" category.[30]

Ultimately, Gutt was the runner-up for The X Factor season 3, finishing second place to Alex & Sierra in a razor-thin margin of votes from American viewers.[31]

Gutt's performances include:

Day of broadcast Show Theme Song Original artist Result
September 18 Audition Free choice "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
"Creep"		 Aerosmith
Radiohead		 Through to Four-Chair challenge
October 2 Four-Chair Challenge Solo performance "Amazing Grace" John Newton Advanced
October 29 Live show 1 (Top 16) Mentor's choice "Try" Pink Saved by Kelly Rowland
November 6 Live show 2 (Top 13) Motown Night "Say You, Say Me" Lionel Richie N/A
November 7 Live show 3 (Top 13 Get Another Chance) Free choice "In the Air Tonight" Phil Collins Safe
November 13 Live show 4 (Top 12) 80's Night "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" Cutting Crew Safe
November 20 Live show 5 (Top 10) British Invasion "Bohemian Rhapsody" Queen Safe
November 27 Live show 6 (Top 8) Big Band Night "Feeling Good" Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse Safe
December 4 Live show 7 (Top 6) Diva Night
Unplugged		 "Without You"
"Daniel"		 Badfinger
Elton John		 Safe
December 11 Live show 8 (Top 4) Viewers' choice "Hallelujah" Leonard Cohen Safe
Duet (with Restless Road) "Every Breath You Take" The Police
No Theme "Demons" Imagine Dragons
December 12 Victory song "Open Arms" Journey
December 18 Live show 9 (Finale) Winner's song "Dream On" Aerosmith Runner-up
Celebrity duet "Iris" (with John Rzeznik) Goo Goo Dolls
Favorite performance "Creep" Radiohead
December 19 Christmas songs "O Holy Night" Adolphe Adam

Discography

With Stone Temple Pilots

With Rival City
  • 2016 – Take It Back (Single) (under the name Rival City Heights)
  • 2016 – Fading Out / What's Going On (Single)

With Band with No Name (BWNN)
  • 2007 – BWNN EP
  • 2009 – Humanity (re-released in 2013 as Gutt's solo album on most music streaming platforms)

As Jeff Gutt
  • 1992–1995 – "Nautical Star"
  • 2013 – Hallelujah (Single)
  • 2013 – The X Factor USA Season 3 Live Performances[32]
  • 2014 – A Detroit Christmas (Single) [33]

With Dry Cell
  • 2001 – Demo EP (as Impür)
  • 2002 – Disconnected
  • 2010 – The Dry Cell Collection

With Dragonfly
  • 1997 – Dragonfly

Solystic
  • Almost Dead
  • Carry On
  • Open Letter

References
  1. Rogers, Danny (May 9, 2014). "10 Most Influential X Factor USA Contestants". Fox Weekly. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014.
  2. @SteveMazur (September 20, 2012). "My friend Jeff Gutt, who sang in my bands growing up, was on X Factor tonight and apparently blew them away. Way to go man--watch for him!!" (Tweet). Retrieved February 12, 2021 – via Twitter.
  3. Dry Cell "Disconnected" on iTunes
  4. "Clinton resident wins fans on 'X Factor'". www.candgnews.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2013.
  5. "The Dry Cell Collection" – via Amazon.
  6. "JEFF GUTT - with ACRYLYC - All The Dirty (Live in Michigan 2004)" – via www.youtube.com.
  7. BWNN on MySpace
  8. BWNN - Band With No Name (EP) (2007)
  9. "BWNN Live @ TNT's June 5th 2008 - FULL SET" – via vimeo.com.
  10. "Humanity — Band With No Name". Last.fm.
  11. Jeff Gutt - Humanity on iTunes
  12. "- YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  13. "- YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  14. ""Open letter" feat Jeff Gutt".
  15. "Solystic - Almost Dead (feat. Jeff Gutt)". Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  16. "Don't Panic Radio 04/27/14".
  17. "No Name to Fame: American singer, Jeff Gutt, on his concert in Chennai, social causes and more". Archived from the original on November 15, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  18. iTunes: Take It Back - Single by Rival City Heights
  19. "Pure Volume". purevolume.
  20. "From His Experience on X-Factor, To Forming The Group Rival City Heights, JEFF GUTT Opens Up About it All! | All Access Music".
  21. Schillaci, Sophie (November 16, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Stone Temple Pilots Recruit 'X Factor' Alum Jeffrey Adam Gutt as New Lead Singer". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  22. "STONE TEMPLE PILOTS 'Haven't Made A Decision' About A New Singer Yet". Blabbermouth.net. November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  23. Young, Alex (November 15, 2017). "Stone Temple Pilots debut new singer Jeff Gutt with new single "Meadow": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  24. "Stone Temple Pilots reveal single 'Meadow' with new vocalist Jeff Gutt - NME". NME. November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  25. "The X Factor USA 2012 - Jeffery Gutt's audition - Hallelujah" – via www.youtube.com.
  26. "The X Factor: Simon Cowell Calls Boot Camp Exit Of Jeffrey Gutt 'A Mistake'".
  27. Jeff Gutt's "Hallelujah" music video. Posted March 29, 2013.
  28. Jeff Gutt "Hallelujah" (Single) on iTunes
  29. Vultaggio, Maria (September 26, 2013). "Jeff Gutt 'X Factor:' How Far Will He Go? [VIDEO]". International Business Times. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  30. "An Amazing Performance From Jeff Gutt - THE X FACTOR USA 2013" – via www.youtube.com.
  31. "The X Factor USA contestants web page". Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  32. The X Factor USA Season 3 Live Performances by Jeff Gutt on iTunes
  33. "A Detroit Christmas" – via Amazon.
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