Stone Temple Pilots have parted ways with singer Chester Bennington.

Bennington and his former bandmates announced his exit over the weekend, releasing a pair of statements that described his departure as an amicable split. The news comes shortly after former STP vocalist Scott Weiland sparked rumors of the lineup change by telling an interviewer that he'd "heard" Bennington was out of the band.

According to Bennington's statement, he felt his ongoing membership in Stone Temple Pilots and his continued commitment to his first band, Linkin Park, left him unable to give either project the complete focus it deserves. Saying he and the other members of STP "knew what we were up against," Bennington wrote, "We decided in due fairness to friends, fans and the legacy of STP that it needs more than time was allowing me. And in all fairness to my bandmates in Linkin Park, as well as to myself and to my family, I’m going to focus solely on Linkin Park so I can contribute 100 percent. It’s been an amazing experience and a dream come true, and I look forward to the future of both STP and Linkin Park."

"What an amazing and beautiful few years we've all had together," wrote STP bassist Robert DeLeo, drummer Eric Kretz and guitarist Dean DeLeo. "It was our honor to play and see all of you recently on tour. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time together with Chester not only professionally, but even more so on a personal level. Sadly, it was evident that scheduling and time was working against us. Within this, there is a new beginning. There is an abundance of new music written, some of which is already recorded. We have had the fortune of playing with some very talented singers over the last few months and will continue to do so until each of us feels and knows when the right person arrives."

Bennington's two-year tenure with Stone Temple Pilots started in 2013, shortly after Weiland's most recent exit from the lineup. He toured repeatedly with the group, concluding his most recent round of dates with them only six weeks ago, and contributed vocals to 2013's High Rise EP.

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