Overview

"Down" is the lead single from the American rock band Stone Temple Pilots and appears on their fourth studio album, No. 4. The track was released as a single on April 5, 1999, and marked the band’s return to a harder-edged sound following their earlier releases. It later appeared on the group’s compilation albums Thank You and Buy This.

Composition and personnel

The song is built around a driving, distorted guitar riff and assertive vocals. It showcases the interplay between guitar, bass and drums typical of the band’s late-1990s style, with Scott Weiland on lead vocals supported by Dean DeLeo (guitar), Robert DeLeo (bass) and Eric Kretz (drums). The arrangement emphasizes rhythmic punch and concise song structure, making it suitable for both rock radio and live performance.

Chart performance

"Down" received substantial airplay and commercial attention. On the Billboard charts the single reached high positions across rock formats, including:

Awards and notable recognition

At the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards the recording earned a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance, an acknowledgment of the song’s prominence within its genre. The award that year went to "Guerrilla Radio," recorded by Rage Against the Machine, with the Grammys' overview available via the Grammy organization.

Legacy and context

In the context of Stone Temple Pilots’ catalog, "Down" represents a period when the band leaned into a more muscular rock approach after exploring different textures earlier in the decade. The single became a staple of their live sets and is frequently cited in retrospective summaries of the group’s late-1990s output. Its chart success and award nomination helped sustain the band’s visibility on rock radio and among fans during that era.

Further notes

"Down" benefited from radio rotation and a promotional music video that supported its release. For additional discographic details and credits, consult the band’s official resources and contemporary chart archives.