Stone Temple Pilots fire lead singer Scott Weiland - UPDATED

The Stone Temple Pilots announced in a surprisingly short statement that they have fired their lead singer, Scott Weiland.

According to MTV News, the group’s publicist sent a one-sentence statement that just read, “Stone Temple Pilots have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland.” When pressed for more information, their rep only said that more details will be coming “soon.”

The New York Times notes that the San Diego-based band started in the 1990s, but took a five-year break that ended in 2008. Since then, they had toured together.

The news that a founding member of the group is leaving comes after Weiland’s recent interview with Rolling Stone, during which he denied rumors that he was fired or that they broke up.

“STP has not broken up,” he told the magazine. "I haven't quit. I haven't been fired.”

Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash had actually been the source of rumors that he was fired, but Weiland insisted in his RS interview that the group was talking about a new tour.

“My personal feeling is that we need some new blood in the band,” he explained. “We've been playing the same greatest hits set since we got back together. I'd like to make a new record. It will breath new life into the group.”

Weiland has promised to go on a solo tour to perform material from STP’s Core and Purple. He has not commented on the news.

UPDATED - Weiland sent a statement to TMZ, claiming that he never knew he was fired until he read it in the press.

"I learned of my supposed 'termination' from Stone Temple Pilots this morning by reading about it in the press," he said. "Not sure how I can be 'terminated' from a band that I founded, fronted, and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that’s something for the lawyers to figure out."