TORONTO -- Stone Temple Pilots' frontman Scott Weiland -- he of the black eyeliner, numerous tattoos and new Mohawk haircut -- best summed up last night's California rock triple bill with headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers and opening act Fishbone at the Molson Amphitheatre.

"This is not a Celine Dion concert!" screamed Weiland, apparently unhappy with what he called the "most lackadasical people of all of you" standing just in front of the stage.

"This ain't no motherf--king dinner theatre!"

Seems Weiland, recovering from a nasty heroin habit that most recently landed him in jail for a year, isn't happy unless danger is lurking around the corner. So he created it.

Just one song into his band's 45-minute set ,he commanded thousands of people back in the cheap seats and on the lawn to come forward.

"Move down here!" he screamed. "What are you afraid of? I have no fear! I'm inviting you guys down here and stage with us."

And so they came. In droves. Excited, slightly aggressive fans quickly filled the aisles and back walkway on the floor and first level, making it really difficult to move through the sardine-like crush.

Not to sound alarmist, but given the recent tragedy in Denmark which saw eight people perish at the site of a Pearl Jam concert, I quickly hightailed it out of my seat, which had basically been taken over to the point where I couldn't see anyway, and made it to the safety of the V.I.P. tent backstage where I watched the rest of STP's set. (I managed to make it back out again for the Chili Peppers, finding refuge near the sound board courtesy of the concert promoter's extraordinary publicist who shall remain nameless so I don't embarrass her.)

Sure enough, about six songs later, Weiland -- last in town with his band just over a month ago for a special Canada Day concert at the Warehouse -- could be heard imploring everyone to "take care of each other," perhaps realizing the monster he helped create.

I will give him credit for being a totally dynamic live perfomer, a regular whirling dervish, decked out in a wide-brimmed hat, blue suit, no shirt, red boa and singing into a bullhorn.

Who said glam-rock was dead?

Performing on a stage, decorated in a silver foil curtain and a huge star-shaped screen, echoing the cover of STP's latest album, No. 4, Weiland sure knows how to keep the action on stage interesting. Too bad he doesn't know how to do it more responsibly.

Meanwhile, the Chili Peppers -- flying high on their reclamation of the top of the charts with 1999's excellent collection Californication -- were also a visual treat.

For starters, there were the Mohawks -- again with that haircut -- favoured by the energetic trio of singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea and guitarist John Frusciante. (It was hard to tell if drummer Chad Smith had also pulled a Travis Bickle, as he was wearing a hat.)

Then there the surrounding TV screens -- 10 in total -- and the backdrop of a five-paneled screen, made up of two horizontal and three vertical panels which showed everything from magestic, sunset-lit clouds to soft-core animated porn.

The band, sounding tight even during their extended jams, played equal parts from their new album -- opening with Around The World before moving into big hits Scar Tissue and Californication and destined-to-be-classics, Other Side, Parallel Universe, I Like Dirt and Right On Time -- and their 1991 breakthrough BloodSugarSexMagik , much to the delight of the crowd.

Perhaps, the best example of the Chili Peppers' career renewal is the fact that last night's show sold out in one day. That's 16,000 seats in 24 hours.

Not bad for a band who was playing a free concert on Yonge Street just last summer.

JAM! Rating: 4 out of 5