Temple of the Dog is the only studio album by the American rock band Temple of the Dog, released on April 16, 1991, through A&M Records. The album is a tribute to Andrew Wood, the former lead singer of Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone, who died on March 19, 1990, of a heroin overdose. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA in the United States.
It took less than 18 months from the time the album was conceived until it's release. 
The album was a tribute to Andrew Wood who died on who died on March 19, 1990. The album was released on April 16, 1991 which is 13 months after Andrew Woods death.  That's less than 18 months. There was no need for a tribute album to him while he was still alive. 