Scott Weiland, the former lead singer of a number of rock bands, including Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, died in his sleep Thursday night. He was 48.
A message on Weiland’s official Facebook page said he had died in Bloomington, Minn. while on tour a tour stop with his latest band, Scott Weiland and The Wildabouts. The Associated Press reported the band was scheduled to play a concert in nearby Medina Thursday. The venue’s website showed the concert had been canceled.
Weiland’s manager, Tom Vitorino, told the Associated Press he had learned of Weiland’s death from the singer’s tour manager, but did not provide further details.
TMZ obtained an audio tape of first responders reporting to the scene of Weiland’s death. In the tape, the first responders state Weiland was dead upon their arrival.
Weiland fronted one of the most successful grunge bands of the 1990s in Stone Temple Pilots, but was also dogged by problems with substance abuse throughout his career.
Stone Temple Pilots’ 1992 debut, Core, has sold more than 8 million units in the United States. Their hits include Vasoline, Interstate Love Song and Plush, which won a Grammy in 1993 for best hard rock performance with vocal.
Amid the successes, Weiland had a long string of drug and alcohol related arrests and stints in rehab. In 1995, he was arrested after deputies found him carrying crack and heroin. He pleaded guilty to felony heroin possession in 1998. And his arrests for drug possession and stints in rehab led the Stone Temple Pilots to cancel tour dates and contributed to their 2003 breakup.
After the band split, Weiland joined former Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum and former Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner to form the supergroup Velvet Revolver. Weiland departed Velvet Revolver in 2008 to join the reunited Stone Temple Pilots.
“The story’s not finished,” Weiland told The Associated Press at the time. “There’s more to be revealed and more to be told.”
But in February 2013, Stone Temple Pilots announced on its website that Weiland had been fired from the band. In a statement to FOX411 at the time, Weiland 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.”
In 2011, Weiland released his autobiography,Not Dead & Not For Sale. The title was taken from the lyrics of Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart, one of Stone Temple Pilots’ best-known songs.
additional source: foxnews.com
29 Responses
You know, all of these rock stars who struggle with hard drugs should just book a tour with Willie Nelson and chill out.
By far, you’re commentaries are the most interesting. Truth be told, Willie who is great of course ( check out 7 SPANISH ANGELS with RAY CHARLES) is 80 years old and is getting it right. He’s writing comedy and playing his music and enjoying his lifestyle. Now there is no way anyone should condone marijuana but as to your argument, Willie has outlived them all and never had to stop his lifestyle. So if your saying that if your gonna use drugs avoid heroin and cocaine and stick with marijuana. At least it is safer. Me personally, I’ll stick with dark beer and white wine. I grew up in a Bronx drug culture and I’ve always thought of druggies as smelly losers who mug old ladies and rob houses. Have you ever gone in a bathroom after a coke users number two? Boy if that’s glamorous than people need help. They always stuff up the toilet and it smells like deadly chemicals.
With hard drugs, it just takes a tiny dose to completely alter your brain, this right here, tells you how dangerous they are. Alcohol, on the other hand, it takes quite a bit before it really effects your brain, best to stick with beer and wine. Maybe a cocktail now and then. Remember when the Eagles were trying to contain their cocaine problem by studying the Native American’s use of it? LOL!! That’s so absurd, you guys are in a rock band, you are not out in the elements trying to stay awake! Just stop already, get on the bus with Wille “if your wired, you’re fired.”
Regardless of exactly how he might have died, this is just sad news. It shouldn’t obscure the fact that he was a great frontman for two excellent bands.
Unfortunately this isn’t a surprise. I was never a grunge guy, but I was an STP and AIC guy. He was a fantastic front man back in the day. Unfortunately he and Staley both were hooked.
Me too, DR,
I never really cared for Grunge, but I loved STP, especially Weiland. This is very sad for his wife, his children, his extended family and for all of his fans. He will be missed. 🙁
D
DR, Dana, you both took the words right out of my mouth. I was never a fan of grunge either, but there was always something different about STP and AIC, I loved both those bands, still do, and always will. Staley & Weiland were so talented, that’s what I remember and will always remember about both of them.
Agreed Doug/Dana. I still crank Sex Type Thing every time I hear it. And Dirt is still one of my fav albums. Agree with Shannon, I hope Scott’s soul is finally at peace.
You know what song I really like? It is bit of a deep cut, Tumble In The Rough, on Tiny Music…Songs From The Vatican Giftshop. Also, Crackerman from Core is great one, I even liked Between The Lines, which was from the last album they ever recorded with Scott.
Really, such a shame. 🙁
D
“Interstate Love Song” is 1 of my STP faves, “Days Of The Week,” and also really like “Between The Lines” as well from the last album. “Sex Type Thing” is definitely a cranker, as is “Crackerman,” and so many more. If you don’t already have the “ALIVE IN THE WINDY CITY” DVD, you really should buy it, worth every penny! Incredible amazing performance from STP.
I saw STP at Bethel Woods a few years back and Weiland was so out of it that it was disgraceful. The venue closes at 11:00 and they came out at 9:50. Weiland gurgled some stupid comments, cursed a lot and sang terribly. The band played great behind him but the night was a disaster all because of him. Looks like the entitled rock star won’t be ruining anybody else’s night. Someone who does drugs alone in a tour bus or a hotel room for extended periods of time has gave up on life anyway, so what difference does it make? The 14 victims from San Bernadino had a lot more to live for than Weiland did. Those people had no choice but Weiland had choices as well as chances. Thanks for some good songs. The first 2 albums are as good as any from that era.
That’s too bad. Hope it wasn’t drug related. Blessings to his family and friends. He was a good artist and had a cool voice.