Scott Weiland Overview:
Scott Weiland has been the sexy, charismatic lead singer for two successful mainstream rock bands – Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver. A frontman in the mold of David Bowie or the Doors’ Jim Morrison, Weiland projects a slithering, almost androgynous magnetism that suggests decadence and danger. Though not respected for his artistry to the same degree as peers Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell are, he has enjoyed a high-profile career between his two bands and his occasional solo work. Unfortunately, his legacy has been marred by frequent legal problems revolving around his struggles with drugs.Scott Weiland's Childhood:
Scott Weiland was born on October 27, 1967. Though his early years were spent in Santa Cruz, California, he moved to Chagrin Falls, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland) at age 5. He moved to Southern California as a teenager, later befriending bassist Robert DeLeo and eventually forming Stone Temple Pilots.Stone Temple Pilots:
Scott Weiland and the rest of Stone Temple Pilots released their first album, Core, in 1992. STP were popular during the height of grunge, despite the fact that they favored glam and arena rock over punk and metal influences. The band’s five albums have sold over 35 million copies worldwide, and the group won a Grammy for their song “Plush.” The band broke up in 2003, only to reunite in 2008 for a summer and fall tour. There has been talk of another studio album, but nothing definite has been confirmed.Velvet Revolver:
When the Stone Temple Pilots folded in 2003, Weiland went on to join the supergroup Velvet Revolver, a hard rock band featuring several former members of Guns N’ Roses, including guitarist Slash. Velvet Revolver produced two albums. Their debut, 2004’s Contraband, went double-platinum, and two of its singles enjoyed gold-certified sales. But tension between Weiland and the rest of the band escalated to the point that he left the group in April 2008, although if you ask the rest of the band, he was kicked out.Solo Career:
Scott Weiland has recorded two solo albums. The first, 12 Bar Blues, was released in 1998 in between Stone Temple Pilots records. Not a strong seller, 12 Bar Blues found Weiland branching out in new musical directions, like the trippy pop of “Barbarella,” which recalled David Bowie’s ‘70s hits, and “Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down,” an homage to composer Kurt Weill’s avant-garde style. On November 25, 2008, Weiland released Happy in Galoshes, which again marked Weiland’s interest in exploring genres beyond hard rock.Scott Weiland's Drug Problems:
Scott Weiland has struggled with drug addiction for years, which has caused him to be arrested on several occasions. In 1995, he was busted for buying crack cocaine, receiving a one-year probation sentence. Two years later, he was arrested for heroin possession. At the end of 1999, he was forced to spend a year in a county-jail recovery center because of a probation violation. In November 2007, he was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and later entered rehab.Key Scott Weiland Songs:
“Plush” (with Stone Temple Pilots) (Purchase/Download)“Creep” (with Stone Temple Pilots) (Purchase/Download)
“Sour Girl” (with Stone Temple Pilots) (Purchase/Download)
“Slither” (with Velvet Revolver) (Purchase/Download)
“The Last Fight” (with Velvet Revolver) (Purchase/Download)
Scott Weiland Discography:
12 Bar Blues (1998)Happy in Galoshes (2008)
Scott Weiland Quotes:
On his first experience with heroin.“I fell in love with it right away.”
On his musical tastes.
“My favorite bands are still the Stones, the Beatles, and the Clash.”
On how the 2008 Stone Temple Pilots reunion first came up.
“I got a phone call from [guitarist] Dean [DeLeo] when I was on tour with Revolver, and he said, ‘Hey listen, are you sitting down? There are a handful of festivals trying to reach out to us, and the money is pretty ridiculous.’”
On Happy in Galoshes.
“It may turn off some STP fans. That’s just the way it is. At my age, I just do what I wanna do. There’s art and there’s commerce, and I’ve already accomplished the commerce part of my career.”
Scott Weiland Trivia:
- Weiland was a part of Camp Freddy, a just-for-fun band that includes former members of Guns N’ Roses, Jane’s Addiction and the Cult.
- His real name is Scott Richard Kline.
- Weiland has his own record label called Soft Drive Records.
- Weiland was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the late 1990s.
