Rockstars are superhuman. They are larger than life, more than just for the music they bestow upon the world, but because of how they live their lives, at least by common perception skewed through the media lens. They rock hard, love hard, and play hard…because that is simply what rockstars do…and depending on the common media perception and who is recounting the tale, the truth may or may not become slanted. And that slant becomes perceived reality. The harder the artist rocks, loves, and plays, the more twisted that reality becomes until assigned labels begin to define something more than a person. They begin to define a character that looks something like the person that the tale originally began to be told about.
Scott Weiland is such a rockstar that in later years became a caricature of what the media began to perceive and recant, and unfortunately the reality, whether true or skewed, became fodder for general populous to speculate and cast opinion. What the general populous forgets is that at the center of these stars is a person: a person that rocks hard, plays hard, and loves hard, not unlike every single one of us. Their lives behind the celebrity and media-defined caricature is only known by the closest acquaintances and family, and all other memories that the rest of us may have of that person are based on limited interactions and sheer hearsay.
However, when those celebrities are gone, the general populous will continue to speculate causes and reasons, and cast ugly comments towards the image they remember last defined by unknown speculation, and Scott Weiland’s image will most likely host stones cast in his direction by unforgiving and relentless internet trolls…which is truly a sad thing. Because, again, at the base of that celebrity image is a person, a family, and a host of people that he touched, and those stones will hurt those beyond the reach of the caster’s imagination.
People are not defined by who or what they were, but by the true memories and impact they had while they were here. A life and how it was led is only the vehicle allowing that life to change the world around them, and Scott did just that. He did it in a big way. His life, regardless of the choices he made, whether good or bad, was a life riddled with choices that allowed him to make global waves.
People never truly leave. They are missed when they are gone, but they live on where they are missed the most because a true life lives on with its memory. Scott lives on, with the memory and legacy he’s left behind. He is still here, with music that transcends time, and continues to evoke contemplation and inner change. There is nothing more full of life than that. That is, we believe, the life that Scott wanted to live – a life where countless generations of rockers could turn on one of his songs and find a correlation, a tie, to their own life and situation, a life defined by his music, not in spite of it. His life lives on in the memories of those who found themselves touched by his words, his voice; his legacy is one of many colors, but it is our hope that his legacy is one of epic musical proportions. His choices were his own to make, but his music is now ours to live through, to love through, and to rock through until we, too, find ourselves no longer on this planet.
This is how we remember Scott Weiland
CORE – STP – 1992
“I remember the soft, subtle, yet violent scream of “I am smelling like a rose on my birthday death bed” and then the two drum beats and guitar to follow. It grabbed my attention, and I was like, “What the fuck is this?” His voice was this infectious mix of melody, pain, angst and confidence that was unlike no other.”
Ace Sims, RockRevolt Journalist and Photographer
“The song and video for “Plush” blew me away! I couldn’t take my eyes off of Weiland with his crazy red hair. Within days I bought the Core album, hoping it would have a few good songs. From “Dead and Bloated” to “Where the River Goes”, the entire album kicked ass. I ran, worked out and partied to that cassette until I wore it out – then promptly bought a replacement. It remains one of my favorite albums to this day.
Scott Smith, RockRevolt Photographer
“”Plush” is the reason I became a karaoke superstar! Ever since that song me and the mic have been inseparable! That entire album is a masterpiece… I had it in replay all day today.”
Brett Tully, RockRevolt Journalist and Photographer
“When I had the opportunity to interview him, I was as nervous as I have ever been. I mean, he is a legend! When I entered the trailer for the interview, he greeted me like we had been friends for years. We sat and did the interview and Scott was his ever striving self and we had a great time. He had spun tales about life on the road and his part in it. He was part of a genre that changed rock music as we had known it and I got to talk to him. I mean, I know a multitude of reporters have spoken to this wordsmith from the grunge era a million times, but Core changed the way we all looked at rock and roll… STP and Nirvana were the leaders in the genre. We all looked and played rock just a bit different from then on. “
Ferg the Reporter, RockRevolt Journalist
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Purple – STP-1994
“”Vasoline” and “Interstate Love Song” were staples in the playlists played loud and proud during my lazy days of cutting classes at the University and living carefree moments on empty beaches with friends from days long forgotten. We could recite every word and gush on about the accompanying videos, because back in the 90s, that was how music was facilitated. His bad boy grin and rock and roll attitude helped to form the image of angsty, yet powerful, rock music that molded and forged the love for the rock genre that I have today.”
Alice Roques, RockRevolt Journalist and Editor
“I have fond memories of getting in to grunge and punk and trying to learn Purple front to back on my guitar. I was able to learn quite a bit of it and still know a few songs still. I got to see the Wildabouts last June and was happy to finally see him live.”
Alex Horn, RockRevolt Journalist
“I have fond memories of being little and my Dad playing many of STP songs over and over, especially “Interstate Love Song”. Dad is a huge music fan. So all I know, and all I like, comes from him.”
Keysie Raffucci, RockRevolt Photographer
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Tiny Music… Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop – STP – 1996
“Tiny Music came out the year after I was born, 1996. It is one of the key albums I remember listening to in the car with my parents and staring at the album artwork. The most popular song from that album is definitely “Trippin On A Hole In A Paper Heart”, but my personal favorite is the 8th track, “Art School Girl”. Being from Alabama, I always find it exciting when a band mentions my state in their songs. The lyric in ASG says, “She left her home in sweet Alabama” which is a direct reference to Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynryd. Tiny Music is one of STP’s most underrated efforts from the 90s and Scott Weiland’s vocal performance ranks as one of his best. The album is an interesting, experimental transition musically for the band as well: much different than Core and Purple It was also produced by Brendan O’Brien who works with Pearl Jam, one of my all time favorites. Other great songs from the album are “Big Bang Baby”, “Lady Picture Show”, and “Seven Caged Tigers.” After hearing of Weiland’s death, I played this album on repeat. I will always cherish the 2009 show in Mobile, AL, where Scott walked on stage wearing a very elegant suit. That is the image of him I will always carry with me.”
Kinsey Blake Haynes, RockRevolt Journalist and Photographer
“I remember the first time my wife heard the song “Atlanta” she asked me if it was a new Neil Diamond song. I laughed, but it just proved the vocal range of Scott Weiland.”
Ace Sims, RockRevolt Journalist and Photographer
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Thank You (Greatest Hits) – STP- 2003
“I realized that my Stone Temple Pilots Spotify playlist is pretty much the entire Thank You album, their greatest hits album released in 2003. Every word he sang on that album throws me back into the halls of my middle school, a bit awkward and feeling out of place, but knowing I had a place with Scott and the band.”
Devon Anderson, RockRevolt Journalist and Editor
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Contraband – Velvet Revolver – 2004
“When Scott Weiland formed Velvet Revolver, I was so stoked that he would be back on the airwaves with some new songs, and their album Contraband did not disappoint. When I heard him sing, “Fall to Pieces” and “Slither”, I felt like the old Scott was back. His voice on those songs was bourbon over sandpaper, so sexy, so raw, and I fell in love all over again with him and his music. “Dirty Little Thing” from that album was a sleeper hit, and it’s one I come back to again and again for a taste of Scott.”
Devon Anderson, RockRevolt Journalist and Editor
“Contraband came out when I was first getting into guitar and thought I’d be a singer. Sitting in my room listening to “Slither” and “Fall to Pieces” over and over again, learning the guitar parts and attempting, in my own vain way to recreate Scott’s shriek. I eventually found my own vocal style, but those early days of trying to re-enact that first VR album are always with me.”
Rob Ryles, RockRevolt Journalist
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Stone Temple Pilots – STP – 2010
I remember being skeptical when this released because I wasn’t sure how much I trusted them to be able to sound like they did back in their heyday. I was not disappointed. The album was an awesome comeback album for the band, and songs like “Peacoat” and “Between the Lines” gave us fans a real taste of past albums like, “Tiny Music…” This album had a little bit of everything that made Scott a versatile artist, and I remember jamming to this, thrilled that I had given it a chance.
Devon Anderson, RockRevolt Journalist and Editor
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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year- Solo – 2011
To hear Scott go from grinding rocker to smooth crooner was truly an experience, and his energy and soul on his album of holiday hits really could not be missed. I am going to be cranking this one around the fire this year for sure. I love when he sings, “What Child is This?” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” I never thought, “Hey, I wonder if Weiland will release a Christmas album?” But, I am so glad he did.
Devon Anderson, RockRevolt Journalist and Editor
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Scott Weiland is such a rockstar that in later years became a caricature of what the media began to perceive and recant, and unfortunately the reality, whether true or skewed, became fodder for general populous to speculate and cast opinion. What the general populous forgets is that at the center of these stars is a person: a person that rocks hard, plays hard, and loves hard, not unlike every single one of us. Their lives behind the celebrity and media-defined caricature is only known by the closest acquaintances and family, and all other memories that the rest of us may have of that person are based on limited interactions and sheer hearsay.
