a history with Weiland
We learned last night that Weiland has
died. I remembered this piece I wrote
about his troubles recently. I thought I
wrote this a few months ago, but I wrote it a few years ago. Sadly, the piece is evergreen. Talking about his endless band and drug
dramas. I could have written this ten
years ago, and I could have written it two days ago.
*** update below 5.25.2013
This feels like a repeat. Stone Temple Pilots announced on Monday that they had fired Weiland (again). This was news to Weiland, who took to the press to announce he was not fired. Then, he kinda acknowledged that he wasn't exactly in touch with the band. Then, a day later Weiland announced this was a publicity ploy by the band to sell tickets. Again, he then had to acknowledge he hadn't exactly talked to anyone in the band.
As of this writing, this is all we know. Odds are, early next week, he will pull the 'you can't fire me, I quit!' (editors note: he did just that!) Scott Weiland made a very salient point, though, when the associated press told him he was fired. He explained "How can they fire me? It's my band! I started it, I named it, I wrote those songs." Fair point. That only illuminates how incredibly difficult he is to deal with.
Look at the past. He was in STP until they got tired of his drugging and drinking and getting arrested. Odds are that he was also uninsurable to tour. So, they fired him.
Then, he joined Slash' Velvet Revolver until they got tired of his drugging and drinking and getting arrested. Odds are that he was also uninsurable to tour. So, they fired him. Here is the thing, man. When Slash says "you have a problem with drinking and drugs" you listen to that shit. He knows. When Slash says 'dude, that isn't safe' it means you are possibly already dead. This reminds me of when the Allmans' fired Dickey for being a drunk. Slash knows when you have a drug problem, he kinda pioneered it (with all regards to Keith Richards, and every other doped out rock star).
So, he went back to STP until they got tired of his drugging and drinking and getting arrested. Odds are that he was also uninsurable to tour. So, they fired him. Again. Again.
So, is he the worst? How does anyone hire him? How is he not just sleeping behind a dumpster in Hollywood? I will tell you why. He is a great rock star, on every level. Being a dick is nearly a prereq for being a rock star. Weiland has that in spades. He is also a great front man and a very good singer. Years and years ago, literally about 6 arrests ago, I saw STP live. I was not really a fan. I just knew a couple of songs. My buddy Tim had a free ticket for me, so why the hell not. I left a major bonafied STP fan after that show. They killed that night.
Also, their music is great. Not good, but great. Purple and Tiny Music are just terrific records. During this period, it's important to note STP was outselling Nirvana. I can only imagine they are just waiting for him to kill himself, knowing it is inevitable. Think of what that must be like for the guys in the band. Think of the Doors, or Blind Melon... who just knew it was a matter of time for their singer. When Jerry Garcia finally passed, the only mystery was how he lasted that long. Mickey Hart's heartbreaking response to hearing about Jerry's passing was "now I don't have to wait for that call anymore." He was saying that every night for the last 30 years he was expecting that news. It's the only way I can imagine STP firing their meal ticket. I mean, there are ways around hating your lead singer. Van Halen toured in completely separate jets. Same with Motley Crue. They each have their own tour bus, and the only time they interact with each other is that 90 minutes on stage.
Of course, it is also worth noting both those bands have fired their lead singers... and then took them back... just like STP. It's a shame. He can't be replaced in the band***. This just means the end of STP, and that is a bummer. They are a great band, and that isn't just a nostalgia trip. Well, maybe it is. I have a scary feeling he is about to turn up dead. He has a long history with heroin, and has never been good at hiding it. His arrest record is extraordinary. Click here, and then here and then here. You get the idea. Good luck, Scotty. Stay with us, man. clean up, and go apologize to the DeLeos. In the meantime, he is going on my dead pool list.
*** update 5.25.2013
Ok, we know what happened now, and we know it's official. The band is touring without him. So, what happened? Well, here is a teaser. It is 100% Weiland's fault. The band wanted to tour. The band needed to tour. Odds are, they needed money to pay mortgages. There is no money in rock. There are jets, drugs, tons of pussy (sorry ladies, just using the vernacular), thousands of screaming fans... but no money.
The band wanted to tour and Weiland said no. Why? Well, he actually made a really salient point. He didn't want to water down the brand and overexpose the band.
This feels like a repeat. Stone Temple Pilots announced on Monday that they had fired Weiland (again). This was news to Weiland, who took to the press to announce he was not fired. Then, he kinda acknowledged that he wasn't exactly in touch with the band. Then, a day later Weiland announced this was a publicity ploy by the band to sell tickets. Again, he then had to acknowledge he hadn't exactly talked to anyone in the band.
As of this writing, this is all we know. Odds are, early next week, he will pull the 'you can't fire me, I quit!' (editors note: he did just that!) Scott Weiland made a very salient point, though, when the associated press told him he was fired. He explained "How can they fire me? It's my band! I started it, I named it, I wrote those songs." Fair point. That only illuminates how incredibly difficult he is to deal with.
Look at the past. He was in STP until they got tired of his drugging and drinking and getting arrested. Odds are that he was also uninsurable to tour. So, they fired him.
Then, he joined Slash' Velvet Revolver until they got tired of his drugging and drinking and getting arrested. Odds are that he was also uninsurable to tour. So, they fired him. Here is the thing, man. When Slash says "you have a problem with drinking and drugs" you listen to that shit. He knows. When Slash says 'dude, that isn't safe' it means you are possibly already dead. This reminds me of when the Allmans' fired Dickey for being a drunk. Slash knows when you have a drug problem, he kinda pioneered it (with all regards to Keith Richards, and every other doped out rock star).
So, he went back to STP until they got tired of his drugging and drinking and getting arrested. Odds are that he was also uninsurable to tour. So, they fired him. Again. Again.
So, is he the worst? How does anyone hire him? How is he not just sleeping behind a dumpster in Hollywood? I will tell you why. He is a great rock star, on every level. Being a dick is nearly a prereq for being a rock star. Weiland has that in spades. He is also a great front man and a very good singer. Years and years ago, literally about 6 arrests ago, I saw STP live. I was not really a fan. I just knew a couple of songs. My buddy Tim had a free ticket for me, so why the hell not. I left a major bonafied STP fan after that show. They killed that night.
Also, their music is great. Not good, but great. Purple and Tiny Music are just terrific records. During this period, it's important to note STP was outselling Nirvana. I can only imagine they are just waiting for him to kill himself, knowing it is inevitable. Think of what that must be like for the guys in the band. Think of the Doors, or Blind Melon... who just knew it was a matter of time for their singer. When Jerry Garcia finally passed, the only mystery was how he lasted that long. Mickey Hart's heartbreaking response to hearing about Jerry's passing was "now I don't have to wait for that call anymore." He was saying that every night for the last 30 years he was expecting that news. It's the only way I can imagine STP firing their meal ticket. I mean, there are ways around hating your lead singer. Van Halen toured in completely separate jets. Same with Motley Crue. They each have their own tour bus, and the only time they interact with each other is that 90 minutes on stage.
Of course, it is also worth noting both those bands have fired their lead singers... and then took them back... just like STP. It's a shame. He can't be replaced in the band***. This just means the end of STP, and that is a bummer. They are a great band, and that isn't just a nostalgia trip. Well, maybe it is. I have a scary feeling he is about to turn up dead. He has a long history with heroin, and has never been good at hiding it. His arrest record is extraordinary. Click here, and then here and then here. You get the idea. Good luck, Scotty. Stay with us, man. clean up, and go apologize to the DeLeos. In the meantime, he is going on my dead pool list.
*** update 5.25.2013
Ok, we know what happened now, and we know it's official. The band is touring without him. So, what happened? Well, here is a teaser. It is 100% Weiland's fault. The band wanted to tour. The band needed to tour. Odds are, they needed money to pay mortgages. There is no money in rock. There are jets, drugs, tons of pussy (sorry ladies, just using the vernacular), thousands of screaming fans... but no money.
The band wanted to tour and Weiland said no. Why? Well, he actually made a really salient point. He didn't want to water down the brand and overexpose the band.
Like I said, solid point. So, what does he do to
ensure STP does not get overexposed? He took his own band out on tour and
plays nothing but STP hits. Let's look at this again, because it is so
fucked up it is comical. Band says "Scotty, let's tour!" Weiland
says "bad idea, gents. People are sick of us, or will be soon.
Can't help you." Then, they find out he just took off on his
own tour playing their
songs... without them.
While they were sitting at home waiting for him to tour
with them so they could play their songs. Songs and gigs they won't get paid
for, but Weiland did. I can only imagine when STP tour they split the
cash four ways equally. If Weiland hires the band as his employees, he
keeps 80% of the cash. It is safe to assume he is super broke, as he
literally has more arrests than all the sex pistols had combined.
Also note that the band now can't tour because they don't
have their singer, and touring 2 different STP bands really would dilute the brand
and confuse the fans.
See the problem here? This is why the band had no
choice but to fire him, and I find Weiland 100% of the problem.
As you likely know, after they fired him, Weiland denied it
was possible to be fired. He literally said "you can't fire me, this
is my band." It is important to note he made this statement from the
road while on tour with his personal band singing all of his old band's
songs.
So, the rest of the band just starting doing shows with a new singer.
I love STP, and I don't find them any good with any other singer.
However, I applaud their move. Weiland is a fuck face, and STP are on
tour without him... just
like he did without them. Guess what, he got all
pissed. He said "how can you tour on our songs without me?"
Well, Scotty, the exact same way you did this to them. I have not heard
any comments about him regarding his replacement, but odds are he is pretty
pissed and embarrassed. I can only predict the next public words out of
his mouth will be "you can't fire me, I quit!"
**** update update >
in the interest of full disclosure, I saw them live years ago. I got a free ticket from my roommate who worked in the radio business. I was only a casual fan at best, but hey free is free. I was bowled over by how amazing their concert was. Absolutely one of my favorite rock shows of all time. So, that is why you have 2,000 words on Weiland here. This is my coping mechanism.
*** oh, and then there is this.
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