Tuesday, December 8th. Last Friday, the media shared the same news; the 48 years old famous alternative rock singer Scott Weiland died the night before, being found unconscious in his tour bus.
Weiland was on a promotional tour with his band Scott Weiland & the wildabouts in Bloomington, Minnesota. It’s presumed that he suffered a heart attack and died in the afternoon, but he was found many hours later at night.
The new was spread by the famous guitarist Dave Navarro, who said a few words in his Twitter account: “I just knew that our friend Scott Weiland has died. What a disappointment, I’m thinking in his family tonight”.
Weiland had a troubled past with alcohol and drug abuse, which is why he got fired from two of his most important bands; Stone Temple Pilots, founded in 1990, where he met worldwide success, because his songs shared the attitude of the time; with checkered clothes, military boots and messy long hair; of a free attitude and a misunderstood existential angst. He also played in other bands that defined a decade in all aspects of the arts as Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.
With Stone Temple Pilots, he made two of the most beautiful love songs in English, 1992 Plush and Interstate Love Song 1994; songs that remain in pop culture. For the start of the millennium, he gained popularity with the rock band Velvet Revolver, formed in 2002 with the album Contraband 2004; achieving recognition with songs like fall to pieces and Slither -which won the Grammy as best rock song of 2005 reaching the top of the musical arena.
Despite the success, the singer couldn’t achieve peace of mind and used to go back to the same self-destructive habits that were slowly consuming his life. In retrospect from 1992 until shortly before his death, we witnessed the process of physical degeneration of the talented singer, and how addictions destroy exceptional people; like his famous phrase “Sex, drugs and Rock and Roll”, that define many of the actors and singers who are part of art and entertainment business; it seems to be the way of relieving the overwhelming fame.
The world of music and the arts has always been linked to this self-destructive trend of drug and alcohol, losing the best talent; making alive the physical and emotional harm of our idols. Scott Weiland was the manifestation of a soul tormented by its own problems, and the success didn’t seem to fill his expectations in life. The best way to remember him is through the enjoyment of his music with the purpose of love, pain or just absolute happiness. Rest in peace!
ALFA