Q&A with SCOTT WEILAND

Photo Credit: Jamie Weiland

UPDATE: Scott Weiland, best known as the lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, was found dead on Thursday night, December 3rd at the age of 48. His rep said in a statement that Weiland passed away in his sleep while on a tour stop in Bloomington, Minnesota, with his band The Wildabouts. “At this time we ask that the privacy of Scott’s family be respected,” the statement concluded. According to multiple reports, Weiland was found unresponsive on their tour bus at around 9 p.m., and the band’s scheduled show at the Medina Ballroom was subsequently canceled. The cause of death is not known, though Weiland has had a rather storied history of substance abuse, with multiple arrests and trips to rehab. Dave Navarro was the first fellow musician to respond to the news of Weiland’s death, tweeting, “Just learned our friend Scott Weiland has died. So gutted, I am thinking of his family tonight … so, so sad.”  The below interview was conducted by AllAccess.com writer, Nicole DeRosa this past May 29th at BottleRock Napa.

Scott Weiland, who Spin named “rock’s most dynamic front man”, and his band the Wildabouts recorded their new album, Blaster at Lavish studios in Burbank and at the Sandbox in Beachwood Canyon. The Daily Best calls Blaster “a solid spin, combining garage and classic rock with some heavier riffs in a way that just plain works”, and Billboard wrote:

“The songs from the album Blaster are no-nonsense, straight-ahead rock tunes that owe debts to music of the 1980s and ’90s inspired by late ’60s garage rock.”

Weiland and the band wrote all 11 tracks except “20thCentury Boy”, a T-Rex classic. Rolling Stone called the first single, “ Way She Moves”, a “foot-stompin’ boogie”.

“The album has its own distinctive sound,” says Weiland, “but it also can entice those Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver fans who have stuck by me. Over the years, I’ve gone back and forth between art records and being in a band. This is a hybrid. What we’ve come up with is really heavy, slinky, and sexy. There’s a lot of fuzz. The best way to describe it is ‘Furry’.” I knew I wanted to make a rock record,” proclaims Weiland. “It all just came together.”

Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts have been on a huge tour, playing major market shows, SXSW and Sundance and now BottleRock Napa. Scott Weiland has cumulatively sold over 44 million records worldwide with Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver. He’s garnered two Grammy Awards in the category of “Best Hard Rock Performance”—in 2005 for “Slither” and in 1994 for “Plush”. Stone Temple Pilots’ Purple debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 a feat also accomplished by Velvet Revolver’s Contraband.

Velvet Revolver

Weiland’s voice has driven some of the most recognizable hits in rock ‘n’ roll history including “Sex Type Thing”, “Wicked Garden”, “Creep”, “Interstate Love Song”, “Vasoline”, “The Big Empty”, “Sour Girl”, “Down”, and more. He released his memoir Not Dead & Not for Sale in 2011 to critical applause. Still, his most powerful music is yet to come with the release of Blaster.

All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa got to catch up with the dynamic singer between gigs and festivals. Read more in Nicole’s interview with Scott below.

Hi Scott! Where does this interview find you today? What’s on the agenda today besides our interview?

I’m at home in Los Angeles. We had a few days off from tour but we head out again tonight.

Take our readers back for a moment. How did you get your start in music? Who or what was the catalyst for you?

Probably singing in my high school choir…that’s where it all began.

Your musical career has spanned over three decades now. You are best known as the former front man for the successful rock group, Stone Temple Pilots as well as the super group, Velvet Revolver. You have also established yourself as a solo artist, releasing three studio albums, a cover album, and collaborations with several other artists since 1995. Now you are releasing your latest studio album, Blaster with your band The Wildabouts. What did you learn between albums that you felt you wanted to infuse into Blaster?

My past solo projects were ‘art’ albums — I was ready to make another rock album and these guys (The Wildabouts) were the perfect ones to do it with.

Can you share with me what your inspiration was for your current single, “White Lightning”?

I had just watched the movie “Lawless” about bootlegging whiskey…those heavy riffs just lent themselves perfectly to a similar story.

Who are your musical influences?

David Bowie, Bob Dylan and Jim Morrison.

Do you remember the first album you bought for yourself?

Cheap Trick – live at Budokan

What was the first song you fell in love with and why?

It wasn’t a song – it was just the Beatles as a band…

Who would your dream collaboration be with, living or dead?

David Bowie.

Who is in your current playlist? Any artists, musicians or genres we might be surprised to find in there?

Queens of the Stone Age – Kolapsia
Carole King – I feel the earth move
Depeche Mode – Somebody
Grandaddy – Now it’s On
Flaming Lips – Waiting for Superman
The Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man
Paul McCartney – This Never Happened Before
Rolling Stones – Street Fighting Man
Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Bowie – Five Years

Photo credit: Jamie Weiland

What’s on tap next for you, Scott? What are you most excited about in 2015?

Touring BLASTER with my band, The Wildabouts…seeing our fans and rocking out at shows.

To learn more about SCOTT WEILAND AND THE WILDABOUTS , visit them HERE