Former Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver Singer Scott Weiland Passes Away at Age 48

Sad news from the music world this morning. Former frontman for the bands Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, Scott Weiland, has passed away according to multiple media sources.

His manager, Tom Vitorino, confirmed the death. A statement posted to Mr. Weiland’s Facebook and Instagram pages said he “passed away in his sleep while on a tour stop in Bloomington, Minnesota, with his band The Wildabouts.”

The Wildabouts had been scheduled to perform Thursday night in Medina, Minn., at the Medina Entertainment Center.

Mr. Weiland released one album with the Wildabouts, “Blaster,” this year, and the band was near the end of a fall tour of clubs and small theaters. But at the height of Stone Temple Pilots’ fame in the 1990s, he was known for commanding large stages with one of his signature moves: shouting lyrics through a megaphone held up to his mike.

Stone Temple Pilots released its first studio album, “Core,” in September 1992, which included the hits “Plush” and “Creep.” The band’s second album, “Purple,” released two years later, contained “Vasoline” and “Interstate Love Song.” Together, the two records sold 14 million copies in the United States, and “Plush” earned a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1994.

Mr. Weiland found his greatest fame outside Stone Temple Pilots with Velvet Revolver, a band consisting of three former members of Guns N’ Roses — Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum — and the guitarist Dave Kushner.

Unfortunately, Scott had some demons he just couldn't shake. Drug and alcohol addiction were constantly associated with his name in the headlines over the years and, according to bandmates, played large parts in the break up of STP and VR.

I know I'll always remember STP. Hell, they were the "it" band when I was in high school in the mid 90's.

R.I.P. Scott....those demons can't hurt you anymore.