Scott Weiland died today

STP was big for me in my teenage years. I don't have a lot to say about it, but I came across this pretty sad video of him with his latest band today. YouTube comments tend to be pretty shit, but one (that I don't know how to link) posted 7 months ago on the video kind of hit me:

everyone will talk about what a dick he is and how horrible he sounds while he's alive and as soon as he dies the world will hail him as the greatest thing since water. Stop waiting till someone dies to show them love. He needs help.

On a higher note:

Really bummed me out.

Yeah, that dude brought me a lot of entertainment.

I was never a fan of anything he did personally. But he was an incredibly versatile singer and gifted performer. His recording of Winter Wonderland (which is kind of marvelously weird and yet still traditional and Bing Crosby influenced) was the one bit that made him interesting to me. But I can't deny the talent either way.

I also didn't care that much about STP or his later stuff (although even I know that Interstate Love Song is a fucking juggernaut of a track...). They sold a lot of records and had a lot of fans, who are likely pretty bummed out.

However, it's rough to see someone go out like that. He was 43. Man, I'm 43.

That youtube comment is golden, though. Some days it seems like the Internet exists just for people to shit on things. I'm glad he managed to make some people happy with his music, and it's a damn shame he couldn't ever get his life under control.

Zero interest in STP, Velvet Revolver or anything else he did. But he was a bona fide ROCK STAR. We don't have many of those around anymore.

Well he certainly covered the spread

Watched an STP dvd and some years later saw Velvet Revolver live and he was quite the incredible showman. Then he quit heroine and, while it may have prolonged his life, the spark died. Obviously he was taking other drugs and alcohol and that did him in.

I read he was 48.

It's always really sad to me when someone overdoses. Like some here, I was never the biggest STP fan (I did like some Velvet Revolver songs in college), but it's still a bummer.

www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/news/a40197/scott-weiland/

When it comes to music, my younger days can be split into two eras: Before and after I got into Weezer's Pinkerton.. Weezer might be a mainstream band and that album has been elevated to masterpiece status (rightfully so), but back then it was a misunderstood record by a band that was fading into obscurity. I actually had people warn me against listening to it. To get to the point, that was when I stopped paying attention what was on the radio and looking to it for new music, because here was this album that nobody listened to and was so inarguably brilliant.

Before that moment, STP was a big favorite of mine. I saw them back when I was in high school and they were terrific and Scott was a top-notch showman. Some of their stuff is so overplayed that it's up there with other songs I could die happily if I never heard again (like any song from Pearl Jam's Ten), but in the rare chance I hear songs like Unglued, Big Bang Baby, or Still Remains they still hit me like they always did.

Gary Sax wrote: www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/news/a40197/scott-weiland/

I literally play a chaotic neutral human thief, so the fact that Weiland played a chaotic neutral elven thief hits really hard for me. Pouring one out for him tonight. RIP.

Pretty sad.

If I understand correctly, his ex is saying he committed suicide.

dysjunct wrote:

Gary Sax wrote: www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/news/a40197/scott-weiland/

I literally play a chaotic neutral human thief, so the fact that Weiland played a chaotic neutral elven thief hits really hard for me. Pouring one out for him tonight. RIP.

That's awesome. I love the treasure chest story. I've been thinking for awhile that someday I should DM* for my nephews and other family members. Passing the DM notes about what your character is gonna do without consulting the group is an idea that I'm going to have to steal.

*I've got time. My sister's boys are 2 1/2 and 2 months. Their dad played D&D in high school and is generally a cool guy.

Now that he's gone, to me he was more than just a rock star, but being a rock star is what killed him.
Funny thing is, my brother-in-law (a musician of some note), opened for Stone Temple Pilots a few times several years back and my brother-in-law warned me, since I hadn't yet seen STP live (and really, really wanted to) to see them live 'before it's too late.' In that context he was talking about the band splitting up again a second time, which they of course they eventually did.
I did see them once in Hamilton, Ontario just before they broke up that second time and man am I glad I did. I completely turned around one of my life's regrets by getting off my ass, driving down there, and scalping a ticket by myself! It was a great show!
Even my brother-in-law found him distant and quiet the few times they spoke. Sad really.

Stone Temple Pilots were the best thing coming out of the 90's and 00's for me.