Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/8603
LIVEMAGS.NET APRIL>>10 25 E very musical decade has a certain thematic element that encapsulates the mood and tone of that decade. There was the disco era, the jazz era, and in the '90s there was rock. What split the country in the 90's was not politics but preference in music as hip-hop became big and fans started to distinguish by preferences. One of the rock groups leading the way, producing great music, was the Stone Temple Pilots (STP). For over ten years STP has been bringing the heat and has refused to stay cold. But as with any band, the band is defined by its leader, and STP's leader is the eccentric and unforgettable Scott Weiland. Weiland has branched off from STP, making two albums and keeping fans content with his music and controversial presence. Weiland has a lot going on these days with both the release of his sophomore album, "Happy in Galoshes" and a reunion-type tour with STP that is spanning over 65 dates. Weiland also recently released his version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," which is as eerie and serene as only Weiland can make it. It also shows the unpredictability of Weiland, which is the essence of rock and roll, as he demonstrates how the artist cannot be contained by a genre of music or a specific style of music. Whatever project Weiland undertakes next, rest assured-- it will be fresh and it will be entertaining. LIVE: So the new Stone Temple Pilots album is in the works and due out in the coming months. The single Between the Lines is on the radio now, what can your fans expect with this album? SCOTT: We have always kind of gone back and forth from making basic Rock 'n' Roll music to pushing the envelope and trying to make an artistic statement. That's because as musicians we have so many different influences. On the last album, Shangri-La Dee Da we really went out there and so this album is back to basics. It's a pretty simple Rock 'n' Roll statement. LIVE: How did the reuniting of Stone Temple Pilots take place? SCOTT: I was on tour with Velvet Revolver and I got a phone call from Dean DeLeo and he said,"Are you sitting down? We have been asked to headline all the summer festivals including Coachella." Because I was still in Velvet Revolver and had touring obligations, we weren't able to do Coachella but we did get back together and we will be headlining many of the Summer tours this year and we decided to make a record. LIVE: You played so many years with the guys from Stone Temple Pilots. Was it always planned that you would get back together eventually? SCOTT: I think it was questionable for a while. We just got to a burn out phase and there were a lot of drugs going on between some of the members of the band, including myself. We got to a point where it made us really not like each other that much. The last show we ever did, Dean (DeLeo) and I almost got into a fight actually. LIVE: Wow. So you have a memoir about your life that is going to coincide with the album. I believe that it will be a biography on your life. SCOTT: Yes. It starts from now and works its way back. Then you find yourself in a rabbit hole and you're stuck in there for a little while, then back into first person. There are some lines from songs that are used as metaphors and there will be some pictures in it as well. LIVE: Your new clothing line, The Scott Weiland Collection will be available in stores nationwide this summer. You are working with Christopher Wicks and English Laundry. How did that meeting of minds come about? SCOTT: I met Christopher Wicks through Chris Deter whom I have known for some time, and Christopher Wicks and I found that we share the same passion and influences for fashion from the same eras, England- Late sixties, early seventies. You know, like the way the (Rolling) Stones would have had their suits tailored. LIVE: I heard that you did something pretty interesting for the clothing line. What was the Rock Fashion Tour? SCOTT: Rock Fashion Tour was a series of fashion events that featured my band performing live as well as a traditional fashion show. We would do the fashion show first and then close the night with a special live performance. We did it in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami and are planning to do others in New York and Chicago. LIVE: So you have a solo live album that is also due out this year and features live versions of songs from last year's double album. What was the process in creating this one? SCOTT: We toured pretty extensively with my band and it's such a unique band to play live with. We do a lot of free flowing psychedelic jams in between songs and they segway into the next song. We listened to several of the concerts we played and I had a feeling about the Los Angeles show. There was an urgency to it and the crowd was really amazing. And that's the album, it's from the LA show. LIVE: You are coming up on close to twenty years in the music biz. How has the music business changed, and what is your secret to remaining relevant? SCOTT: It all comes down to substance and the kind of songs that you write. I don't think gimmicks work much anymore. It's about writing good songs and playing out live to develop a following, just like back then. The only difference is that bands need to be more self starters these days. Now a-days, a band can be just as successful on an independent label as a major. LIVE: Speaking of independent labels, I understand that you have your own label called Softdrive records. What are some new bands that will be coming out of Softdrive? We got to a point where it made us really not like each other that much. The last show we ever did, Dean (DeLeo) and I almost got into a fight.