Long-running alternative rock figure Scott Weiland has died at the age of 48.
According to TMZ, Weiland's body was discovered on his tour bus in Minnesota. He was on tour with his project Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts, who were set to perform at the Medina Ballroom tonight. The show was cancelled.
TMZ reports that Weiland's body was discovered around 9 p.m. local time.
UPDATE (12/18, 11:45 a.m.): According to various reports, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner in Minneapolis confirmed suspicions that Scott Weiland died of "an accidental overdose of cocaine, ethanol and, methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)." The full toxicology report will arrive in the next month or so and should confirm just how long Weiland had been using prior to his death.
UPDATE (12/04, 1:15 a.m.): Weiland's death has now been confirmed via his Facebook page. A statement simply reads, "Scott Weiland, best known as the lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, 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."
UPDATE (12/04, 11:45 a.m.): TMZ now reports that Weiland died of a cardiac arrest, according to a first responder.
UPDATE (12/04, 4:50 p.m.): As TMZ reports, Weiland's bandmate Tommy Black has now been arrested for possession of cocaine, which was found on the tour bus where the STP star died. Cocaine was found in both the bedroom Weiland died in on the bus and in the area Black resided. Black was arrested on 5th degree felony drug possession.
Weiland was a long-running fixture in the alternative rock scene, best known for fronting Stone Temple Pilots. He also found success as the frontman for Velvet Revolver. Weiland unfortunately had a lifelong struggle with substance abuse.
Alternative rock fixture Dave Navarro was among the first people to mention Weiland's death.
UPDATE (12/04, 1 p.m.): Velvet Revolver have now issued a statement regarding Weiland's death. It reads:
We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of our old friend and bandmate, Scott Weiland. We experienced a good chunk of life with Scott, and even in his darkest times, we all had hope and love for him. His artistry will live on, of that there is no doubt.
Deepest condolences and sadness are for his children, Noah and Lucy.
We all travelled around this world together on tour; our band, wives, and kids… and we grew to a big family that still remains to this day. It's just so sad and brutal from any perspective.
Rest in peace, Scott.
UPDATE (12/04, 4 p.m.): Weiland's former STP bandmates have shared the following statement:
Dear Scott,
Let us start by saying thank you for sharing your life with us.
Together we crafted a legacy of music that has given so many people happiness and great memories.
The memories are many, and they run deep for us.
We know amidst the good and the bad you struggled, time and time again. It's what made you who you were.
You were gifted beyond words, Scott.
Part of that gift was part of your curse.
With deep sorrow for you and your family, we are saddened to see you go.
All of our love and respect.
We will miss you, brother.
UPDATE (12/04, 4:05 p.m.): Billy Corgan has also shared a touching tribute, which you can read below.
Having just woken to the news of this passing, I feel compelled to put pen to paper and pay my respects to Scott. And in that I will not pretend to know more than I know, or add some sad homily to how he loved his life. At least in that, may I now say he is undoubtably in the arms of grace and eternal love.
May I also offer my humble condolences to his family, friends, and band mates; who have, and are, suffering this great loss. For when anyone as vaunted leaves far too soon, we mourn all that might have been.
As any fan, I find myself reflecting on what I do have in my own treasure chest: in scarce moments where Scott and I spoke as contemporaries or competitors, and got to know each as people other past the footlights and shadows we were so busy casting to the world. It may seem trite in reflection, but I'd try to make him giggle when I saw that the manic whirl of the dumb parties we were at (in Hollywood, no less!) might be causing undue stress.
It was, I'd guess you'd say, my way of apology for having been so critical of STP when they appeared on the scene like some crazy, man-fueled rocket. And not only was the knight up front freshly handsome to a fault, but he could sing too! As any supreme actor gives a real and different voice to each character played.
It was STP's 3rd album that had got me hooked, a wizardly mix of glam and post-punk, and I confessed to Scott, as well as the band many times, how wrong I'd been in assessing their native brilliance. And like Bowie can and does, it was Scott's phrasing that pushed his music into a unique, and hard to pin down, aesthetic sonicsphere.
Lastly, I'd like to share a thought which though clumsy, I hope would please Scott In Hominum. And that is if you asked me who I truly believed were the great voices of our generation, I'd say it were he, Layne, and Kurt.
So it goes beyond tragedy to say it is we who lost them, and not the other way round…
According to TMZ, Weiland's body was discovered on his tour bus in Minnesota. He was on tour with his project Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts, who were set to perform at the Medina Ballroom tonight. The show was cancelled.
TMZ reports that Weiland's body was discovered around 9 p.m. local time.
UPDATE (12/18, 11:45 a.m.): According to various reports, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner in Minneapolis confirmed suspicions that Scott Weiland died of "an accidental overdose of cocaine, ethanol and, methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)." The full toxicology report will arrive in the next month or so and should confirm just how long Weiland had been using prior to his death.
UPDATE (12/04, 1:15 a.m.): Weiland's death has now been confirmed via his Facebook page. A statement simply reads, "Scott Weiland, best known as the lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, 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."
UPDATE (12/04, 11:45 a.m.): TMZ now reports that Weiland died of a cardiac arrest, according to a first responder.
UPDATE (12/04, 4:50 p.m.): As TMZ reports, Weiland's bandmate Tommy Black has now been arrested for possession of cocaine, which was found on the tour bus where the STP star died. Cocaine was found in both the bedroom Weiland died in on the bus and in the area Black resided. Black was arrested on 5th degree felony drug possession.
Weiland was a long-running fixture in the alternative rock scene, best known for fronting Stone Temple Pilots. He also found success as the frontman for Velvet Revolver. Weiland unfortunately had a lifelong struggle with substance abuse.
Alternative rock fixture Dave Navarro was among the first people to mention Weiland's death.
Just learned our friend Scott Weiland has died. So gutted, I am thinking of his family tonight.
— Dave Navarro (@DaveNavarro) December 4, 2015
UPDATE (12/04, 1 p.m.): Velvet Revolver have now issued a statement regarding Weiland's death. It reads:
We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of our old friend and bandmate, Scott Weiland. We experienced a good chunk of life with Scott, and even in his darkest times, we all had hope and love for him. His artistry will live on, of that there is no doubt.
Deepest condolences and sadness are for his children, Noah and Lucy.
We all travelled around this world together on tour; our band, wives, and kids… and we grew to a big family that still remains to this day. It's just so sad and brutal from any perspective.
Rest in peace, Scott.
UPDATE (12/04, 4 p.m.): Weiland's former STP bandmates have shared the following statement:
Dear Scott,
Let us start by saying thank you for sharing your life with us.
Together we crafted a legacy of music that has given so many people happiness and great memories.
The memories are many, and they run deep for us.
We know amidst the good and the bad you struggled, time and time again. It's what made you who you were.
You were gifted beyond words, Scott.
Part of that gift was part of your curse.
With deep sorrow for you and your family, we are saddened to see you go.
All of our love and respect.
We will miss you, brother.
UPDATE (12/04, 4:05 p.m.): Billy Corgan has also shared a touching tribute, which you can read below.
Having just woken to the news of this passing, I feel compelled to put pen to paper and pay my respects to Scott. And in that I will not pretend to know more than I know, or add some sad homily to how he loved his life. At least in that, may I now say he is undoubtably in the arms of grace and eternal love.
May I also offer my humble condolences to his family, friends, and band mates; who have, and are, suffering this great loss. For when anyone as vaunted leaves far too soon, we mourn all that might have been.
As any fan, I find myself reflecting on what I do have in my own treasure chest: in scarce moments where Scott and I spoke as contemporaries or competitors, and got to know each as people other past the footlights and shadows we were so busy casting to the world. It may seem trite in reflection, but I'd try to make him giggle when I saw that the manic whirl of the dumb parties we were at (in Hollywood, no less!) might be causing undue stress.
It was, I'd guess you'd say, my way of apology for having been so critical of STP when they appeared on the scene like some crazy, man-fueled rocket. And not only was the knight up front freshly handsome to a fault, but he could sing too! As any supreme actor gives a real and different voice to each character played.
It was STP's 3rd album that had got me hooked, a wizardly mix of glam and post-punk, and I confessed to Scott, as well as the band many times, how wrong I'd been in assessing their native brilliance. And like Bowie can and does, it was Scott's phrasing that pushed his music into a unique, and hard to pin down, aesthetic sonicsphere.
Lastly, I'd like to share a thought which though clumsy, I hope would please Scott In Hominum. And that is if you asked me who I truly believed were the great voices of our generation, I'd say it were he, Layne, and Kurt.
So it goes beyond tragedy to say it is we who lost them, and not the other way round…
