Scott Weiland RIP

This week was a rough one for me personally. Not only is the great Robert Loggia gone but I lost my favorite modern rock singer: Scott Weiland.

I am a massive STP fan. Anyone knows who listens to my MORNING SHOW PODCAST (which is still going BTW) that STP and a Scott Weiland album are in my top 25 albums of all time and likely will never leave. I named my son Scott after him. I actually wanted to name my son Scott Weiland Talley, but thought better of it and named him Scott Michael Talley. But you see my point.

Weiland was a massive influence on me when I dreamed of being a singer. When I was in a band in high school we covered things like Crackerman and Plush. I was heavily into his style of signing and dress. He was a fashion icon to me. Just heavy influence. Unfortunately, I didn't have the physique to pull off any of his fashion templates, but I dreamed I could.

I own all his albums. All solo stuff, all Velvet Revolver, all STP. I just bought TINY MUSIC on vinyl just last week. "12 Bar Blues" is one of my favorite solo albums of all time and is in rotation constantly.

So yeah, massive fan. This is definitely a blow. It blows. STP was likely going to reform and tour again. I almost went to see Weiland on his latest solo tour but I figured "eh, I'll catch him next time." I shoulda went. Another regret.

I saw STP twice in 1997-1998. First show was at the Palace. Local H opened. I swore if they played "Superman Silvergun" I'd lose my shit. They did, and I did. The following year I saw them at Van Andel arena in Grand Rapids. Cheap Trick opened. We were on the floor and damn close to the stage. STP always put on an amazing performance. Say what you want about Scott and his demons but the man was a dynamic performer. He'd dance, snake and play to the crowd. I've never seen any other modern frontman like it. It left a huge impression on me. If only I coulda been like that. If only.

I really cannot type something long enough to eulogize this guy properly to convince you of my love for the guy and the music he leaves behind. So I have to just stick to my thoughts, throw on the albums and relive it all over again and again. I'm truly coming to an age where all my heroes are going away. It sucks. But so it goes.

It helps me reflect on one major point in context. Scott died of a heart attack. All signs are pointing to either drugs or the effect drugs had on his body years after the fact. It just gave out on him. We all abuse ourselves by some standard. And I know I have. I feel it that any day my body might end this ride for me, and its my fault. We all want to be the hero of our story. We don't want it to end and become a statistic and say "Well, they just couldn't beat their demon." We all want to rise above, don't we?

For us, there still is time. Do it for you. Do it for those that influence you and dare you to do better. Change in your life can start today. Right now. All it takes is for you to get tired of your own Bullshit.

How bad do you want it?

I'm motivated to truly change. Because I'm not dead and not for sale.

T