Following Scott Weiland’s death, Matt Sorum called in to Matt Pinfield’s SiriusXM show to remember his Velvet Revolver bandmate.
An emotional — and at several moments, even tearful — Sorum (former drummer in both Velvet Revolver and Guns N’ Roses) reflected on Weiland’s talent and his experience working with him. Below are excerpts from the conversation, as well as the full audio.
“I don’t know how I felt initially. I can’t say it was a shock, but it was definitely … I wasn’t expecting it because I felt like Scott was gonna be here hopefully longer than this,” Sorum said, describing his reaction to first hearing the news of Weiland’s passing.
“When I started to kind of process the feelings — I mean, people know that, in the end, obviously we had our differences and the band split up. But the wave of emotions that you feel is more like a family member. It’s like if you had a family member that maybe you didn’t get along with great, but you still love them. That’s the feeling,” he explained.
Recalling the beginnings of Velvet Revolver, he praised Weiland for making the band’s music “come to life.”
“Being in a band obviously in my career has never been a perfect ride, but the reality of it is rock ‘n’ roll is never a perfect ride, real rock ‘n’ roll. I think Scott Weiland was that guy. He was complicated, yes, but the artistry was magnificent,” said Sorum.
“In the end, I just want the world to know that I feel like I made my peace with him,” he added later in the conversation.
“Scott was definitely one of the greatest, one of the greatest for sure. I want people to focus on that part. I want people to look at the music,” he said of the Velvet Revolver and Stone Temple Pilots frontman.
Billboard
https://www.yahoo.com/music/matt-sorum-tearfully-pays-tribute-scott-weiland-says-030100543.html
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Stone Temple Pilots Issue Statement on the Death of Former Frontman Scott Weiland
The members of Stone Temple Pilots have shared a statement on the death of former frontman Scott Weiland, who left the grunge group for the last time in 2013. Weiland, 48, died yesterday in his sleep.
Guitarist Dean DeLeo, bassist Robert DeLeo, and drummer Eric Kretz wrote a note on Facebook addressed to their late bandmate, one that expressed their condolences and hit upon the occasionally rocky nature of their relationship while also honoring his musical gifts.“
We know amidst the good and the bad you struggled, time and time again,” the letter reads. “It’s what made you who you were. You were gifted beyond words, Scott. Part of that gift was part of your curse.”
Read the full letter below.
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,
Robert, Eric, Dean
Spin Magazine
https://www.yahoo.com/music/stone-temple-pilots-issue-statement-on-the-death-002748976.html
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Other Notable Musicians’ Deaths…
December 2015
8: Mattiwilda Dobbs, 90, American coloratura soprano; Bonnie Lou, 91, American country singer.
7: Heinz Fricke, 88, German conductor and music director.
6: Marque Lynche, 34, American singer (The Mickey Mouse Club)(death announced on this date).
5: John Garner, 63, American rock drummer and vocalist (Sir Lord Baltimore), liver failure.
4: Chris Carney, 35, American singer (The Prom Kings) and reality star (twentyfourseven), traffic collision; J Capri, 23, Jamaican singer, traffic collision; Rodney Milnes, 79, British opera critic.
3: Scott Weiland, 48, American musician (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver, The Wondergirls).
2: John Eaton, 85, American composer; Leoni Franco (es), 73, Uruguayan musician, composer and guitarist.
1: Alex Cooley, 74, American music promoter (Atlanta International Pop Festival and Music Midtown).