Forty-one year old Weiland is best known for his work with Stone Temple Pilots (STP). STP had huge hits through the 90's such as Creep and Wicked Garden. Although they had huge success, they were called out on the idea that they were trying to cash in on the grunge rock movement.Weiland denied copying anyone's style from the grunge range such as Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) or Layne Staley (Alice in Chains). He claimed that his biggest influences came from David Bowie and Jim Morrison.
In 1997 STP had to cancel there tour due to low sales. Weiland went on to make a solo album titled 12 Bar Blues which flopped. The other members of Stone Temple Pilots found a new lead singer in Dave Coutts and formed the band Talk Show. Talk show did not have any better luck with record sales then Weiland had with 12 Bar Blues.
This is around the time when Weiland received his first arrest due to allegedly attempting to buy heroin. Weiland has since admitted that he was using illegal drugs at this time (including heroin) and that much of 12 Bar Blues was written while under the influence.
In 1999 Weiland was out of prison and said to be clean of any past drug habits. He rejoined Stone Temple Pilots with their hit album No. 4 which featured that smash hit Sourgirl.
Back on tour Weiland found out first hand that old habits don't always die hard. The environment became poiseness to him to the point where he started using again on a daily basis. This caused miss communication with his band mates which eventually had them once again go their separate ways.
In 2003 Weiland joined the super group Velvet Revolver. Velvet Revolver was made up of the founding members of Guns n' Roses (not including Axl Rose). The band was a large success in the United States and Europe. With hits like Slither and Fall To Pieces the band was making steady record sales.
Around the same time Weiland was staring to join his new super group, he was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The charges were eventually dismissed after he completed rehab.
After five years of touring with Velvet Revolver Weiland became irritated with the whole situation. He started walking off stage before shows were over, and that was when he would even show up at all (story of Slash's life).
One night during one of Weiland's last tour dates with Revolver he decided to make a statement to the crowd without any input from the band. Weiland stumbled to the mic, most likely under the influence of something and spoke into it saying "You guys are witnessing history right now, this is the last Velvet Revolver show." Afterwords Slash and Duff looked at each other like a wave had just crashed over the stage.
In 2008 Weiland reunited with Stone Temple Pilots. This time hoping everything would go smoothly. No one seemed to take into account that his drug problem had become increasingly worse.
Weiland was showing up late to shows, not remembering lyrics and fighting with band mates. Radio stations were making statements such as "Good thing he came to our city first because there's now way this tour will last."
The tour did manage to go until the end but they are currently on hiatus. Weiland claimed that they have "wrote a boat load of songs during the tour." STP fans keep your fingers crossed for a 2009 studio album.
In mid 2008 Weiland signed a publishing deal with Bug Music. They agreed to help finance Weilands new solo album he wanted to pursue.
On November 25, 2008 Weiland came out with his second solo album Happy in Galoshes which translates to Happy in Rain boots. Yeah i know, odd.
Happy in Galoshes is an album that truly does, like Weiland says, has influence from all sorts of music. Punk, Bob Dylan, Funk, with some brass instruments thrown in with the guitars and drums.
Weiland claims to not have any drug influence during the production of this album. But that is hard to believe. Many of the songs have a echoing voice quality to them. Almost like a Pink Floyd album.
There are 4 out of 12 songs i'm willing to lisent to over and over again in my car. Some songs such as the David Bowie Cover "Fame" had me cringe and hit the next button as fast as humanly possible.
It's like Scott Weiland said, he no longer cares what people think of his music. He has the freedom to be creative in any way he wants and who am I to put him down. So sorry but i am going to have to give this album 5 stars out of 10.
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