Photo and audio: Howard Stern
Howard Stern discussed Scott Weiland’s death and Stone Temple Pilots’ music on his show yesterday. Weiland was a frequent guest on his show over the last two decades.
MarksFriggin recapped Howard’s tribute. Howard said he wants to say a few words about Scott Weiland since he passed away a few days ago. Howard said he was truly one of the greats. Howard said he read an article about Scott’s life and he thinks that Scott wasn’t given his due in the article. Howard said he remembers when Stone Temple Pilots came on the scene. He said they were around in the 90s and it was after Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Howard said they were around at the same time. Howard said they were a reaction to Glam Rock. He said they had some of that but had some grunge too. Howard said he went to an Stone Temple Pilots show and he was blown away by their stage presentation. Howard said they had a set that was like the set of a living room. He said the guys sat around like you were in their living room and it was really cool. Howard said Scott had one of the strangest voices in rock too. He said he had a growl. He said that there was a growl to his voice and a sweetness too. Howard said he was a great front man.
Fred played some of one of their appearances on his show. That was their performance of ”Vasoline.” Howard asked Fred to play ”Plush” next. Howard said just listen to his voice. He said Scott wrote those lyrics. He said just listen to that. He let the song play a little bit.
Howard said Scott was a sweet guy and he won everyone over when they were on the show. Howard said he’s sad for him and that he’s gone. Howard said he’s sad that he had such a troubled life. Howard said he left behind a great body of work that will live on. Howard said Scott learned how to turn on audiences and all of that experience is gone. Howard said he gets sad thinking about that. Howard said every time he came in there he acted like everything was fine.
Howard said they once asked Scott how he got started with heroin and he thinks he enjoyed talking to them when he was in there. Howard said Scott mentioned a guy who turned him on to heroin but didn’t blame the guy for it. Howard said they had a story a few years ago about Scott turning himself in to the cops when he thought they were looking at him on the street.
Howard played a clip of Scott Weiland talking about all of the records they were selling and how they had to go out to tour to make money so he didn’t get any time off.
Howard played Scott performing ”Interstate Love Song. Howard said he came in with Velvet Revolver too. Howard said he thinks that Scott always enjoyed coming in there. He said he was a really nice guy. He said Benjy has his shirt off while this song plays. Robin said there’s a tribute. Howard said they were a good ballsy rock band. He said he felt bad for the Deleo brothers because they had to deal with Scott’s problems. Robin said they did the best they could. She said they got back together a bunch of times.
Howard said Scott was only 48 years old. Robin said they say they found cocaine in his bedroom but they still have to do toxicology on him. Howard said he listened to a few of their albums over the weekend. He said he was such a great front man. Howard said he was a great guy. He played Stone Temple Pilots performing a cover of Led Zeppelin’s ”Dancing Days”. Howard said he was surprised when Scott was into Zeppelin. Howard said they just loved music. Robin said this was a great cover. Howard said he remembers them sitting there in the K-Rock studio performing the song. Howard said it may have been 1996 or so. He said it may not have been. He said he’s confused.
Howard had Stone Temple Pilots performing a cover of ”Revolution” too. Robin said you can hear that growl in that one. Howard asked if he’s the best. He said that’s Scott Weiland. He said he didn’t use Autotune. Howard said that song isn’t easy to sing either. Howard said he heard someone fucking up a John Lennon song the other night. He said Scott is so good. He said that’s why Stone Temple Pilots needed him. He said those fucking drugs… He said he doesn’t get why so many artists succumb to it. Robin said many artists are very sensitive.
Howard said Scott put so much energy into performing. He said he’s so sorry to see him gone at the age of 48. He let ”Revolution” play through and then went to break.