Fame is so fleeting.
The other day while looking around Amazon.com I noticed there was a deluxe edition release, to coincide with its 20th anniversary, of Alanis Morrissette’s Jagged Little Pill.
For those who weren’t around at the time, the best description one can make regarding the explosion of sales, interest, and radio play from the songs on that album and at that time was very much akin to the current release of Adele’s 25. But unlike Adele, Alanis Morissette appeared to come out of nowhere and each new song pulled from that album did just as well, or better, than the last.
Mrs. Morissette continued her musical career -even to this day- but none of her subsequent releases captured the public’s imagination quite like Jagged Little Pill.
That decade, the 1990’s, were also the era of “grunge” rock and Nirvana was arguably at the top of the heap though there were other bands whose style was looked at as in Nirvana’s “vein”. Some had modest success, others none at all. One of the bigger bands to emerge during that time and in Nirvana’s wake was Stone Temple Pilots.
Their first album, released in 1992, was Core. Featuring Scott Weiland on vocals, the album was a hit and featured songs such as Plush…
…and Creep…
Their follow up album, Purple, featured what to me is their absolutely best song, Interstate Love Song. I recall driving around one day and listening to a local radio station. It played this song and I was enraptured by it. I didn’t have the -gasp!- CD at the time but resolved at that moment to buy the album the first chance I had. When the song reached its end, I was bummed. I wanted to hear it again! Incredibly, when the DJ came on after the song was over, he said: “Sorry, I have to hear this again” and proceeded to play the song a second time! One of the few times in my life a wish was granted…
The group would release a third album in 1995 titled Tiny Music…Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop, which featured songs such as Lady Picture Show…
The band was a great success but bad things were happening behind the scenes. It was becoming common knowledge that lead singer Scott Weiland had drug problems. In fact, after the release of that third album the band went on something of a hiatus, reformed, then eventually divorced themselves from Mr. Weiland and re-formed with another singer. Mr. Weiland would go on to sing for Velvet Revolver and, at the time of his passing, The Wildabouts.
He was only 48 years old.
I go into this history not to diminish Mr. Weiland and the troubles he faced but rather to recall the joy he and his band gave me with those initial three albums. While I admit I wasn’t that big of a fan of Mr. Weiland’s post-STP work, those three albums worth of songs, and most especially Interstate Love Song, are near and dear to me.
Therefore it’s a great pity to hear that someone who gave you so much joy is gone. Mr. Wieland was a great talent, this is true, even if he was also faced difficulties in his personal life. My condolences to his family and friends.
As for me, I’ll go play Interstate Love Song once again. Then maybe repeat it a few more times.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Weiland.