Scott Weiland and The Wildabouts made a stop in Annapolis, Md. on May 11, 2015, in support of their latest release, Blaster, which was released in March on Softdrive Records. The album contains the singles “White Lightning,” “Way She Moves” and “20th Century Boy.” The album, which was released following the death of guitarist Jeremy Brown, has received mixed reviews.
Rams Head On Stage is a small, intimate venue and was a great setting to capture Weiland and the guys live. The venue was near capacity with fans that had come out to hear the vocalist play songs from his new album, as well Stone Temple Pilots’ classics. After seeing Weiland play Carolina Rebellion in front of 80,000 screaming fans singing along with him, I was curious to catch him in such an intimate venue. From the first moments of the opening song, “Crackerman,” it was clear that any rumors of a past bad performance were just about an off-night for an artist who has been doing this for nearly 30 years.
After the show, Weiland was in good spirits as he signed autographs and took pictures with fans that stayed after the show hoping for a moment to meet the iconic lead singer. Once the venue had cleared, he and the guys sat down for a late night meal where they joked and laughed with each other. Once he had finished his meal, he took some time in the dressing room to sit down and talk about the latest album and his career, as well as offering some advice for those who may be struggling with addiction.
So we recently caught you at Carolina Rebellion. Explain the feeling of playing in front of 80,000 people who are all singing along with you.
Scott Weiland: Oh, it’s great fun. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s inspiring.
Tonight is a much more intimate venue. What were your thoughts when you walked in?
I was wondering how their steaks and lobsters were going to be.
How was the lobster?
It was good.
You just released your new album, Blaster. What can you tell us about that?
It’s a great record. My friends and I got together and formed the band, and we used to be a five-piece when they used to be my supporting band on my last solo album. So we decided to form a band, and we whittled it down to four people and made a band out of it. Unfortunately my guitar player, Jeremy Brown, passed away, but we found Nick Maybury, who’s a great player. So that made it possible for us to carry on, and soldier on.
Where do you feel Blaster rates in your catalogue of material you have released over your career?
I think it’s up there in the top, yeah, with Purple and Tiny Music [… Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop].
You’ve had a very successful career. Are there any things out there that you would still like to accomplish?
Sure, I’d like to win another Grammy. I’d like to, you know, have and reach that kind of success. I’d like to play theaters and arenas again, but right now, we are starting up from scratch.
This current tour goes through June. So what do you have lined up for the rest of 2015?
We’re going overseas; we’re going to be playing South America, I think. I know we are going to be playing Europe and Canada, and more than that, but the rest is still yet to be booked.
Would like to say anything or clarify anything on the material you recorded for Art of Anarchy?
I really would just rather not like to talk about it. It’s something I did as a project. I’m not in the band, but I wish them all the best and good luck in finding a singer. I wish them well.
I have to say, in the video “Till The Dust Is Gone,” that your vocals are amazing.
Thank you.
We asked fans of yours if they had any questions they would like for us to ask. The first question is in regards to your 2008 live show with the surving members of The Doors. Were there ever any plans to tour or record an album?
Yeah, they had asked me to be in the band ‘cause they were going to do a world tour, but I was in STP at that time, so I was unable to do it.
That would have been really amazing.
Yeah, it would have been great.
Another question that came in was: What are your thoughts on some of the newer bands that have that early ‘90s grunge sound that you were such a big part in laying the groundwork for?
I like a lot of the new music, but not all of it has to be just rock or grunge sounding. I’m a big fan of some of the newer rock, like Artic Monkeys, The Black Keys and Jack White, but I’m also a fan of some of the other alternative bands like Generationals.
You’ve had your shares of highs and lows throughout your career. What advice could you give to someone out there who may be struggling with addiction?
Yeah, like if there’s something in particular that’s, like, got you needing it like a crutch, you have to be ready to quit that. You have to be ready to stop. When I stopped doing heroin, I was ready to stop doing it, and so I kicked it, and I’ve never looked back.
That’s really great to hear, Scott. We want to thank you for taking the time to sit down and talk with us.
Thank you.
