http://www.ontourmonthly.com/exclusive-interview-scott-weiland-returns/ On Tour MonthlySo, you’ve been playing music for three decades now.
Scott WeilandNot quite, actually longer. Over four decades, if you are counting choir.
OTMYeah, that’s right. “Counting your choir,” that was in your book.
I read your book by the way.
SWThanks. I haven’t read it myself! Ha!
OTMAre you happy with your career?
SWYeah, there have been a lot of changes, and it’s been an amazing ride, an amazing journey. This is like a completely new beginning again in a sense. And there’s that excitement in making a new album with a new band.
We are a four-piece, making a sound of our own. Admittedly, we play a few of the old STP hits. But, you know, the STP tracks in our sets are different renditions than the originals. On this tour we are sort of preparing our fans, with a brief new outlook of how The Wildabouts album is going to go, by revisiting the past from time to time.
OTMThe music industry has changed a lot since you started playing; download-torrent-streaming sites, etcetera—a running list of offerings that make music free and readily accessible to fans. Do you think that is a good thing, or a bad thing?
SWI think it makes it easier for the brand new bands. If you’re lucky, and in band that’s been around since the early-90’s like STP, it used to be that you had to start on a independent label, or put out your own CDs to sell yourself, and then go on to a major label. That’s not the way things work now.
It is a whole new world completely, not just brick and mortar distribution, so for brand new bands it definitely works in their favor. For old men, like myself, it means more touring, and that’s fun, but honestly, you miss your family.
OTMYou have been through a lot in both your personal life, and professional career; and it can be said that adversity makes us stronger. Do you think those struggles have made you a better person?
SWI think it’s made me a tougher warrior, but sometimes more jaded.
OTMEvery artist has their personal influences. With a band do you find it harder to explore your personal influences versus when you’re calling all the shots as a solo artist?
SWI don’t know. Tom Petty and I had a long conversation about this—The Wildabouts and the Heartbreakers—and after that conversation I woke up the next morning and came to the conclusion that unless you’re writing songs for other people to play, then collaborating is the only way to go.
OTMSpeaking of The Wildabouts—was this a pre-existing band, or did you form them just to back this new venture?
SWWe had already been playing together on and off six years prior to now. Currently, this band is our top priority. It’s been a lot of fun.
OTMYou guys played a lot of new songs tonight. Are those going to be on the new album? Has a release date been scheduled?
SWYes they will be, hopefully we’ll be done and released before Christmas. That’s our plan.
OTMThe current tour consists of 24 North America dates, with you playing some shows in Canada. Can we expect more U.S. shows later in the year?
SWYes, internationally as well. We want to hit a lot of markets and play new stuff, prepping those for when the full album hits.
OTMSo, last question, what other projects are you working on besides music?
SWI’ve been getting my studio lavished for me to go record, whether it’s vocals for Velvet Revolver, STP or solo stuff. It will be the hub for Soft Tribe Records; a place that is commercially viable for other producers and writers to come rent out too. It is a great space and I think people will really enjoy it when they are there recording.
OTMWill it be an analog or digital studio?
SWBoth.
