Scott Weiland Found Dead In His Tour Bus At Age 48

Scott Weiland, the volcanically talented frontman of two of rock’s last mighty mainstream hit-makers—Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver—was found dead on his tour bus in Bloomington, Minnesota. He was 48 years old.

The longtime addiction-rattled Weiland had been traveling and performing with his group, the Wildabouts. A message posted on the singer’s official Facebook page confirms his death and requests, “At this time, we ask that the privacy of Scott’s family be respected.”

Weiland formed the group that would become Stone Temple Pilots in the late ’80s with brothers Dean DeLeo (who plays guitar) and Robert DeLeo (who plays bass).

Driven by a love of punk, psychedelia, and classic rock, the group developed a sound that centered on Weiland’s unmistakable growl of a vocal style, as well as a stage presence on par with music’s all-time most mesmerizing.

Come the ’90s grunge era and alternative rock revolution, STP launched one monster radio and MTV hit after another, beginning with “Plush” and continuing on with “Creep,” “Sex Type Thing,” “Big Empty,” “Interstate Love Song,” “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart,” “Vasoline,” “Big Bang Baby,” “Lady Picture Show,” and “Sour Girl.”

Between 1992 and 2001, STP sold more than 20 million albums and played sold-out stadiums all over the planet.

In 2002, Weiland officially parted ways with Stone Temple Pilots, jumping ship to front the supergroup Velvet Revolver for five years.

Joining him in VR were ex-Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, along with rhythm guitarist Dave Kushner from punk legends Wasted Youth.

Velvet Revolver’s 2004 debut, Contraband, hit #1, racked up double platinum sales, and spawned the hits “Slither,” “Fall to Pieces,” “Dirty Little Thing,” and “Set Me Free.”

Weiland left Velvet Revolver in 2008 and reunited with Stone Temple Pilots, where he remained until 2012.

Throughout it all, the singer suffered turmoil and ignited various degrees of drama (some quite serious) as a consequence of his addiction issues.

Scott Weiland also released four solo albums, starting in 1998 with 12 Bar Blues and ending with 2015’s Blaster.

The California native departs this realm as another rock icon undone by personal demons and chemical excesses.

What matters, though, is the music that Scott Weiland bestowed upon us. Through that, he will live—and rock—forever.