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Not Dead & Not for Sale: A Memoir
The instant New York Times the lead singer of the Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver delivers an exhilarating memoir of scaling the pinnacle of rock stardom, plunging into the chasm of addiction and incarceration, and then clawing his way back to the top again and again.
In the early 1990s, Stone Temple Pilots—not U2, not Nirvana, not Pearl Jam—was the hottest band in the world. STP toppled such megabands as Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses on MTV and the Billboard charts. Lead singer Scott Weiland became an iconic front man in the tradition of Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Robert Plant. Then, when STP imploded, it was Weiland who emerged as the emblem of rock star excess, with his well-publicized drug busts and trips to rehab.
Weiland has since made a series of stunning comebacks, fronting the supergroup Velvet Revolver, releasing solo work, and reuniting with Stone Temple Pilots. He has prevailed as a loving, dedicated father, as well as a business-savvy artist whose well of creativity is far from empty. Not Dead & Not for Sale is a hard rock memoir to be reckoned with—a passionate, insightful, and at times humorous book that reads with extraordinary narrative force.
In the early 1990s, Stone Temple Pilots—not U2, not Nirvana, not Pearl Jam—was the hottest band in the world. STP toppled such megabands as Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses on MTV and the Billboard charts. Lead singer Scott Weiland became an iconic front man in the tradition of Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Robert Plant. Then, when STP imploded, it was Weiland who emerged as the emblem of rock star excess, with his well-publicized drug busts and trips to rehab.
Weiland has since made a series of stunning comebacks, fronting the supergroup Velvet Revolver, releasing solo work, and reuniting with Stone Temple Pilots. He has prevailed as a loving, dedicated father, as well as a business-savvy artist whose well of creativity is far from empty. Not Dead & Not for Sale is a hard rock memoir to be reckoned with—a passionate, insightful, and at times humorous book that reads with extraordinary narrative force.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2011
109 people are currently reading
2019 people want to read
About the author
Scott Weiland
24 books17 followersScott Richard Weiland (born Scott Richard Kline; October 27, 1967 – December 3, 2015) was an American musician, singer and songwriter. During a career spanning three decades, Weiland was best known as the lead singer of the band Stone Temple Pilots from 1989 to 2013, as well as the supergroup Velvet Revolver from 2003 to 2008. He also established himself as a solo artist, releasing two studio albums, two cover albums, a live album and collaborations with several other musicians since 1995.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
April 17, 2017
To see the full review including pictures and video please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com
Not Dead and Not for Sale: The Earthling Papers by Scott Weiland and David Ritz is a memoir that covers Scott Weiland's life from the time when he was just a little child up until around the year 2011.
For the most part, this book is told in chronological order. Scott takes us back to his early childhood, school life, and his athletic abilities.
He discusses his relationship with God, his first band-Soi Disant, and other gigs, first love affairs and relationships, and finally from the start of the band Mighty Joe Young into Stone Temple Pilots.
One incredible aspect with Scott's writing here is the information given about the records, covers, and many of the song meanings. There are also many tidbits given that offer insight into what was going on with the band.
"We were overstimulated from touring and, to sleep on the plane, we took a handful of powerful pills-my first- that coated our brains and numbed out the world. When we got to the fancy hotel in New York, I vomited in the lobby. Dean barely made it up to the room before he vomited all over the bathroom. When we got to MTV at six in the morning we were high as zombies, and yet...Dean played his most heartbreakingly soulful version of "Plush"- and I sang it with more relaxed feeling than ever before or since. It was chill and it was mellow, an acoustic statement still being played on radio stations some eighteen years later. This is a story that seems to have a somewhat happy ending. It is a false ending, however, because my story only became more painful. "
The original video performance of "Plush" from Headbanger's Ball that Scott is speaking about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW0M5...
What I loved about this book is that it gave me new insight to Scott's feelings about how he's lived his life and the choices he made. Rather than just listening to his music, I now know a little more about him as a person. Readers will learn things they never knew about Scott and discover that he endured some painful events in his childhood and beyond.
Overall, I devoured this book. I loved it and recommend it to any STP fan and to those who want to learn more about who he was. It's brimming with photographs of Scott and his family and I love the format of the book. There's also a section in the back that includes selections of Scott's sketchbook. With that said, I'll say that the book did feel like it had a lot of gaps. In this case, I'm willing to overlook that and still love it for the information it does contain.
5*****
Not Dead and Not for Sale: The Earthling Papers by Scott Weiland and David Ritz is a memoir that covers Scott Weiland's life from the time when he was just a little child up until around the year 2011.
For the most part, this book is told in chronological order. Scott takes us back to his early childhood, school life, and his athletic abilities.
He discusses his relationship with God, his first band-Soi Disant, and other gigs, first love affairs and relationships, and finally from the start of the band Mighty Joe Young into Stone Temple Pilots.
One incredible aspect with Scott's writing here is the information given about the records, covers, and many of the song meanings. There are also many tidbits given that offer insight into what was going on with the band.
"We were overstimulated from touring and, to sleep on the plane, we took a handful of powerful pills-my first- that coated our brains and numbed out the world. When we got to the fancy hotel in New York, I vomited in the lobby. Dean barely made it up to the room before he vomited all over the bathroom. When we got to MTV at six in the morning we were high as zombies, and yet...Dean played his most heartbreakingly soulful version of "Plush"- and I sang it with more relaxed feeling than ever before or since. It was chill and it was mellow, an acoustic statement still being played on radio stations some eighteen years later. This is a story that seems to have a somewhat happy ending. It is a false ending, however, because my story only became more painful. "
The original video performance of "Plush" from Headbanger's Ball that Scott is speaking about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW0M5...
What I loved about this book is that it gave me new insight to Scott's feelings about how he's lived his life and the choices he made. Rather than just listening to his music, I now know a little more about him as a person. Readers will learn things they never knew about Scott and discover that he endured some painful events in his childhood and beyond.
Overall, I devoured this book. I loved it and recommend it to any STP fan and to those who want to learn more about who he was. It's brimming with photographs of Scott and his family and I love the format of the book. There's also a section in the back that includes selections of Scott's sketchbook. With that said, I'll say that the book did feel like it had a lot of gaps. In this case, I'm willing to overlook that and still love it for the information it does contain.
5*****
December 4, 2017
As far as memoirs go, Scott's was shockingly guarded. All the things you expect to get are missing. I was happy that I also chose to read Mary Weiland's book, Fall to Pieces as it's a far superior autobiography. She discusses their time together as well as Scott's battles in greater detail then he ever gives. I highly recommend reading hers first and then Scott's as extra filler - when you put them both together you get an honest look at Scotts life. I did really enjoy the pieces Scott put in about his songwriting and the inspiration behind them, but overall you leave with the sense that he still has so much more to say.
I recently discussed Scott & Mary's wild love in an episode of Muses and Stuff
I recently discussed Scott & Mary's wild love in an episode of Muses and Stuff
June 2, 2023
"This book is an attempt to appreciate the complexity of so much success in the midst of so much chaos. I wrote these 'earthling papers' so you can hear directly from me. I'm not arrogant enough to call it the truth, but I do call it my truth. My life has been twisted, demoralized, redemptive, remarkable." -- page xii
This 2010 memoir has not aged so well, and I'll start with the title. Copped from the lyrics to Stone Temple Pilots' summer of '96 hit single 'Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart' - although Weiland did NOT write the lyrics to that one - Not Dead & Not For Sale is a largely self-penned work from the charismatic front man for 90's alternative rock band 'STP.' (His later efforts with the supergroup Velvet Revolver and the less-remembered The Wildabouts also deserve to be considered in the much dwindling field of 21st century rock.) Weiland left this mortal plane in early December 2015 - courtesy of a cocaine and alcohol overdose on his tour bus - so his many chapters here involving the rollercoaster ride of addiction hit a sour note. Reading this memoir was often not fun, nor was it particularly enlightening, because sadly the man just could / would not get a handle on his decades-long issues. But then I also won't totally bash him, because at least he was honest about it all ("I was not a particularly strong man. I was groping, grieving, and getting more f***ed up on heroin, a drug that simultaneously made me feel bad, feel good, and then feel bad for feeling good. Confusion reigned." on page 115) and admitted he was in some sort of eternal dance with these demons. But then there's the music - I was fortunate to see the original line-up of Stone Temple Pilots twice in concert (1996 & 2010), and hearing songs from their first three discs transport me back to the more carefree days of summer of the mid-90's. So I'd like to best remember Weiland from 25+ years ago, when he was still with us to do his unique shuffling dances while belting out the uptempo rock music. Maybe he wasn't necessarily any healthier at that time, but it seemed like he'd be around a lot longer.
This 2010 memoir has not aged so well, and I'll start with the title. Copped from the lyrics to Stone Temple Pilots' summer of '96 hit single 'Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart' - although Weiland did NOT write the lyrics to that one - Not Dead & Not For Sale is a largely self-penned work from the charismatic front man for 90's alternative rock band 'STP.' (His later efforts with the supergroup Velvet Revolver and the less-remembered The Wildabouts also deserve to be considered in the much dwindling field of 21st century rock.) Weiland left this mortal plane in early December 2015 - courtesy of a cocaine and alcohol overdose on his tour bus - so his many chapters here involving the rollercoaster ride of addiction hit a sour note. Reading this memoir was often not fun, nor was it particularly enlightening, because sadly the man just could / would not get a handle on his decades-long issues. But then I also won't totally bash him, because at least he was honest about it all ("I was not a particularly strong man. I was groping, grieving, and getting more f***ed up on heroin, a drug that simultaneously made me feel bad, feel good, and then feel bad for feeling good. Confusion reigned." on page 115) and admitted he was in some sort of eternal dance with these demons. But then there's the music - I was fortunate to see the original line-up of Stone Temple Pilots twice in concert (1996 & 2010), and hearing songs from their first three discs transport me back to the more carefree days of summer of the mid-90's. So I'd like to best remember Weiland from 25+ years ago, when he was still with us to do his unique shuffling dances while belting out the uptempo rock music. Maybe he wasn't necessarily any healthier at that time, but it seemed like he'd be around a lot longer.
March 15, 2021
Just incredible. A must-read for any STP fan. I read this book a full ten years ago and felt it was time to revisit the beautiful soul that is Scott Weiland. His memoir was just as great and heartbreaking as I remembered. It truly saddens me that he was unable to overcome his demons.
“Love burns me and confuses me. Love’s a light that can’t be extinguished.”
“Love burns me and confuses me. Love’s a light that can’t be extinguished.”
August 14, 2011
I'm in love with Scott Weiland. Always have been. Since I heard that first announcement over a bullhorn, "I am smelling' like a rose that somebody gave my on my birthday deathbed! I am smelling' like a rose that somebody gave me 'cause I'm dead and bloated!" And then the breakdown crunch of Stone Temple Pilots! It was love at first sound! I first heard them at one of the many low points of my life. STP were my rescuers. And leading the squadron was Scott. His lyrics made my ponder. His voice makes me want to rally the battle cry against society one moment then, cry with compassion for my fellow Man the next. I admire him for letting me into his life though song. I've been thinking about writing my own autobiography and thought I might read his book first for inspiration, some kind of guidance. I figured, since his lyrics are so beautiful, it would be interesting to see how he places his words in a story format. Once I really started to read, I didn't want to put it down! It was like I was reading Chuck Palahniuk! SLEEP BE DAMNED! I finally understood. I've alway sympathized with drug addiction but, I never really understood it to be an illness until reading a first person account. I finally understood why Stone Temple Pilots will ALWAYS be together! They're like the Fantastic Four. A family-unit of heroes. I've been inspired once again! Inspired to face the unknown, come whut may. Inspired to reach-out and fight for my truly loved ones! Scott, if by ANY freak happenstance you come across this, I'd like to sip tea with you. Sit for a couple of hours and just chat about the trails of life and how we've overcome. I don't fucking care how corny this reads! The Weiland body of work has helped me IMMENSLY in my life! 'Nuff said!
October 31, 2011
I am very disappointed that a poet/singer/song writer couldn't write up a good book on himself.
The book itself reads a lot like a biography published on the Reader's Digest, and still expect to sell each book for $24.00?? Really!!?
After reading John Lennon's, Eric Clapton and Keith Richard's biography this book is really just an essay, Scott skips years and changes subject without finishing the story in many instances, too many holes in the story, too much unnecessary artwork on the book, perhaps to pad the book up a little.
Maybe once Scott turns 60 or 70 years old and hires a decent book writer we will get a more compelling story to read.
The book itself reads a lot like a biography published on the Reader's Digest, and still expect to sell each book for $24.00?? Really!!?
After reading John Lennon's, Eric Clapton and Keith Richard's biography this book is really just an essay, Scott skips years and changes subject without finishing the story in many instances, too many holes in the story, too much unnecessary artwork on the book, perhaps to pad the book up a little.
Maybe once Scott turns 60 or 70 years old and hires a decent book writer we will get a more compelling story to read.
September 25, 2023
If caught in a room with me while 90s music plays in the background, a person can be guaranteed two things:
1.) At the start of every new song, I will not so gently ask that The Proclaimers, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” be played next, until somebody eventually caves and does so.
2.) I will bring up the great grunge singers and then will want to vigorously discuss the good and bad of each with any poor soul that happens by.
Scott Weiland is always a name I mention. He was a powerhouse in every way that mattered during that period of time, and what he contributed to the world still resonates to this day. His vocals, his lyrics, and his visual presence was a trifecta. I still listen to him regularly and will do so until I physically can’t.
With that said, the man behind all of that left a lot to be desired. Which is a statement that can be pretty much made about any of us when weighing our merits against our sins. I know this, and it still doesn’t reduce the sting this book left me with.
My gut punch thought while reading it:
What he had to say was about what I expected, which made me incredibly sad. Broken beings create some of the most amazing art.
I may have felt sorrow starting out, but as I read on it morphed into pity mingled with anger and disgust. When I did a little research after the read, even more so of that morphed feeling. A thing that is guaranteed to happen when you lift the veil on your favorite people. We all have dirt.
None of this is why I gave it the rating I did. It earned that average rating because it lacked a lot in different areas. It was not an exceptional memoir and I was left wanting (why I immediately did further research after finishing it). The page length listed was deceptive because a lot of the book consisted of blank pages or pages with pictures and random bits of stuff on them. I did like the pictures, but I did not like the blank pages. The whole book reminded me of a college student using larger font and increased spacing to skirt by the requirements.
Would I recommend it? Only to true Scott Weiland fans that are interested in an appetizer but not the whole meal.
PS – The cover was truly my favorite part of the book. I kept catching myself glancing over at it while the book rested next to me. I would even close it now and then as I read because I knew it existed.
1.) At the start of every new song, I will not so gently ask that The Proclaimers, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” be played next, until somebody eventually caves and does so.
2.) I will bring up the great grunge singers and then will want to vigorously discuss the good and bad of each with any poor soul that happens by.
Scott Weiland is always a name I mention. He was a powerhouse in every way that mattered during that period of time, and what he contributed to the world still resonates to this day. His vocals, his lyrics, and his visual presence was a trifecta. I still listen to him regularly and will do so until I physically can’t.
With that said, the man behind all of that left a lot to be desired. Which is a statement that can be pretty much made about any of us when weighing our merits against our sins. I know this, and it still doesn’t reduce the sting this book left me with.
My gut punch thought while reading it:
What he had to say was about what I expected, which made me incredibly sad. Broken beings create some of the most amazing art.
I may have felt sorrow starting out, but as I read on it morphed into pity mingled with anger and disgust. When I did a little research after the read, even more so of that morphed feeling. A thing that is guaranteed to happen when you lift the veil on your favorite people. We all have dirt.
None of this is why I gave it the rating I did. It earned that average rating because it lacked a lot in different areas. It was not an exceptional memoir and I was left wanting (why I immediately did further research after finishing it). The page length listed was deceptive because a lot of the book consisted of blank pages or pages with pictures and random bits of stuff on them. I did like the pictures, but I did not like the blank pages. The whole book reminded me of a college student using larger font and increased spacing to skirt by the requirements.
Would I recommend it? Only to true Scott Weiland fans that are interested in an appetizer but not the whole meal.
PS – The cover was truly my favorite part of the book. I kept catching myself glancing over at it while the book rested next to me. I would even close it now and then as I read because I knew it existed.
March 8, 2012
I was interested to read this since Scott was mentioned in Duff McKagan's book, which was really good. Scott's book, on the other hand, was a pile of garbage. This was a very badly written book. It contained the lines "Mary was beautiful. She was wrapped in wool." and "I am a serious man who wants to write serious songs."
Yikes.
There's a lot of filler in this and not much content. I came away thinking that Weiland is a douche. (not that I didn't think that before, but my feeling was unchanged)
Strangely, the ghost writer who wrote the book has also written biographies of many other music peeps, including Etta James. The Etta James book is in my "to read" pile. I'm curious to see if the writing is as bad.
Yikes.
There's a lot of filler in this and not much content. I came away thinking that Weiland is a douche. (not that I didn't think that before, but my feeling was unchanged)
Strangely, the ghost writer who wrote the book has also written biographies of many other music peeps, including Etta James. The Etta James book is in my "to read" pile. I'm curious to see if the writing is as bad.
June 25, 2011
This book did gloss over much, but I'm not one of those that needs to hear the nitty gritty. I perceived the pain and authenticity through the voice of the narrator and that was enough for me. Let someone's most private pieces stay private.
I felt as though Scott actually narrated this and I enjoyed the sense of hearing his voice through the words.
I felt as though Scott actually narrated this and I enjoyed the sense of hearing his voice through the words.
December 18, 2021
The sadness of Scott Weiland's story is infinitely compounded by his death some four/five years after the publication of this memoir. Weiland is an endearing character who ultimately succumbed to his opiate addiction that spanned decades. This aspect, amongst a whole heap of other, highly intriguing aspects of the musicians life are almost entirely glossed over without providing anything other than incredibly vague and circumstantial detail.
The book continues in this vein to remain unrevealing throughout. Ultimately, coming at a time where his financial struggles were being uncomfortably aired in public for all to see, it's hard to see past the financial benefits that a memoir can have for the writer.
There are moments of revelation and genuine insight, but the "picture-book" style diary format and short chaptering that boldly attempts to condense an entire life (an incredibly fruitful, tragic and intriguing one at that) into less than one-hundred and fifty solid pages cements my belief that, sadly, this book was probably written for financial gain.
Whilst the pictures are a nice addition, they take over the book at times and there's not all that much in here that a quick google can't tell you. Despite being stylised into a highly personable format, Weiland remains incredibly reserved about the circumstances and details surrounding individual relationships. These more often than not raise more questions than answers.
As a big STP and Weiland fan, i've naturally been looking forward to reading this for a long time and was left rather disappointed.
The book continues in this vein to remain unrevealing throughout. Ultimately, coming at a time where his financial struggles were being uncomfortably aired in public for all to see, it's hard to see past the financial benefits that a memoir can have for the writer.
There are moments of revelation and genuine insight, but the "picture-book" style diary format and short chaptering that boldly attempts to condense an entire life (an incredibly fruitful, tragic and intriguing one at that) into less than one-hundred and fifty solid pages cements my belief that, sadly, this book was probably written for financial gain.
Whilst the pictures are a nice addition, they take over the book at times and there's not all that much in here that a quick google can't tell you. Despite being stylised into a highly personable format, Weiland remains incredibly reserved about the circumstances and details surrounding individual relationships. These more often than not raise more questions than answers.
As a big STP and Weiland fan, i've naturally been looking forward to reading this for a long time and was left rather disappointed.
April 2, 2014
For a guy who was in rehab a shit ton, did copious amounts of drugs, started STP, got back together with STP, did Velvet Revolver, 2 solo albums you would think he would have more to say on both. I found this book boring, a lot of the pages simply just fillers to make it 238 pages. I mean, it is a memoire no? If he said "I've basically done so many drugs that I can't remember 7 years when I was a junky, then fine. But he didn't. I feel he should've wrote more than 3 pages about his brother, and include more about his kids. I'm going to read his ex wife's book, and I bet she'll have more to say about Scott than his own memoire.. only reason it gets 2 stars, is because he is, and always will be a great musician. Now I know why I got this book at Chapters for $2..
May 31, 2022
R.I.P. Scott Weiland🪦
May 22, 2011
"Does anybody know how the story really goes, or do we all just hum along?" - Scott Weiland, Big Bang Baby
I read this almost in one sitting. Not difficult to do, since it's words among pictures, but also because I was engrossed. I have been a fan of STP since their beginning and I know I will be a lifelong fan. I'm glad that Scott is still around to tell his story and make music after all he's been through. His life has not been easy by any means, even since childhood. He makes no apologies and places no blame.
I've read the criticism saying it didn't go into enough detail. What more detail do you need about the dark & tangled roads of drug abuse and depression? Those stories are difficult to tell. I think what was provided in the pages was enough.
I suppose I need to read Mary Forsberg Weiland's book, as well.
I read this almost in one sitting. Not difficult to do, since it's words among pictures, but also because I was engrossed. I have been a fan of STP since their beginning and I know I will be a lifelong fan. I'm glad that Scott is still around to tell his story and make music after all he's been through. His life has not been easy by any means, even since childhood. He makes no apologies and places no blame.
I've read the criticism saying it didn't go into enough detail. What more detail do you need about the dark & tangled roads of drug abuse and depression? Those stories are difficult to tell. I think what was provided in the pages was enough.
I suppose I need to read Mary Forsberg Weiland's book, as well.
June 8, 2011
Scott Weiland's newly released memoir, Not Dead & Not for Sale, is an interesting, engaging read for fans of Scott and STP; it took me just over two hours to finish it. When news of a possible memoir came out ten years ago, I was excited for the opportunity to learn more about Scott's personal history. While the book does cover many areas of Scott's life, it does so at a distance. I know that many reviewers are bothered by this, but I don't mind. Scott has been exposing his heart and soul in his music for the last twenty years. His words and voice have profoundly affected me and I am grateful.
May 14, 2019
Скот Уайлънд - един от боговете и чудовищата на рок-сцената на моето поколение. Безумно талантлив и, както твърдяха повечето му колеги (всичките бивши!), невъзможен, невъздържан, необуздан... Абсолютен хамелеон и като външност, и в музикално отношение. Той можеше да е пънкар с коса във всички цветове на дъгата и английски денди. Гласът му галеше и удряше. Текстовете му бяха покъртително красиви (имам слабост към хубавата лирика). Скот беше способен да вземе всяка чужда песен и да я направи своя - от The Doors, Beatles и The Rolling Stones, през Дейвид Бауи, та чак до изтърканите коледни класики. Аз станах фен, когато го чух да пее с The Doors, няколко години преди смъртта му. Скот Уайлънд притежаваше декадентският чар на рок-звездите от 70-те, онази харизма на Марк Болън, която в наши дни не можеш да откриеш. За съжаление, смъртта му беше предизвестена и едва ли изненада някого. Скот влизаше и излизаше от рехабилитационните центрове и, макар да твърдеше, че е чист от години, целият му външен вид така ясно сочеше името на любимата му отрова, сякаш си я беше татуирал на челото.
Очаквах книгата да е шокираща. Тя не беше. Беше доста умерена и някак прекалено постна. Намирам за мило, почтено и малко старомодно, че Скот е решил да поеме цялата вина за провалените си бракове (въпреки, че обикновено са нужни двама за да се съгради и разруши една връзка). И макар, че бившата му жена е извадила мръсните подробности около брака им в своята автобиография, издадена 2 г. преди тази книга, Уайлънд явно си е спомнил, че това е майката на децата му и жената, която е обичал. Шокиращи описания на оргии по време на турнетата също няма, само на едно място се споменава, че се е възползвал от всички благини, които животът на път предоставя. Жълтевините не ми липсват. Но да събереш 23 години музика, 2 големи рок-групи (Stone Temple Pilots и Velvet Revolver) и още няколко малки + солова кариера в няколко глави и да запълниш останалото с описания как са те приемали на рехабилитация и с текстове на песни е малко прекалено. Тук няма да прочетете как и защо в различните му групи са се хващали за гушите, нито клюки от зад кулисите за различни известни личности. Макар да разказва за травмите от детството (физически и психически), още с първото изречение Скот дебело подчертава, че никой не те прави зависим и че, въпреки всички предпоставки като генетика, неблагоприятна семейна среда, сексуално насилие и т.н., сами вземаме решенията и сами носим последствията за тях.
Причината за високата ми оценка е, че автобиографията му ме изненада положително. Не очаквах да видя Скот Уайлънд като добро момче. Той не се и опитва да се представя за такова. Но това, което е премълчал говори за него като човек много повече от това, което е разказал. Жалко за пропуснатите шансове, недадената и неполучена любов и всички неизпети песни!
Прочетено в оригинал.
Очаквах книгата да е шокираща. Тя не беше. Беше доста умерена и някак прекалено постна. Намирам за мило, почтено и малко старомодно, че Скот е решил да поеме цялата вина за провалените си бракове (въпреки, че обикновено са нужни двама за да се съгради и разруши една връзка). И макар, че бившата му жена е извадила мръсните подробности около брака им в своята автобиография, издадена 2 г. преди тази книга, Уайлънд явно си е спомнил, че това е майката на децата му и жената, която е обичал. Шокиращи описания на оргии по време на турнетата също няма, само на едно място се споменава, че се е възползвал от всички благини, които животът на път предоставя. Жълтевините не ми липсват. Но да събереш 23 години музика, 2 големи рок-групи (Stone Temple Pilots и Velvet Revolver) и още няколко малки + солова кариера в няколко глави и да запълниш останалото с описания как са те приемали на рехабилитация и с текстове на песни е малко прекалено. Тук няма да прочетете как и защо в различните му групи са се хващали за гушите, нито клюки от зад кулисите за различни известни личности. Макар да разказва за травмите от детството (физически и психически), още с първото изречение Скот дебело подчертава, че никой не те прави зависим и че, въпреки всички предпоставки като генетика, неблагоприятна семейна среда, сексуално насилие и т.н., сами вземаме решенията и сами носим последствията за тях.
Причината за високата ми оценка е, че автобиографията му ме изненада положително. Не очаквах да видя Скот Уайлънд като добро момче. Той не се и опитва да се представя за такова. Но това, което е премълчал говори за него като човек много повече от това, което е разказал. Жалко за пропуснатите шансове, недадената и неполучена любов и всички неизпети песни!
Прочетено в оригинал.
July 21, 2016
Well this is a bit of an awkward title for his memoir as Scott Weiland is now in fact dead. I was never a big Stone Temple Pilots fan but I love a good memoir to live vicariously through other peoples lives. This was just an accounting of who Scott slept with and what drugs he took. The first 100 pages were okay and then I got fed up with him. He got to front two successful rock bands, had a couple of nice wives who loved him, and by all accounts had two lovely children. Everything was just handed to him and he threw it all away. By the end of this book I had zero sympathy for him and basically wondered how he lasted as long as he did. The only people who should have to read this disjointed rambling mess are his children so they can realize that they come from a family with deep seated addictions and they should never ever touch drugs or alcohol if they want to live. For everyone else you can skip this.
May 27, 2011
I was torn between whether to give this three or four stars. It wasn't as awesome as I had hoped it would be, but I ultimately went with 4 stars because I love Scotty, and I think that's what really made me enjoy this book so much. It was a bit schizophrenic, but so is he. It left A LOT of gaps, but that's his prerogative, plus, I'm honestly not sure that it's not just that he doesn't remember too much from certain periods of his life. Wow, that was a messed up sentence, huh? Anyway - as I've seen a few other reviews say, his ex-wife Mary's book is better. I gave that 5 stars without any hesitation whatsoever. It was great and I read it in a day. Couldn't put it down. Bottom line - I was SO looking forward to this book for so long, and it didn't quite live up to my high expectations. That said, I still enjoyed it, and I would still recommend it to fans of Scotty's work.
March 20, 2022
This is a quick read, and painful at times, knowing how things ended. I'll read the other relevant books for context (Mary's memoir, Greg Prato's interview collection, Duff McKagan's book) but this review focuses only on this book, Weiland's own words guided by the able David Ritz. I give it 5 stars, but I can't really rate it on a scale with other books, because it's in its own category.
I've felt an unusual kinship with Weiland since I discovered STP in the late 90s, and thought of him more of a poet than a musician. His death did not surprise me, but it deflated me. The connection was cemented by reading this book. Perhaps it's just the remains of a middle school crush on a rock star, but photos of his eyes have haunted me for over 25 years.
The tragedies of his adolescence are laid bare in the pages, and he rarely elaborates on the abuse he both endured and subjected. His little brother died in an accident. He was uprooted during high school to another school and culture. He was raped. His parents overreacted to a small amount of drugs hidden in his bedroom and subsequently humiliated him in front of his peers and institutionalized him where he was restrained and neglected for three months. Fate can be fallible, but it can also be written early, and his seems to have been.
Throughout his life, Weiland found connections with friends and lovers and, at least from the perspective of co-authoring this memoir, didn't take them for granted. The behaviors resulting from his addictions decimated most of those relationships at one stage or another, as often happens. This book shows his humanity, his love, his simple straightforwardness, and I can't imagine someone can come away from this book without greater empathy for those paralyzed with addiction. Weiland's tragedy is not romantic - it's bloody, humiliating, dirty - but it is a tragedy. Like most other human beings, he was complex. He wasn't diagnosed with bipolar disorder until his drug addiction was well-developed, and attempted treatments for both or either didn't work.
There are a few holes in the book that David Ritz probably should have teased out. There's very little mention of any reaction to his substantial income, the significant change in lifestyle that being a star had on him, nor on the media attention, which plays a huge part in the "Selections from my sketchbook" section at the end. Perhaps he was truly so wrapped up in his addiction that those things weren't noteworthy, but I rather doubt that. It is noteworthy that his net worth was only $2m at the end of his life, with the expectation being that most of his wealth had been snorted or injected. True to form, though, it wasn't the money or fame that was his downfall; they just helped to facilitate drugs that he likely would've found even if he'd been a career chauffeur.
Additionally, while Weiland expresses guilt over his part in destroying his marriages, he rarely reflects on the lasting damage done to his ex-wives, former bandmates, family members, friends, and, ultimately, his children. His children each warrant a few pages of shared memories, but they have the same stale narcissism about them - these amazing, beautiful, life-changing experiences were entirely about him, and his feelings and reactions. Based solely on this book, I'd wager that this narcissism wasn't innate, but developed in his early 20s as his addiction and his career shot through the roof. There is a different tone, a higher level of care, and a pale sense of self-awareness in describing his adolescence that is absent in the rest of the book. I wouldn't question his love for his family or friends, but I think the need to feed his addiction overpowered his natural spirit, and so his love for others became twisted into another object of control. His brother Michael's death seemed to have a foreshadowing effect on Weiland's life, even when he doesn't say so explicitly. Any desire I'd heard in his words to stay off drugs was gone after he describes Michael's death.
As I mentioned, there are painful pieces of the book where, as a reader knowing how and why he died, feel like a kick in the gut. Weiland was a hero wearing the mask of an antihero, and in some gruesome fate the mask became one with his face and he found he couldn't remove it. His attempts at sobriety and meaningful connection are as admirable as they are sad. His love of others and love of the world ended up eclipsed by his physical and emotional need to withdraw, which is always the pinnacle of addiction's tragedy.
Weiland had the opportunity to lead an incredible life, and it was largely wasted, but I believe his legacy remains larger than his addiction: his children, evidence of his passion and deep love for Mary, will have their own impacts; the music and poetry he created alone and with others is immortal; and he undoubtedly left his mark on his loved ones and those of us he touched without ever knowing our names.
So many sweet little boys grow up to discover demons and monsters, but those demons and monsters don't originate inside of them. If there is an afterlife, and it's possible Weiland believed that there was, I hope his sweet spirit is cleansed from his disease and he's able to be at peace. Perhaps it's sacrilege, but the one non-Scott-Weiland-song that's always reminded me of him is Collective Soul's "Shine."
______
When I'm alone the world's at bay
Keeping them still as I slip away
But I'm not Superman and I'm not everyman
Have I done the best that I can to generate
'Cause I still hate
To revel around and terrorize or sympathize or populate
'Cause I'm just everyman who once was a stronger man
-"Pictures and Computers (I'm Not Superman)", written and recorded by Scott Weiland
I've felt an unusual kinship with Weiland since I discovered STP in the late 90s, and thought of him more of a poet than a musician. His death did not surprise me, but it deflated me. The connection was cemented by reading this book. Perhaps it's just the remains of a middle school crush on a rock star, but photos of his eyes have haunted me for over 25 years.
The tragedies of his adolescence are laid bare in the pages, and he rarely elaborates on the abuse he both endured and subjected. His little brother died in an accident. He was uprooted during high school to another school and culture. He was raped. His parents overreacted to a small amount of drugs hidden in his bedroom and subsequently humiliated him in front of his peers and institutionalized him where he was restrained and neglected for three months. Fate can be fallible, but it can also be written early, and his seems to have been.
Throughout his life, Weiland found connections with friends and lovers and, at least from the perspective of co-authoring this memoir, didn't take them for granted. The behaviors resulting from his addictions decimated most of those relationships at one stage or another, as often happens. This book shows his humanity, his love, his simple straightforwardness, and I can't imagine someone can come away from this book without greater empathy for those paralyzed with addiction. Weiland's tragedy is not romantic - it's bloody, humiliating, dirty - but it is a tragedy. Like most other human beings, he was complex. He wasn't diagnosed with bipolar disorder until his drug addiction was well-developed, and attempted treatments for both or either didn't work.
There are a few holes in the book that David Ritz probably should have teased out. There's very little mention of any reaction to his substantial income, the significant change in lifestyle that being a star had on him, nor on the media attention, which plays a huge part in the "Selections from my sketchbook" section at the end. Perhaps he was truly so wrapped up in his addiction that those things weren't noteworthy, but I rather doubt that. It is noteworthy that his net worth was only $2m at the end of his life, with the expectation being that most of his wealth had been snorted or injected. True to form, though, it wasn't the money or fame that was his downfall; they just helped to facilitate drugs that he likely would've found even if he'd been a career chauffeur.
Additionally, while Weiland expresses guilt over his part in destroying his marriages, he rarely reflects on the lasting damage done to his ex-wives, former bandmates, family members, friends, and, ultimately, his children. His children each warrant a few pages of shared memories, but they have the same stale narcissism about them - these amazing, beautiful, life-changing experiences were entirely about him, and his feelings and reactions. Based solely on this book, I'd wager that this narcissism wasn't innate, but developed in his early 20s as his addiction and his career shot through the roof. There is a different tone, a higher level of care, and a pale sense of self-awareness in describing his adolescence that is absent in the rest of the book. I wouldn't question his love for his family or friends, but I think the need to feed his addiction overpowered his natural spirit, and so his love for others became twisted into another object of control. His brother Michael's death seemed to have a foreshadowing effect on Weiland's life, even when he doesn't say so explicitly. Any desire I'd heard in his words to stay off drugs was gone after he describes Michael's death.
As I mentioned, there are painful pieces of the book where, as a reader knowing how and why he died, feel like a kick in the gut. Weiland was a hero wearing the mask of an antihero, and in some gruesome fate the mask became one with his face and he found he couldn't remove it. His attempts at sobriety and meaningful connection are as admirable as they are sad. His love of others and love of the world ended up eclipsed by his physical and emotional need to withdraw, which is always the pinnacle of addiction's tragedy.
Weiland had the opportunity to lead an incredible life, and it was largely wasted, but I believe his legacy remains larger than his addiction: his children, evidence of his passion and deep love for Mary, will have their own impacts; the music and poetry he created alone and with others is immortal; and he undoubtedly left his mark on his loved ones and those of us he touched without ever knowing our names.
So many sweet little boys grow up to discover demons and monsters, but those demons and monsters don't originate inside of them. If there is an afterlife, and it's possible Weiland believed that there was, I hope his sweet spirit is cleansed from his disease and he's able to be at peace. Perhaps it's sacrilege, but the one non-Scott-Weiland-song that's always reminded me of him is Collective Soul's "Shine."
______
When I'm alone the world's at bay
Keeping them still as I slip away
But I'm not Superman and I'm not everyman
Have I done the best that I can to generate
'Cause I still hate
To revel around and terrorize or sympathize or populate
'Cause I'm just everyman who once was a stronger man
-"Pictures and Computers (I'm Not Superman)", written and recorded by Scott Weiland
September 29, 2011
Blergh. Don't bother reading, just listen to the albums. Amazing how a guy as famous for his drug use as he is for his music can just gloss over all of the horrible shit and just focus on the "wow my love was so unique and incredible. I truly AM an artist." Which is a shame because considering he is still struggling, he could have shared some of that with his fans. All I can say is, I'm glad I didn't buy this book, because I would have been pissed about spending the dough.
June 16, 2011
Scott Weiland's memoir is sparely written, but you can feel his pain over his long-term struggles with substance abuse. He writes of his divided childhood after his parents divorce and how he started drinking and using drugs at a young age. He also describes his compulsion to write music and how he knew that if he really put the work into it he would be a musical success - and we know he still is, despite all his issues. He also describes his intense love for Mary Forsberg, his now ex-wife, and her own struggles with substance abuse and bipolar disorder. The overall feel of this book for me was one of nostalgia, as Weiland looks back on his life and sees things a little more clearly now. As of the publishing of this book Weiland had been drug-free for three years and hadn't had any alcohol for two months, he is the first one to admit that he's definitely a work in progress, but he is still hopeful that he can overcome his demons and in the meantime his fans are glad that he is still making great music!
July 28, 2011
As a huge fan of both STP and Scott Weiland himself, I loved this book and couldn't put it down. The open, honest, no-excuses way he leads his life was enlightening, and told much about his struggles with sobriety and relationships. He writes with a beautiful poetic prose and includes photographs and lyrics with each chapter.
February 13, 2015
I love STP and Weiland's solo albums, but this book was too hit and miss for me....an incredibly HUGE disappointment.
November 20, 2023
I've always loved Scott Weiland, but I thought this book looked too slight and full of pictures when I first laid eyes on it during its original release. Better late than never as it was so much better than I expected after finally reading it now.
There are some very insightful and incredibly sad stories about his growing up that surprised me early on. He probably dives deepest at this stage of the book. I started wanting some damn relief for him, and it does finally show up with music as expected. Then the drugs hit hard and fast and keep on hitting throughout the whole rest of the book. I appreciate his version of the truth, and the drugs are a huge, almost constant part of his whole adult life. I personally was very into his interspersing of lyrics into almost every chapter since I'm a fan and really liked seeing where they fell and why in this personal setting. The hindsight of his death made me enjoy almost everything that made me not buy the book when he was alive foolishly such as those lyrics and the many pictures and handwritten notes/collages.
His love for Mary is tragic and goes hand in hand with the many tragedies that hit him and his life throughout. That love also seems like one of his last beacons of hope as the drugs hit harder. The ending is heartbreaking though he was still alive writing it. But there is lots of inspiration to be had here with the art of his lyrics and perseverance to make music no matter how messy his life was. I loved it. Some parts are unflinching, some parts seem delusional (like the best artists can be), and it's most often powerful with his sparse, to the point writing style that can be quite scattered. (The scattering seems appropriate with the drug stories being so prevalent and sometimes adds to the surreality.) I loved all the STP stories and was surprised a bit at his lack of passion with Velvet Revolver. Interesting stuff. If you like his music, pick it up! I'm glad the book exists as Scott is an underrated talent that won't be forgotten. This adds some depth for him and his legacy in his own troubled words.
“I tripped on the sunlight streaming through a trellis fence. The pattern of shade became a three-dimensional revelation, a maze containing the very mystery of life, a key connecting all feelings to all forms.”
There are some very insightful and incredibly sad stories about his growing up that surprised me early on. He probably dives deepest at this stage of the book. I started wanting some damn relief for him, and it does finally show up with music as expected. Then the drugs hit hard and fast and keep on hitting throughout the whole rest of the book. I appreciate his version of the truth, and the drugs are a huge, almost constant part of his whole adult life. I personally was very into his interspersing of lyrics into almost every chapter since I'm a fan and really liked seeing where they fell and why in this personal setting. The hindsight of his death made me enjoy almost everything that made me not buy the book when he was alive foolishly such as those lyrics and the many pictures and handwritten notes/collages.
His love for Mary is tragic and goes hand in hand with the many tragedies that hit him and his life throughout. That love also seems like one of his last beacons of hope as the drugs hit harder. The ending is heartbreaking though he was still alive writing it. But there is lots of inspiration to be had here with the art of his lyrics and perseverance to make music no matter how messy his life was. I loved it. Some parts are unflinching, some parts seem delusional (like the best artists can be), and it's most often powerful with his sparse, to the point writing style that can be quite scattered. (The scattering seems appropriate with the drug stories being so prevalent and sometimes adds to the surreality.) I loved all the STP stories and was surprised a bit at his lack of passion with Velvet Revolver. Interesting stuff. If you like his music, pick it up! I'm glad the book exists as Scott is an underrated talent that won't be forgotten. This adds some depth for him and his legacy in his own troubled words.
“I tripped on the sunlight streaming through a trellis fence. The pattern of shade became a three-dimensional revelation, a maze containing the very mystery of life, a key connecting all feelings to all forms.”
January 11, 2025
I appreciated this autobiography because it was full of snippets of Scott's life, and not a traditionally structured book. I still feel I got to know him a little, and it just makes me sad that his demons ultimately got the better of him. He says right up front that he knew he would become an addict even before trying heroin, as if it was preordained. Photos are scattered throughout, and some of his artwork is included, which is interesting. It must be difficult for a parent to lose not only one, but two children. His sole sibling, Michael, died eight years before Scott did.
May 18, 2011
Like anything STP-related, I devoured this. Unfortunately, it was not so nearly well-wrought as a Scott Weiland song, and his story would have benefitted from better editing. Most notably, there are huge gaps in the story, which I understand is a function of the memoir genre, but filling in those spaces would serve the narrative by allowing the reader to trust and understand Weiland better. (Additionally, there were a few glaring typographical errors.) It would also behoove Weiland to quote his own song lyrics more accurately, as longtime listeners are sure to pick up on the disparities between what appears in the text and what actually made it onto his albums. However, I do commend him for sticking to the promise he makes in the preface to this memoir. He writes, "I'm not arrogant enough to call it the truth. But I do call it my truth" (xii). And that is exactly what he delivers.
March 26, 2021
I was actually a decent fan of Stone Temple Pilots and knew Scoot Weiland had and still has a lot of demons. His memoir was very honest and recounts his love of music, the founding of STP, his drug dependency, romantic relationships and more. I was actually surprised at the amount of personal information he divulged but it is part of the process of healing from drug issues, the depression from loss of a brother and a second divorce. Somehow, him and Mary remain civil for his music career and their children.
A must read for any STP fan and fan of 90s rockers.
A must read for any STP fan and fan of 90s rockers.
May 19, 2011
I've been a huge fan of STP, and especially Scott Weiland since the mid-90's.
The book is okay, and gives you some insight to the lyrics of certain songs, but really seems to gloss over most of his life.
Interestingly, I read the entire book in one day. Most of the pages are half-pages, and there are lots of pictures and black pages sprinkled throughout the book.
I would probably recommend his ex-wife's book more than his.
The book is okay, and gives you some insight to the lyrics of certain songs, but really seems to gloss over most of his life.
Interestingly, I read the entire book in one day. Most of the pages are half-pages, and there are lots of pictures and black pages sprinkled throughout the book.
I would probably recommend his ex-wife's book more than his.
February 6, 2017
I am a big fan of STP and think Weiland is extremely talented. That being said the book kind of seemed to jump around and the chapters were very short (which is not a bad thing) but it seemed like the book did not flow at all.The material itself was interesting though.
October 1, 2024
Confession, I had no idea who Scott Weiland was. I was aware of Stone Temple Pilots, but not a “fan” as such.
So I approached this book with the curiosity around what stories there may be, and what insights could be learned.
The book is short on both, there are stories, but they’re simple anecdotes, and superficial.
Insights? Not my on show, I relapsed, I went to rehab, I relapsed repeat every couple of pages.
I can normally take something away from most biographies, but I feel bereft from this one.
So I approached this book with the curiosity around what stories there may be, and what insights could be learned.
The book is short on both, there are stories, but they’re simple anecdotes, and superficial.
Insights? Not my on show, I relapsed, I went to rehab, I relapsed repeat every couple of pages.
I can normally take something away from most biographies, but I feel bereft from this one.
January 2, 2025
I’ve always been fascinated by Scott Weiland. His voice is like a chameleon, and Stone Temple Pilots has been one of my favorite bands for years.
I knew Scott struggled big time with drugs, but I didn’t realize the extent of the demons he battled throughout his life. Learning about his journey was both enlightening and moving.
My only complaint is that I wish the book had been longer- I couldn’t put it down!
Sadly, he passed far too young, but this book is a nice tribute to his legacy!
I knew Scott struggled big time with drugs, but I didn’t realize the extent of the demons he battled throughout his life. Learning about his journey was both enlightening and moving.
My only complaint is that I wish the book had been longer- I couldn’t put it down!
Sadly, he passed far too young, but this book is a nice tribute to his legacy!
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