A Pasadena, Calif., judge yesterday (Oct. 20) allowed former Stone Temple Pilots lead singer Scott Weiland to remain free while he tries to kick a persistent drug habit, but warned him that could change if he has another “dirty” drug test.
Judge Colette Serio congratulated Weiland on completing most of the drug testing and counseling requirements stemming from his August no contest plea to two felony drug possession charges. The 35-year-old California native tested positive for drugs shortly after his May 17 arrest in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank but subsequent tests have been clean, Serio said.
“Overall this is an excellent report,” Serio told Weiland, whose rap sheet includes drug-related arrests in Los Angeles in 1995 and 1997, and in New York in 1998. “I want to advise you that if you have any other positive tests you will have to go back to residential treatment.”
The rail-thin rocker, who arrived at court wearing a turtleneck sweater, a leather jacket and a wool scarf despite unseasonably warm California weather, said the court-mandated counseling program “got me reinvigorated about going back to [Alcoholics Anonymous] meetings.”
Weiland was arrested in May after Burbank police pulled over a car he was riding in and found drugs. The 29-year-old female driver also was charged with drug possession.
Outside court, Weiland said his recovery was on track, and added that he was looking forward to the February release of an album with his new band, Velvet Revolver. “Sometimes God offers you circumstances that sort of fall in your lap that you thought wouldn’t happen,” he said. “Getting busted spurred my desire to seriously get back into recovery.” He must return to court in January for a progress report.
As previously reported, Atlantic will on Nov. 11 release the Stone Temple Pilots CD/DVD anthology “Thank You,” featuring the new song “All in the Suit You Wear.”
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