Since learning of frontman Scott Weiland’s death at the age of 48 while on tour in Minnesota, tributes and remembrances have continued to pour out from former bandmates and friends of the singer. His former bandmates wrote that “we know amidst the good and the bad you struggled, time and time again. It’s what made you who you were. You were gifted beyond words, Scott.” Ryan Adams beseeched the universe to “please take care of him,” and Nirvana’s Twitter account remembered the singer writing: “Thanks for the great music Scott Weiland.” Just before his death, Weiland excoriated both Donald Trump and ISIS.
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Joining the chorus of tributes is Craig Kallman, Atlantic Records’ CEO. In his letter Kallman remembers seeing Stone Temple Pilots, then called Mighty Joe Young, get signed to his label. They’d spend the following years becoming one of the best-known rock bands in the world. Read his letter in full below.
Dear Colleagues,
You may have heard the deeply sad news that Scott Weiland, the former lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots, passed away last night at the age of 48. Scott was a force of nature, on record and on stage. One of the most extraordinary vocalists, performers, and songwriters in rock history, he was a charismatic, galvanizing presence with an unmistakable voice and style.
In 1991, the year that I joined Atlantic Records, we signed a band from Southern California called Mighty Joe Young. By the following year, they had changed their name to Stone Temple Pilots, and I watched firsthand as they began a decade of phenomenal creativity and success. We released their debut album, Core, in September of 1992, and STP immediately became America’s biggest new rock band, going on to rank among the most accomplished and influential artists of their generation.
By the time they disbanded in 2002, STP had sold some 35 million albums worldwide, half of those in the U.S. alone. Their songs became rock anthems: “’Sex Type Thing, “ “Plush,” “Creep”, “Interstate Love Song,” and many more. Scott and STP made music that has only become more timeless over the years, sounding as fresh and vital today as the day it was recorded. In 1998, we released Scott’s acclaimed solo album, 12 Bar Blues. STP got back together in 2008, and we released their reunion album in 2010, but unfortunately, it turned out to be Scott’s last work with the band.
Scott was an incredibly creative, warm, intelligent, and inspired human being. His demons have been well publicized, but it is his incredible musical legacy that will be remembered for many years to come. Scott’s passing is a tragic loss for all of those who knew him and for his millions of fans around the world. He will be greatly missed.
Craig Kallman