The Stone Temple Pilots have broken their silence on the death of former frontman Scott Weiland.
“Let us start by saying thank you for sharing your life with us,” the rock band wrote on Facebook in an open letter to Weiland on Friday. “Together we crafted a legacy of music that has given so many people happiness and great memories.”
Guitarist Dean DeLeo, bassist Robert DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz called Weiland — also the frontman for rock bands Velvet Revolver and Wildabouts — “gifted beyond words.”
“Part of that gift was part of your curse,” the band continued. “With deep sorrow for you and your family, we are saddened to see you go. All of our love and respect. We will miss you brother.”
Weiland was found dead on the Wildabout’s tour bus on Thursday night in Bloomington, Minnesota. He was 48. The cause of death remains unknown, but the rock star had a history of drug abuse, leading many to suspect an overdose.
Weiland was a founding member of the band, which debuted their first studio album “Core” in 1992, spawning hit singles “Sex Type Thing,” “Plush,” “Creep,” and “Wicked Garden.” STP separated in 2002 before reuniting in 2008 and releasing their sixth album in 2010. Weiland, however, was fired in 2013 and replaced by Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, who left the band last month.
Read the entire letter from the Stone Temple Pilots below.
Dear Scott,Let us start by saying thank you for sharing your life with us.Together we crafted a legacy of music that has given so many people happiness and great memories.The memories are many, and they run deep for us.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.Part of that gift was part of your curse.With deep sorrow for you and your family, we are saddened to see you go.All of our love and respect.We will miss you brother,Robert, Eric, Dean