Regardless of taste and musical preferences some things are beyond any doubt and dispute. Take Scott Weiland for instance…he is one of the most charismatic frontmen and performers ain the rock industry for almost 25 years. He is the guy who marked permanently the grunge movement and the 90s with his presence, style and unique voice. Apart from that, his stint with Velvet Revolver for a couple of records shook the decayed state of music business as this supergroup went on to sell more than 6 million records in the 00s!
“Not Dead And Not For Sale” was printed 5 years ago but I only recently had the chance of reading it. After all, a good book should and cannot be confined in time. I always say that a good book is timeless and Weiland’s memoir fits perfectly in this category. Weiland doesn’t write yet another typical autobiography of a rock star. His intention is to spare the details and include only the most significant aspects of his life and career. We learn all about his troubled childhood years, his turbulent relationship with his father, the loss of his brother and stepbrother, his deep love affairs, the problematic communication –at least after a certain point- with the guys from Pilots and Velvet Revolver etc. Most importantly, we learn all about his drug addiction and how difficult it is for him to cast aside these demons! I totally respect Weiland for not throwing us the card of “being clean” as so many other stars has done in the past only to be proven later on wrong (and liars). In total contrast, Weiland says that he is still fighting every single day to beat his demons. It’s a constant fight in which he engages in every day and he has made significant progress.
But the thing that won me over with this memoir is the overall style and atmosphere of the book. I was under the impression that I was watching a film noir (most likely “The Maltese Falcon”) or reading a Jack Kerouak book. Just imagine this…a lone drifter walking at night in an abandoned city, walking in a semi-forgotten bar and our hero telling his story to an unknown regular fixture…I guess that would be a good metaphor.
The only certain thing is that Scott Weiland is not dead and he has a lot to offer (and sell).
