SCOTT WEILAND Says His Days Of 'Dope Use' Are 'Long' Behind Him

Ex-STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland, who was accused by his former bandmates last year of battling drug addiction and chronic tardiness, says that his days of "dope use" are long behind him.

STP fired Weiland in February 2013 after reuniting with him in 2010 for a series of tours and one self-titled album. The band had previously been on hiatus since 2002, primarily due to the singer's struggles with drugs and alcohol.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS has since recruited a new singer, Chester Bennington of LINKIN PARK, and has released one critically acclaimed EP, "High Rise".

Speaking to Canadian reporter Rudy Blair earlier this month, Weiland denied that his "demons" were still a factor as he continues to record and tour with his new band THE WILDABOUTS.

"Past demons are past demons; that's stuff that I dealt with 14 years ago," he said. "I mean, I guess Keith Richards [of THE ROLLING STONES] gets asked about [his past drug use], so why shouldn't I? But it's not something that I think about, ever. Those days of my dope abuse, and use, are long since by me."

Weiland's recent tour with THE WILDABOUTS featured him playing STP classics and select VELVET REVOLVER cuts alongside two songs from THE WILDABOUTS' forthcoming album, tentatively due in November. So far, seven songs have been recorded, with five more to come. It will be Scott's third solo studio LP and first since 2008's "Happy In Galoshes". Weiland has stated in recent interviews that the new album will be more of a full-band effort.

Last year, Weiland embarked on the "Purple At The Core" tour, where he and THE WILDABOUTS delivered selections from STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' first two albums, 1992's "Core" and 1994's "Purple".