WEILAND On Possibility Of Reunion With VELVET REVOLVER: 'You Just Absolutely Never Know'

National Post recently conducted a short interview with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS/ex-VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

National Post: How is your new stuff different than [the] earlier [STONE TEMPLE PILOTS] songs?

Weiland: It's a very well-rounded record. It has some stuff that's more outside of the box but at its core it's a rock 'n' roll record. One thing we've always said we'd never do is cover ourselves, become our own cover band and try to figure out the formula for a hit song. It's more about being satisfied. Of course you want your fans to dig it, but being satisfied with what you're doing as an artist, most of the time, means your fans will follow. I've also had the opportunity to put out my solo album on my own label… and to play with another band, VELVET REVOLVER, which was a great experience until it wasn't a great experience. Now it's kind of like a new beginning with STP, although in a way it feels like we never left each other. We successfully toured (starting in 2008) then worked on the record, and I think it's quite an accomplishment that we produced the album ourselves.

National Post: This one of the few albums you've recorded sober. How does sobriety affect the recording process?

Weiland: I've done it before, and it's different actually. When you're starting to experience and experiment with mind-altering chemicals it can be a positive thing. It can open you up and add an extra boost to your radar frequency. And you're able to be a little bit less fearful and a little bit more progressive in the ideas that you put out there. But then after a long period of time it ends up sort of cutting you off from the heart and soul of things, and it becomes too cerebral. Music, as many people have said, is the universal language. Of course points are made which make you think about things, but ultimately it makes you feel. And that's why people remember more songs that have meant something during their life than films. They start to define periods in your life, and that's kind of the beauty of it.

National Post: Can you tell me about how you reconciled with the guys from STP?

Weiland: With STP it was very organic. There were some opportunities that came about that looked like they would be very low-pressure and we would do well financially. It was also at a time when VELVET REVOLVER was going to be off the road so I said, "Yeah, let's do it," and took it from there. It just gathered momentum until we made the record. Doing all the touring that we did made us yearn to get back in the studio. That's where we really thrive — at least I really feel that way. Writing the songs and producing the songs and arranging them and recording them is your canvas and your palette and your brush.

National Post: And where do things stand with VELVET REVOLVER? Might your career involve a second reunion with a second band?

Weiland: You just absolutely never know.

Read the entire interview from National Post.