Ex-Stone Temple Pilots frontman Weiland dies at 48
Scott Weiland, the musician best known as the frontman for the Stone Temple Pilots, has died at age 48.
The former Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman performed at The Chameleon Club in Lancaster May 15.
According to a statement on his Facebook page, Weiland died in his sleep while on tour with his current band, Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts.
"At this time we ask that the privacy of Scott's family be respected," the statement says.
"I can't deal with this right now," Weiland's wife, Jamie, told The Los Angeles Times. "It's true."
Weiland's manager told the Associated Press he learned of the singer's death from Weiland's tour manager.
The Stone Temple Pilots were one of the leading grunge rock bands of the 1990s. The group won the 1993 Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy for their song Plush. Their other hits included Creep, Interstate Love Song and Vaseline.
As the band's fame grew, so did Weiland's struggles with addiction. Weiland had several arrests related to his drug and alcohol use, AP reports, including an arrest in 1995 for crack and heroin possession.
Despite several stints in rehab, Weiland's struggles with addiction continued. He returned to rehab in 2008 after a DUI arrest.
Weiland told USA TODAY in 2011 that he wanted to be known for more than his wild lifestyle.
"People have this misconception about me," he said. "OK, I struggled with heroin and cocaine and I was a big rock star. But music is not what defines me. I'm a brother, a father (to Noah, 10, and Lucy, 8 ), a son and a person who's been in love with very few women."
Weiland lost his brother to a drug overdose in 2007, "and that's something that will always stay with me," he said.
The Stone Temple Pilots went their separate ways in 2003 and Weiland joined Velvet Revolver, which featured former Guns N' Roses members Slash and Duff McKagan. Yet, that group eventually split over disagreements about touring and drug use.
The Stone Temple Pilots reunited in 2008, but Weiland left the group in 2013 during a contentious split that included a lawsuit against Weiland by the band, who then countersued.
The Stone Temple Pilots claimed the singer repeatedly skipped promotional shows and showed up late for concerts during their 20th anniversary tour.
Contributing: Marco della Cava, USA TODAY