Weiland's Behind-The-Bars Blues

Having the law on your ass on just one coast wouldn't be very rock 'n' roll, now would it? And if it ain't rock 'n' roll, it ain't Scott Weiland. The equal opportunity alleged drug offender and singer now faces separate court dates in Los Angeles and New York within two weeks of each other.

In the latest chapter of the legally challenged Solo Temple Pilot's book of blues, Weiland has an August 12 date with the Los Angeles County Superior Court following his arrest Tuesday for an outstanding warrant. The warrant had been issued on July 9 after Weiland failed to appear in court to answer charges of felony possession of heroin and misdemeanor possession of a hypodermic needle, for which he was arrested in September. If the singer is convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of three years in the slammer.

Following his arrest at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in a neighborhood west of downtown L.A., Weiland spent the night in jail and was released yesterday morning on $250,000 bail. Although the L.A.P.D. have not disclosed further details on the arrest, rumor has it that an officer recognized the embattled singer on the street and made the arrest. Calls to Weiland's lawyer and manager were not returned Thursday morning. His Atlantic Records publicist says that a statement has not yet been issued.

The Los Angeles arrest for heroin and needle possession is not to be confused with Weiland's arrest on a charge of purchasing $100 worth of heroin in New York on June 1, hours before a solo performance at Manhattan's Irving Plaza. He is due to appear in court for that hearing on July 31.

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“(We're Not) The Jet Set”

George Jones and Tammy Wynette | 1973

George Jones and Tammy Wynette were still married when they recorded the tongue-in-cheek "(We're Not) The Jet Set." The lyrics, written by Nashville songwriter Bobby Braddock, who also penned Wynette's "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," make fun of the good life by declaring, "We're not the Jet Set/We're the old Chevrolet set." Braddock recalled that while writing the song, he needed the name of a city that evened out the rhyme he had with "Riviera" and "Missourah." “I got out a Rand McNally atlas," he said. "In the first part are the maps. The last part is an alphabetical listing of cities. I wanted a rustic, small-time sound. I went to the listing for Missouri. And I found 'Festus.' I loved the sound of it."

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter