'Your Gift Was Part of Your Curse': Stone Temple Share Heartfelt Message to Scott Weiland

The remaining three members of Stone Temple Pilots have shared a heartfelt message to their late singer Scott Weiland, who was found dead in his tour bus while in Minnesota on Thursday.

Guitarist Dean DeLeo, bassist Robert DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz had a tumultuous and litigious relationship with Weiland that was very well-documented, but they posted the following statement on Facebook:

Dear Scott,
Let us start by saying thank you for sharing your life with us.
Together we crafted a legacy of music that has given so many people happiness and great memories.
The memories are many, and they run deep for us.
We know amidst the good and the bad you struggled, time and time again.
It’s what made you who you were.
You were gifted beyond words, Scott.
Part of that gift was part of your curse.
With deep sorrow for you and your family, we are saddened to see you go.
All of our love and respect.
We will miss you brother,
Robert, Eric, Dean

Weiland and the rest of STP had a difficult time together, stretching back to when the singer's struggles with substance abuse and trouble with law first began to surface during the mid-'90s. After leaving the band and reuniting several times leading up to the release of their self-titled sixth album in 2010, the other members fired Weiland in 2013.

Both sides initiated lawsuits over the continued use of the Stone Temple Pilots name, but the arguments were settled out of court. Stone Temple Pilots retained the rights to the name and enlisted Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington for several years, releasing one EP with him in 2013.

Velvet Revolver – the supergroup Weiland helped found with former members of Guns 'N Roses in 2002 – also shared their own statement about Weiland's death. Bassist Duff McKagan posted:

We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of our old friend and bandmate, Scott Weiland. We experienced a good chunk of life with Scott, and even in his darkest times, we all had hope and love for him. His artistry will live on, of that, there is no doubt.
Deepest condolences and sadness are for his children, Noah and Lucy. We all travelled around this world together on tour; our band, wives, and kids…and we grew to a big family that still remains to this day.
It’s just so sad and brutal from any perspective.
Rest In Peace Scott
Slash, Duff, Matt, and Dave