My Thoughts On: Not Dead & Not For Sale: A Memoir by Scott Weiland

Posted June 25, 2011 by Asheley in Uncategorized / 1 Comment

Not Dead & Not For Sale
The Earthling Papers:  A Memoir
by Scott Weiland

As the lead singer of the Stone Temple Pilots (1986-2003,  2008-), Scott Weiland won two Grammys and fronted a grunge band that has sold over 18 million records. During that tumultuous period, however, his record also included several arrests for drugs and DUI. Since breaking his addiction to heroin in 2002, the California-born musician has performed with the multiplatinum group Velvet Revolver and reunited with the group he helped make famous. Not Dead & Not for Sale is Weiland’s starkly honest memoir of the highs and lows of his bipolar life. This book is timely, arriving on the heels of Stone Temple Pilots tour and the release of their first album since 2001. The memoir was written with the assistance of David Ritz, the only four-time winner of the Gleason Music Book Award.  (summary from Goodreads.com)

My ThoughtsI read this book because I am a huge fan of Scott Weiland and Stone Temple Pilots. I also love reading. So it only made sense to me that I might enjoy reading about this musician that I love.
I got this book from my library as soon as it was released. I have no qualms at all about reading a memoir. I think they can be great. For me, choosing one is simple as long as I stick with what I’m interested in…and I love music. That being said, I got exactly what I expected:  Scott Weiland telling a story of his life. That is all.
I’ve read some great reviews, but these tend to be from fans of his music. I’ve read some pretty not-so-great reviews, and these seem to be from more intense reader-types. This book is probably not going to read any literary awards. But I do not think that was Scott’s intention in writing it. I liked it; I think the mixture of past experiences and pictures is charming. I particularly love seeing how the music and lyrics were directly influenced by the situations he was going through in his life.
I think it is good to read outside of one particular genre. For me, staying within the confines of only one genre makes me feel like I’m suffocating a little bit, and eventually I get a bit bored. I know that there are many of us that do not ever take the chance to read any non-fiction titles, but I wish that was not the case. They can be loads of fun and just like with fiction, there is something for everyone within the non-fiction world. I’ve read some great memoirs; some were better literary works than others.
This book is exactly what I thought it would be, and I loved reading it. I breezed through it in about two hours, but I spent time looking at all of the pictures and re-reading a few parts, so I might have been able to finish even sooner. Would I recommend this book to other people? If you are a fan of Scott Weiland, Stone Temple Pilots, or Velvet Revolver…then absolutely, yes. I’m an even bigger fan now, if that is even possible. (I think it is charming that this book is written exactly like Scott would talk.) If you are a fan of music in general or more specifically, rock and roll…then sure, I’d recommend this to you. It is a quick read and really gives great insight at the difficulties of life on the road. If you are looking for award-winning stories with great imagination and wonderful imagery…then nope, just choose something else. You need to have a willingness to accept this book for what it is before you start reading it. Otherwise, you will not be able to appreciate it. It’s a rock star telling his story. Period. 
This cover is stunning, don’t you think? The look on Scott Weiland’s face shows the overall mood of the book. The use of color, everything. It is brilliantly designed.  
Asheley

About Asheley

Asheley is a Southern girl. She loves Carolina blue skies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and NC craft beer. She loves all things history but prefers books over everything.

You can find her somewhere in North Carolina, daydreaming about the ocean.

Find Asheley on Litsy @intothehallofbooks!

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