Scott Weiland and The Wildabouts bassist Tommy Black will not face drug charges relating to the December 3 death of his bandmate and former Stone Temple Pilots frontman.
Billboard reports Black was arrested by Bloomington, MN. on December 4 for possession of a controlled substance after authorities found cocaine in his area of the tour bus where Weiland was discovered.
"The narcotics were found in a bunk,” Bloomington Police Chief Mike Hartley tells People magazine, “and obviously with several people residing on a bus a number of people could have potentially possessed those narcotics, so at the end of the day we decided not to pursue charges against him."
Weiland’s death has been ruled an accidental overdose by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, who found cocaine, ethanol and methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) in his system during an autopsy.
The singer teamed up with bassist Robert DeLeo, guitarist Dean DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz in San Diego, California in the late 1980s and performed as Mighty Joe Young before the group changed its name to Stone Temple Pilots.
The band’s 1992 debut, “Core”, peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 on its way to selling more than 8 million copies in the States alone. Their 1994 follow-up, “Purple”, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to sell 6 million in the US.
STP rode a string of hits and declining album sales before disbanding in 2002 after Weiland reportedly wore out his welcome with the DeLeo brothers.
The singer joined supergroup Velvet Revolver in 2003. Featuring former Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, the band was rounded out by former Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner. Touring and a second album, 2007’s “Libertad”, followed before Weiland returned to STP in 2008.
The reunion resulted in tours and 2010’s self-titled release before Weiland was fired from the group in 2013 and replaced by Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, who remained in the lineup until exiting last month.
See also:
Scott Weiland death ruled an accidental overdose
Scott Weiland tour bus loaded with drugs
Scott Weiland’s family writes open letter following singer’s death
Drugs found on tour bus where Scott Weiland died; bassist arrested
Search Scott Weiland at hennemusic
