Wild times with Scott Weiland

Scott Weiland, former vocalist of Stone Temple Pilots (STP) and Velvet Revolver with guitar virtuoso Slash, is wild about his new band and upcoming CD “Blaster” and coast-to-coast Canadian tour. Scott Weiland and The Wildabouts perform live at the Esplanade in Medicine Hat Wednesday.

“I’m really looking forward to coming,” said Weiland, who was just about to watch an episode of “Penny Dreadful,” a TV show with a serious take on legendary monsters including Dracula and Dr. Frankenstein on Showtime, on the phone discussing his latest upcoming tour.

Weiland’s new four-piece band already has seven songs completed on a new album set for release in November, just in time for the holidays.

“I know it sounds like a laser gun that zaps the leg off Han Solo but it doesn’t have anything to do with that,” joked Weiland, adding the image on the cover is a boom box or ghetto blaster. “Like a 1980s-style one.”

Weiland and The Wildabouts will be performing songs from the new album, which back in the day was a no-no prior to the official release of new music.

“It used to be the label would never want you to play pre-released or yet-to-be-released material because people would get it out there and that would blow the release. Now, it’s actually a positive thing for people to be able to download your live version of your songs and kind of get used to it, especially since it’s kind of like a new beginning again, which makes it really exciting. It’s the most excitement I’ve had making an album since the first one, which was ‘Core.’ It’s really fresh,” said Weiland, adding it’s good to be playing and writing with fellow musicians who are his closest friends.

The live show, according to Weiland, will feature new material plus hand-picked classics from STP and Velvet Revolver for his loyal Canadian fans.

“All the way from STP to Velvet Revolver and solo stuff — we’ve always done really well in Canada and the fans are great.”

Weiland, who was ranked #57 in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists list by Hit Parader, said he’s not too keen on certain aspects of the music business nowadays.

“I enjoyed making records, making albums more often and touring to support the albums. Now, it’s just the opposite. You basically make an album and unless it’s a perfect plan and everyone on the team is working together symbiotically — the chances of having a huge album are just not what they were,” said Weiland, adding it’s no secret but success can happen.

“I mean Queens of the Stone Age were number one for three weeks and went multi-platinum but it just doesn’t happen that often. Jack White has had a lot of success and The Black Keys. It is what it is. There’s other ways of having success and branding yourself other than just the old brick and mortar way of promoting and distributing records,” said Weiland.

As for the current live incarnation on the road, Weiland explained the live show is different because it’s a different band and the music is retro but modern at the same time.

“There’s big riffs, fuzzy furry riffs but there’s a lot of space between the notes,” he said, adding the new music doesn’t sound metal at all. “It sounds very current and garage-rock.”

Scott Weiland and The Wildabouts will be out on tour this summer and fall leading up to the release of the new album, including stints in the U.K. and South America. After the release of the upcoming CD, Weiland said the band will be on the road for a large chunk of 2015.

Weiland’s Medicine Hat show starts at 8 p.m. at the Esplanade. Tickets are $49.50 and $59.50 plus service charges and G.S.T. and are available to purchase online at http://www.tixx.ca.

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