Fall to Pieces is a song by Velvet Revolver that appears on their debut album Contraband in 2004. Fall to Pieces was released as a single on September 13, 2004 via RCA Records. The song was #1 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 11 consecutive weeks and #2 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart for a single week. It also hit #67 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band performed the song during their performance at Live 8; its performance is the only one of the three songs they played there that appears on the concert DVD.
The song’s lyrics are about then lead singer Scott Weiland‘s battle with heroin and its toll on his relationship with his wife, model Mary Forsberg. The song is played with 1/2 step down-tuned guitars, unlike most of Velvet Revolver‘s catalogue. Similar to “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, the song is in the key of D-flat Mixolydian, and is based on an arpeggiated riff around the Dsus4 chord. Weiland wrote the lyrics; Slash, McKagan, Kushner, and Sorum composed the music.
Tracklist:
- Fall to Pieces
- Surrender (Cheap Trick cover)
The song’s music video follows the meaning of the song, showing Weiland struggling to maintain his relationship with his wife (who appears in the video as herself). It depicts Scott going through an overdose, but being rescued by Duff McKagan.
Velvet Revolver
Scott Weiland: lead vocals
Slash: lead guitar, backing vocals
Duff McKagan: bass, backing vocals
Matt Sorum: drums, backing vocals
Dave Kushner: rhythm guitar
Scott Weiland (October 27, 1967 – December 3, 2015)
