Released September 13, 2004 Genre Hard rock Label RCA Records | Format CD Length 4:30 | |
Recorded August - December 2003 in Los Angeles, California | ||
"Fall to Pieces" is the title of a power ballad written and performed by Velvet Revolver that appears on their debut album Contraband in 2004. It was the band's third single and was very successful, peaking at #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
Contents
Content
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.
Chart performance
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.
Composition
The song is played with 1/2 step down-tuned guitars like most of Velvet Revolver's catalogue. Similar to Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses (Slash, McKagan and Sorum's previous band), the song is in the key of D flat Mixolydian, and is based off an arpeggiated riff around the Dsus4 chord. Weiland wrote the lyrics; Slash, McKagan, Kushner, and Sorum composed the music.
Music video
The song's music video strongly follows the meaning of the song, showing Weiland struggling to maintain his relationship with his wife (who appears in the video as herself). The video shows a graphic depiction of Scott going through an overdose, but being "rescued" by Duff McKagan.
Track listing
- "Fall to Pieces" - 4:30
- "Surrender" - 4:25