Fall to Pieces (Velvet Revolver song)
2004 single by Velvet Revolver
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"Fall to Pieces" is a song by American hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver, released in August 2004 as the third single off their debut album, Contraband. The song reached number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 11 weeks.
| "Fall to Pieces" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Velvet Revolver | ||||
| from the album Contraband | ||||
| B-side | "Surrender"[1] | |||
| Released | August 2, 2004 | |||
| Length | 4:30 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter | Velvet Revolver | |||
| Producer | Josh Abraham | |||
| Velvet Revolver singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Fall to Pieces" on YouTube | ||||
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.
Composition
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 (Slash, McKagan and Sorum's previous band), 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.
Chart performance
The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 11 consecutive weeks and number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for one week. It also reached number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Music video
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.
Live performances
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.
Personnel
- Scott Weiland – lead vocals
- Slash – lead guitar
- Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals
- Matt Sorum – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Dave Kushner – rhythm guitar
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[20] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||