Fall to Pieces (Velvet Revolver song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Fall to Pieces
| cover = velvet_revolver_fall_to_pieces.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Velvet Revolver
| album = Contraband
| released = September 13, 2004
| recorded = August–December 2003 in Los Angeles, California
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hard rock
| length = 4:30
| label = RCA Records
| writer = Velvet Revolver
| producer = Josh Abraham
| prev_title = Slither
| prev_year = 2004
| next_title = Dirty Little Thing
| next_year = 2004
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = Fall to Pieces.ogg
}}
}}
"Fall to Pieces" is a power ballad by American hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver, released in 2004 as the third single off their debut album Contraband. It reached #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
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, 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.
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.
Track listing
- "Fall to Pieces" - 4:30
- "Surrender" - 4:25
Personnel
- Scott Weiland - lead vocals
- Slash - lead guitar
- Duff McKagan - bass, backing vocals
- Matt Sorum - drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Dave Kushner - rhythm guitar
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Fall to Pieces" ! Chart (2004–2005) ! Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=294}}
| 57 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Canada (Nielsen BDS){{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041208055943/http://jamshowbiz.com:80/JamMusicCharts/BDS_1.html|title=The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles|access-date=12 January 2025}}
| 14 |
| scope="row"| Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records){{cite web|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-10-01.pdf|title=RR Canada Rock Top 30|page=62|access-date=October 7, 2019}}
| 1 |
| {{single chart|Germany|89|artist=Velvet Revolver|song=Fall to Pieces|songid=39810|rowheader=true|access-date=March 3, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland|42|artist=Velvet Revolver|song=Fall to Pieces|year=2004|week=42|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|53|artist=Velvet Revolver|rowheader=true|song=Fall to Pieces}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|33|date=20041023|artist=Velvet Revolver|rowheader=true|access-date=March 11, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|UK|32|date=20041023|artist=Velvet Revolver|rowheader=true|access-date=March 11, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|UKrock|4|date=20041023|artist=Velvet Revolver|rowheader=true|access-date=March 11, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|67|artist=Velvet Revolver|rowheader=true|access-date=March 11, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Velvet Revolver|rowheader=true|access-date=March 11, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|2|artist=Velvet Revolver|rowheader=true|access-date=March 11, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|25|artist=Velvet Revolver|rowheader=true|access-date=March 11, 2021}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Velvet Revolver|title=Fall to Pieces|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|accessdate=November 22, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
Notes
{{reflist}}
{{Velvet Revolver}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fall To Pieces (Velvet Revolver Song)}}
Category:Velvet Revolver songs
Category:Songs written by Slash (musician)
Category:Songs written by Matt Sorum
Category:Songs written by Duff McKagan
Category:Songs written by Scott Weiland
Category:Songs written by Dave Kushner