"Fall to Pieces" is 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 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
Chart performance for "Fall to Pieces"| Chart (2004–2005) | Peakposition |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)1 | 57 |
| Canada (Nielsen BDS)2 | 14 |
| Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)3 | 1 |
| Germany (GfK)4 | 89 |
| Ireland (IRMA)5 | 42 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)6 | 53 |
| Scotland (OCC)7 | 33 |
| UK Singles (OCC)8 | 32 |
| UK Rock & Metal (OCC)9 | 4 |
| US Billboard Hot 10010 | 67 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)11 | 1 |
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)12 | 2 |
| US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)13 | 25 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)14 | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Notes
References
Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 294. ↩
"The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles". Retrieved 12 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20041208055943/http://jamshowbiz.com:80/JamMusicCharts/BDS_1.html ↩
"RR Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). p. 62. Retrieved October 7, 2019. https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-10-01.pdf ↩
"Velvet Revolver – Fall to Pieces" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 3, 2020. https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-39810 ↩
"Chart Track: Week 42, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. https://web.archive.org/web/20180101010101/https://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2004&year=2004&week=42 ↩
"Velvet Revolver – Fall to Pieces" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Velvet+Revolver&titel=Fall+to+Pieces&cat=s ↩
"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2021. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20041023/41/ ↩
"Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2021. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20041023/7501/ ↩
"Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2021. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-singles-chart/20041023/111/ ↩
"Velvet Revolver Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2021. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Velvet-Revolver/chart-history/HSI ↩
"Velvet Revolver Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2021. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Velvet-Revolver/chart-history/RTT ↩
"Velvet Revolver Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2021. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Velvet-Revolver/chart-history/MRT ↩
"Velvet Revolver Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2021. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Velvet-Revolver/chart-history/ATF ↩
"American single certifications – Velvet Revolver – Fall to Pieces". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 22, 2022. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Velvet+Revolver&ti=Fall+to+Pieces&format=Single&type=#search_section ↩