Fall to Pieces (Velvet Revolver song)

"Fall to Pieces"
Single by Velvet Revolver
from the album Contraband
B-side	"Surrender" [1]
Released	August 2, 2004 (2004-08-02)
Length	4:30
Label	RCA
Songwriter	Velvet Revolver
Producer	Josh Abraham
Velvet Revolver singles chronology
"Slither" (2004) "Fall to Pieces" (2004) "Dirty Little Thing" (2004)
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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.

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 Weekly chart performance for "Fall to Pieces" Chart (2004–2005) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [2] 57 Canada (Nielsen BDS) [3] 14 Canada Rock Top 30 ( Radio & Records ) [4] 1 Germany (GfK) [5] 89 Ireland (IRMA) [6] 42 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [7] 53 Scotland Singles (OCC) [8] 33 UK Singles (OCC) [9] 32 UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [10] 4 US Billboard Hot 100 [11] 67 US Adult Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [12] 25 US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [13] 2 US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [14] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard) [15] 18 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) [16] 34 Chart (2005) Position US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) [17] 88 US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard) [18] 12 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) [19] 70

Certifications

Certifications for "Fall to Pieces"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [20]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Fall to Pieces"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	August 2, 2004	Mainstream rock active rock alternative radio	RCA	[21]
United Kingdom	October 11, 2004	CD		[22]
Australia	October 18, 2004			[23]
United States		Contemporary hit radio		[24]

References

1. Fall to Pieces (UK CD single liner notes). RCA Records. 2004. 828766476927.
2. "Issue 765" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
3. "The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles". Archived from the original on December 8, 2004. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
4. "R&R Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records . No. 1575. October 1, 2004. p. 62. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
5. "Velvet Revolver – Fall to Pieces" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
6. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Velvet Revolver". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
7. "Velvet Revolver – Fall to Pieces" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
8. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
10. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
11. "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
12. "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
13. "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
14. "Velvet Revolver Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
15. "2004 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles". Billboard . December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on May 7, 2005. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
16. "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Modern Rock Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor . Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 29.
17. "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Adult Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50. December 16, 2005. p. 31.
18. "2005 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles". Billboard. November 26, 2005. Archived from the original on February 16, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
19. "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Modern Rock Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50. December 16, 2005. p. 52.
20. "American single certifications – Velvet Revolver – Fall to Pieces". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 22, 2022.
21. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records . No. 1566. July 30, 2004. p. 23.
22. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . July 10, 2004. p. 27.
23. "Fall to Pieces". BMG Australia. Archived from the original on July 19, 2005. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
24. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1577. October 15, 2004. p. 17.