Vasoline

"Vasoline"
Single by Stone Temple Pilots
from the album Purple
B-side
ReleasedMay 25, 1994 (1994-05-25)
Genre
Length2:56
LabelAtlantic
Composers
LyricistScott Weiland
ProducerBrendan O'Brien
Stone Temple Pilots singles chronology
"Creep"
(1993)		 "Vasoline"
(1994)		 "Interstate Love Song"
(1994)
Audio sample
"Vasoline"
Music video
"Vasoline" on YouTube

"Vasoline" is a song by American rock band Stone Temple Pilots from their second album, Purple (1994). The song was serviced to US radio on May 25, 1994, through Atlantic Records. It reached number one on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for two weeks. The song's odd-sounding intro was created by Robert DeLeo, who ran his bass through a wah-wah pedal to get the said effect. The song's lyrics were written by vocalist Scott Weiland. "Vasoline" also appears on the greatest hits compilation album Thank You. A live version also appears on The Family Values 2001 Tour compilation.

Composition and meaning

During STP's performance of "Vasoline" on VH1 Storytellers, Weiland says that the song is about "feeling like an insect under a magnifying glass." During an interview with Greg Prato from SongFacts.com on October 14, 2014, Scott Weiland confirmed that the key line in this song came from a misheard lyric: His parents put on the Eagles song "Life in the Fast Lane", and Weiland thought they were singing, "Flies in the Vaseline."

In his autobiography Not Dead and Not for Sale, he adds that it "is about being stuck in the same situation over and over again. It's about me becoming a junkie. It's about lying to [my first wife] Jannina [sic] (Castaneda) and lying to the band about my heroin addiction."

Music videos

The music videos (directed by Kevin Kerslake) were in heavy rotation on MTV. There are at least three different versions of the video, labeled "X Version", "Y Version", and "Z Version". All versions are similar, using parts of the same footage with some minor differences and shown in different orders. The single album art is taken directly from the music video.

Differentiation

  • X Version – begins with a shot of flypaper and then a laughing clown [Robert DeLeo]
  • Y Version – begins with a butterfly-catching girl [Deanna Stevens] skipping up to the camera
  • Z Version – begins with a man using a sharpening stone wheel

Track listings

UK, European, and Australian CD single

  1. "Vasoline" – 2:56
  2. "Meatplow" – 3:38
  3. "Andy Warhol" (David Bowie cover live from MTV Unplugged) – 3:05
  4. "Crackerman" (live from MTV Unplugged) – 4:03

German CD single

  1. "Vasoline" – 2:56
  2. "Meatplow" – 3:38

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Vasoline"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 25, 1994 Radio Atlantic
Australia July 25, 1994
  • CD
  • cassette

References

  1. ↑ Michael Danaher (August 4, 2014). "The 50 Best Grunge Songs". Paste. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  2. ↑ "15 Essential Grunge Albums". Revolver. November 1, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  3. ↑ O'Connor, Rob; Robbins, Ira; Corcaron, Clifford. "Stone Temple Pilots". Trouser Press. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Purple (2019 Remaster) by Stone Temple Pilots". Apple Music. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Scott Weiland : Songwriter Interviews". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  6. ↑ Not Dead and Not For Sale (Scribner, 2010), pp111
  7. ↑ "Site Maintenance". www.mvdbase.com. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  8. ↑ Vasoline (UK, European & Australian CD single liner notes). Atlantic Records. 1994. A5650CD, 7567-85650-2.
  9. ↑ Vasoline (German CD single liner notes). Atlantic Records. 1994. 7567-85646-2.
  10. ↑ "Stone Temple Pilots – Vasoline". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Top Singles. Volume 60, Issue 4 (1994-08-15)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Stone Temple Pilots – Vasoline". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 20/8/1994 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 20/8/1994 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart on 15/10/1994 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Stone Temple Pilots Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Stone Temple Pilots Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Stone Temple Pilots Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  19. 1 2 "The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 52. December 24, 1994. p. YE-62.
  20. ↑ "Industry Comments" (PDF). The Hard Report. No. 374. May 13, 1994. p. 59. Retrieved June 5, 2026 – via worldradiohistory.com. STP's new single, 'Vaseline' will hit radio on May 25th for reports on May 31s!..
  21. ↑ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 25/07/94: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 232. July 24, 1994. p. 20.