On THE hottest day of the year, Wes Scantlin takes to the London stage with Puddle Of Mudd and battles through the heat to deliver a superlative set of new, covers and POM classics. The obvious highlights of ‘Blurry’, ‘Control’ and ‘She Hates Me’ all sat comfortably alongside the bands new single ‘Uh Oh’ which is destined to be a live staple (and fan favourite) in the Puddle Of Mudd setlist. With his trademark baseball cap on backwards, dirty blonde locks and gravelly voice Wes looked and sounded like the post-grunge star that he was and will be again. The packed crowd, who had to endure some face-melting temperatures, stuck with the man and band and this felt like a post-intervention celebratory party where everyone was just happy to see the Puddle Of Mudd frontman back on stage, sober and smiling.
His newfound sobriety suits him and he looks and sounds on tip-top form. Past footage of Wes stumbling from drunken disaster to disaster is all over the web and it’s not a comfortable watch. In fact, it’s utterly depressing watching a person unravel in front of your very eyes and Wes was unravelling, it was a question of when not if. Numerous arrests, bankruptcy files, DUI’s plus partners, fans and airport carousels all fell foul of Wes’s alcohol-fueled behaviour but now, in July 2019 Wes is clean and on a clearer path, long may it continue.
Now with a brand new studio album, ‘Welcome To Galvania’ and single ‘Uh Oh’ on the horizon along with tonnes of positive feedback (and goodwill) from recent Puddle Of Mudd live performances, it seems the tide may have finally turned for the iconic Kansas born frontman. OriginalRock.net caught up with the one and only Wes Scantlin to discuss music, religion, life and (thirty-plus) second chances.
ORIGINALROCK.NET Does this feel like a fresh start for you?
WES SCANTLIN.” These are very exciting times for us right now and I feel like I’ve been given a new lease on life. The renewed support from all of our colleagues is undeniably amazing and the love and support from puddle fans all over the world is just incredible.”
OR. The new “Uh Oh” single sounds like quite a cathartic song, is that its intention?
WS. “‘Uh Oh’ is just poking fun at some of my mishaps over the years. As well as the other writers involved and it’s definitely supposed to just poke fun at people, in general, making everyday mistakes, as well as relationship escapes because a lot of times significant others are trapping you from your life and setting you up and purposely getting you arrested. Almost every partner in my life or almost every person that I let in my life steal, cheat, put poison in my food or drink (figuratively speaking), try to take away my dog and I don’t give a fuck what they do, they gotta get the fuck out of my life and we’re through. Thankfully God saved me from continuing on with wanna bee’s like them.”
(Video link for ‘Uh Oh’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaJWL_5SxbU)
OR. What was the Puddle Of Mudd writing process for Welcome To Galvania?
WS. “The writing process was an open suggestion, a collaboration and an open door policy which ultimately proved optimistic at the end of the day. It’s always nice to have a light at the end of the tunnel journey.”
OR. From the formation in the early nineties to the heady success in the early 2000’s how has the music industry changed since you first hit the charts?
WS. “The music industry is what it is at whatever time it is and you have to adapt quickly or you’ll miss the adventure. I have always given credit where credit is due so I got that going for me which is nice, gungalagungala.”
OR. How difficult is it for bands to make a living with so many streaming sites paying artists less than peanuts for the music?
WS. “It’s definitely not easy, but it really never was! There are certain things that are very important. Surrounding yourself with the right team helps. Things like getting with a great publishing company that totally watches your back like Warner Chappell who happens to be the greatest in the world.”
OR. With numerous albums under your belt, how do you choose the setlist and are there any songs that you JUST can’t leave off?
WS. “We are very fortunate and we’ve got some hits out there in the world. You have to mix it up for the fans and just try to keep it interesting for everyone but it’s a pain in the toosh trying to please everyone at the same time. So I play what I think the fans wanna hear but also songs that I personally enjoy performing live.”
OR. You’ve had your share of TMZ, Blabbermouth, Metal Sludge etc, mainstream coverage and not all of it complimentary how do you deal with being under the youtube microscope?
WS. “The microscope has definitely kept me out there in the public eye and while it’s embarrassing, it’s a reality and something I’ll have to live with forever. I was young and confused. I was on a role of terrible things happening to me. I mean I didn’t get see to some of family or friends for a while, way too long of a time without support. Now that I’m healthy, those days are gone. I’m just trying to crank out rocking music and kick-ass performances for people to enjoy and ultimately post on social media.”
OR. The Puddle Of Mudd/Wes Scantlin story could well be another Anvil or The Dirt type movie is that something you would consider doing?
WS. “There will be a movie no doubt about. Hi, Netflix how you doing lol.”
OR. How about an autobiography because that’s a book I would buy.
WS. “There will be a book and it will be thick and full of Puddle stories and adventures and it will eat up many gigs of memory data just to load….lol.”
OR. What do the next twelve months hold in store for Puddle Of Mudd and Wes?
WS. “More music, more studio time, writing, recording and having fun! My plan is to stay the course, keep God first, be humble, kind and giving. I’m gonna focus on my sobriety and my health, always!
Thank you, everyone! I am grateful for your time.”
Puddle Of Mudd release their new album ‘Welcome To Galvania’ on September 13th via Pavement Entertainment.
For up and coming tour dates, band news and Merch head over to http://puddleofmudd.com/