Puddle of Mudd

Puddle of Mudd Artistfacts

  • 1992-
    Wes ScantlinVocals, guitar
    Doug ArditoBass1999-2014
    Paul PhillipsGuitar1999-2005, 2009-2011
    Greg UpchurchDrums2001-2005
    Ryan YerdonDrums2006-2011
    Shannon BooneDrums2011-2014
    Damien StarkeyBass2010-2013
    Matt FullerGuitar2014-
    Michael John AdamsBass2014-
    Dave MorenoDrums2014-
  • Puddle Of Mudd were the first band signed to Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst's label, Flawless Records, although Durst had singed.

    After releasing two albums independently, Puddle Of Mudd was disbanded by 1999. Frontman Wes Scantlin was set to leave Kansas City and become a bartender in New Orleans, but when the Family Values Tour came to down, he snuck backstage and gave his last demo tape to Fred Durst's security guard. On his way to New Orleans, Scantlin found out that the Limp Bizkit leader heard the tape and wanted to sign him to his new label, Flawless Records, giving him his big break after he had already called it quits.
  • After Scantlin got the record deal, he needed all new band members, so the record company found them for him. It was mostly Scantlin's operation: he wrote most of the songs himself and kept the band going through various lineup changes. The original Puddle Of Mudd guitarist, Jimmy Allen, is credited as a co-writer on their hits "Blurry," "She Hates Me," and "Drift And Die."
  • Prior to Puddle of Mudd, Upchurch played in a band with Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. Scantlin was a construction worker.
  • Their debut album, Come Clean, outsold all their others combined. After it was released in 2001, musical tastes started to shift, and by the time their next one, Life On Display, was issued in 2003, their aggressive rock sound was on the outs.
  • Their influences include Tom Waits, Queen, Pantera, and Alice in Chains.
  • The band name comes from Missouri River flood of 1993 that left much of Kansas City under water. They had to trek throug puddles of mud to get to their rehearsal space, so they decided that should be their band name, with the extra D added for distinction.
  • Scantlin has nodules in his throat from too much screaming and smoking. His doctor, though, advised him not to get them removed because it could alter his singing voice.
  • Ardito says the moment he wanted to be a musician was when he went to a J. Geils Band show and saw Peter Wolf's gigantic hickey. Scantlin's moment came at a Van Halen show, for which he skipped a soccer game. He got kicked off the team.
  • In a Songfacts interview with Scantlin, he talked about his formula for songwriting success. "I always like to break it down in the middle eight and then erupt it," he said. "Elevate it from ground level and then make it boom, go crazy, straight to the moon. And have a killer last chorus with an insane outro. Balls to the wall, just blowing your face off."

Comments: 11

  • Zero from The Abyss, NjThis band lip-synchs now because Wes is too messed up on drugs/alcohol to sing and play guitar at the same time or remember the words to his own songs. Wes will never be close to being the next Kurt and in my opinion this band shouldn't be idolized especially because of all the problems Wes has with the law. He's also been known to abuse women.
  • Donald from Maple Ridge, Bc, CanadaClose to being the next Kurt? Maybe. But Wes is great in his own way too, just as Kurt was and like Kurt, I think Wes is in his own league. And the reet of the band is great. All around awesomeness! I have yet to hear a song that I have not loved from them. Puddls Of Mudd KEEP ON ROCKIN' YEAH!!
  • Zero from The Abyss, NjTheir first gig would've been played somewhere between '92-'94 so they would not have been paid with DVD's.
  • Jez from Ashford, United KingdomFor those who reckon there's a Nirvana influence , listen to Alice in Chains. With the video off it's hard to tell the difference.
  • Keriah from Naples, FlI thought that I was the only person in the world who saw the similarities BETWEEN nivana and puddle of mudd. lead singer Wes Scantlin reminds me of Kurt Cobain and everything about this band reminds me of Nirvana. I'm gald to see that oher people can see the similarities between them. I am also very surprise that they don't mention Nirvana as influence on their music but I thinjk they are aware of the similarities and are trying to distant themselves ffrom nirvana. and Becca from IL I think Wes is good but no one is the next KURT. when I FIRST HEARD THIS BAND I WAS DRAWN TO THEM BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO FILL THE VOID THAT NIRVANA LEFT BUT NO ONE CAN DO THAT. BUT THIS BAND IS REALLY GOOD TOO OVIOUSLY THEY AND NO ONE ELSE CAN COMPARE TO NIRVANA BUY I LIKE THEM ANYWAYS, RIP KURT I LOVE YOU. ROCK ON PUDDLE OF MUDD.
  • Crystal from Niagara Falls, NyI am trying to find out a bit of Wes' family tree. I too am a Scantlin whos family lines still run deep in the St. James, Missouri area, and are spread out in Paso Robles, Ca (where i am originally from). Can anyone provide me with info? The last family reunion I attended was in St. James, Mo 1989. email is dragonflei@rock.com
  • Becca from Belleville, IlI have always said to my brother,"Wes is the next Kurt."
  • Crystal from Springfield, MoPersonally, I can't believe Nirvana isn't sighted as one of their influences. Not only does Wes's voice sound like Kurt's, but even his vocal style (i.e. singing the verses, screaming the lyrics) is similar. He even has the stringy, blond hair, shoulder length hair.
  • I Dunno from Shelby, NcNope they do it to be "different", use that thing in your skull. It's called a brain.
  • Dana from Washington Dc, MdI agree with John. Something about Wes just reminds me of Kurt. Wes will never be as good as Kurt (no one will) but there's something there.
  • Nick from Paramus, NjThey probably spell it "Mudd" just to be cool.
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