After nearly a decade Puddle of Mudd returned in 2019 with their sixth studio album Welcome to Galvania adding to their multi-platinum repertoire. Through the trials and tribulations of rock stardom primary song writer, vocalist and guitarist Wesley Scantlin has produced some of rocks most recognizable hits including “Control,” “She Hates Me,” “Away from Me,” “Psycho” and their most successful single to date “Blurry.” RockRevolt had a chance to talk with Wes about their latest release, what’s going on during quarantine (Puddle of Mudd will be performing a live stream from the famous Whiskey-a-Go-Go on June 6th, see the end of interview for a link) and of course his well publicized Nirvana performance.
RockRevolt: How are things going under quarantine and what are you doing to keep yourself busy? Can we expect some quarantine session material coming out of this or what’s going on right now for you?
Wesley Scantlin: I was just a little bit frightened. I’ve been at a lot of the airports, a lot of the cities, around the world in the last like two and a half - three years. If not, just for the last 20 years. But, it was a little bit scary because, I was in these planes and these trains, these automobiles with tons of people packed to the bone constantly just playing rock and roll concerts and being an entertainer and stuff and coming in contact with people that just want to hug you and believe me man, it’s awesome, but once that happened, it’s like, ‘ Oh my god, if people touch me, I’m going to die’. I was a little bit tripping out about it, but I think I’m going to be alright. I feel great and healthy.
Excellent. That’s the important thing right now. I think we look at life in a very different perspective right now, that’s for sure.
The thing about it is, a lot of people in the entertainment industry are always on the move. And it’s probably not that big of a shift for those particular individual people that are on the move, on the go. You got to keep the face and got to keep it rolling. Those people are the ones that probably aren’t that affected by it. In my opinion, it feels like save the children and keep God first place, Save the children, wash their feet too, just don’t wash their hands, wash their feet, and keep everything clean and keep it coming clean.
Absolutely. I hear you and just looking at things in a whole different perspective for sure. But glad to hear you’re good and healthy. That’s a major plus. Diving into your last release, Welcome to Galvania last fall, you guys put that out. What is the meaning behind the album title?
My father basically measures my songwriting ability as well as others, and he gets goosebumps on his arms if it’s awesome, and if it’s not a winner it isn’t going to be a grinner. So he loves the winners, a lot of them. And some of the ones that aren’t the monstrous ones, it’s still pretty cool, but my dad measures it by the galvanic skin response, which is an electric current, and you feel this insane, awesome sensation in your body. And everybody can feel it and you can feel it when you possibly fall in love with somebody, you can feel it when you maybe possibly fall out of love with somebody, and maybe go through an amazing experience, vacationing or an amazing rock and roll concert or an amazing hip hop show or any type of other country artist show. You get goosebumps man on your neck. So, I was trying to get that to the people and see if I could put some more goosebumps on their arms and put a little neck hair up. That’s basically it.
Very cool. That’s unique. I had no idea. So why an entire decade between records?
Poor decisions. People really seriously miss their loved ones. Some of the band members, mothers and fathers had died in the last 10-15 years, which is really sad and a lot of people have passed away. I think it was a struggle and a challenge. I’m very happy to be alive actually at this point in my life. I’ve been told that I was the craziest mofo on the freaking street, baby. I was crazy, I got psycho baby. It’s all good. Let’s go.
Did you write Welcome to Galvania in the studio, or did you accumulate the material over that 10-year period?
It was a long time between records. A lot of the music that I wrote was not a lot but like a little bit of it, I wrote at John Denver’s. John Denver’s an awesome songwriter, awesome actor. And I was going through a little bit of a breakup with a chick so his widow let me stay in his studio in Malibu, California. So I wrote a bunch of songs at John Denver’s studio with all his instruments and everything. I wish he could have been there. It was really cool. And then I did a bunch of songs back home in Kansas City, because it’s too cold in Malibu I’m like, I need heat man. This whole thing, this collaboration was collaborated with a bunch of really great writers man, that nobody even really knows who they are, but they’re freaking amazing. And it was a pleasure to work with skilled and awesome, amazing creative writers with creative vision, and I just want to be a part of that, because I like to create and with creation, you can make the kids happy and then you can teach the kids how to create themselves. I’m really in this mode right now in my life to help children with anything, musical entertainment, business. I’ll let my parents take care of the business stuff, you guys should take care of that. I’m going to skip out on the business part of it. God bless the children.
That’s great. Giving back. That’s nice to hear. How much did Cameron contribute to the whole process? Obviously he produced the record. Was he a big piece of it or just came in and clean things up or what was his role like?
The times were dicey at those moments especially for me. It was really a scary time for my life. And Cameron is just a wonderful guy, his nickname for me is Superman. He’s great, his cousin’s great, his whole entire family they’re amazing people, very creative and we’ve had some ups and downs but you know what he did a great job and for me I’m pleased with it. I’m totally happy with it and whatever he’s done with Puddle of Mudd and the music.
There’s no question this is a Puddle of Mudd album. You just feel that vibe, just the riffs and of course your voice is so distinct. It’s a strong record so obviously you guys did some good work together for sure. Is there any leftover material from the recording session that has potential coming out?
I don’t know that’s in the process right now. Universal, their building burned down with all the stuff. But I’m not going to steal them, but if they can dig it out of there, that’d be great.
Absolutely. Going into a bit of a different topic. Obviously, you’ve taken a lot of hits in the media over the years. Do you think it was justified? How do you deal with that, especially now that you’re sober?
It’s wonderful, man. It’s nice to wake up feeling great. It’s a great feeling. Believe me. It’s better than waking up with a hangover. It’s crazy and everything’s better than jail. And you just got to get your credit, you got getting your shit together and your shit is not together. We got this. Pump the brakes.
Does it become easier with each passing day, you know the sobriety or is it still a challenge?
Every day is a challenge, especially if you’re a songwriter. Basically, I’m trapped at work right now. I’m surrounded by like four guitars, and some drums. I’m sitting in the living room, like creating, so I’m now stuck at work again. And every time I think I’m off work somebody calls me and says, no, you’re not.
Let’s keep it going.
Let’s keep it going and the show must go on. I’m going to take ballet classes or something soon. (laughs)
Something to occupy the time, right? Do you prefer being an artist in the internet age of music or did you prefer pre-internet?
I loved the mysteriousness of it when I was a child back in the day. I loved the mysteriousness of it. I loved that part of it, because I really didn’t know what anybody looked like. So I was just like, that’d be cool to do that. Because everybody’s like, ‘What do you want to do when you grow up?’ It’s like I would like to do that, play music and have fun. Life changing, amazing things.
Absolutely. Speaking of the internet, obviously there’s a lot of trolls out there as we know, spewing negativity and of course, you responded to some negativity with a nice, quick little Instagram post which was a great message in regards to the whole Nirvana cover, that people are throwing shit out there. You see people need to look beyond this right? Because you do a great Nirvana cover. It’s proven you’ve done it many times in the past, right? And you’ve got that voice. So you have one off day and all of a sudden all this shit hits the fan? Would this deter you in the future from doing Nirvana covers or are you like screw that whatever, too bad? I like Nirvana and it’s not going to deter you from future covers of Nirvana.
I had already performed like six seven vocal passes live in the studio at Sirius. We came from the west coast got to media and got in late at two o’clock in the morning, landed in a snowstorm. Barely even got into New York and barely even got there to do other press things around Manhattan and then we ended up at Sirius. Went through about six seven takes and my voice is a little bit rough because I’ve already played shows, meet and greet, sign autographs, meet and greet. Like it’s a blizzard out and they’re de-icing the wings and you’re scared for your life and but we got there. We did. The other songs that were performed at that particular show, were pretty freaking great. I’m very proud of that. And my voice is like, let’s take a break. But I’ll drive on and persevere homie. Believe me, I will persevere.
That’s good. That’s what we want to hear because I can’t stand the internet trolls. It’s so easy sitting behind the keyboard right? Obviously, Puddle of Mudd has done many great performances over your career. So what’s the post quarantine plan for Puddle of Mudd? I would imagine you’re somewhat anxious to get back on the road when you can.
I would love to be back on the road. I love it. I’m waiting basically like anybody else for a solution and a vaccine. I’m a massive germophobic, crazy man like Howie Mandel. I travel so much; I don’t want to get anybody else infected with this, with travel. But it’s scary a little bit for people to travel all over the place. You’re basically getting in germ tubes when you’re traveling. If you want to go to the freaking airport and take one of those shuttles, those things are packed. I’m talking packed and I got two back pack guitar cases. I got my gear on and I have to go through TSA. I go to the bathroom. I have to lift this off every time I go to the bathroom, but it’s just when you’re in a shuttle or you’re in a plane or you’re in a freaking bus, you’re not 6 feet apart ever.
Hopefully, they come up with some type of solution soon because I certainly miss the live music that’s for sure. Any other collaborations out there? I don’t know if I’ve heard of any collaborations beyond Puddle of Mudd or maybe I missed something or is there anything in the works like that?
No, but you gave me a kick in the butt. Now I’m brainstorming. And now I’m going to figure out what we’re going to do. We’re going to collaborate, I’m going to collaborate with somebody. There’s nothing wrong with asking and saying, ‘Hey, you want to try this out?’
I think that seems to be the big thing nowadays. A lot of artists are doing that. Is there a dream collaboration, if you could work with this one person, it would be a dream come true for you?
I wish I could work with Bob Marley, man. That dude is awesome. Or Any of the guys from Sublime, those cats and the Melvins too. A lot of older alternative stuff. I would love to work with Dave and all his Bros. And, I’ll work with anybody.
Could you pick the greatest live show that you’ve attended? Is there a show that you’ve attended that blew you away?
Hold on, I want to back up I want to write a song with freaking James Hetfield, mother flippers. Mr. awesome. Metallica all day, Metallica. Puddle of Mudd, Metallica baby.
One of my favorite bands right there, Metallica.
I Love that dude, that guy is awesome. All those guys, they are rocking it.
Has Puddle of Mudd ever played with Metallica.
I would also like to work with Fred (Durst). That’d be kind of cool. I have worked with Fred shit loads of times, but I was just going to say that I’d like to work with Fred from Bizkit again, that’d be cool. I love the dude. Thank you so much bro. I have to give praise to the people that praise me and helped me out.
Absolutely back in the early days.
I got to get excited about it. I don’t care when it is, if it happened 900 years ago, I’m still going to jump up and down for joy man because it was a dream come true. Fred Durst, what’s up?
What’s the greatest live show you’ve attended?
Greatest live show I’ve ever attended was Monsters of Rock in Kansas City, Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium with Chief’s Kingdom. You have enough freaking trophies (referring to the New England Patriots in my territory). You guys got trophies, give me a break. I’ve been over there; I know, we rock it. It’s great, you lost your quarterback. What’s my problem? Nothing. Anyway, so me my buddy Aaron Jones we’re walking in there, we were like 13 years old. My buddy he had taken some fucking, sorry about the F bomb. Anyway, he passed out, he took some LSD at the Monsters of Rock with Metallica. So this guy passes out and goes on the ground, the paramedics show up. My best friend, and I had the whole crowd and they’re like counting them down like he’s like a boxer or like an MMA fighter like, one, two — The whole Arrowhead Stadium was freaking counting him down. The biggest paramedic dude, this dude was like, 700. He was a giant person. Like the biggest thing I’ve ever seen. He like looked at me and he goes, ‘What did you give him?’ I was like, ‘Dude, I didn’t give him anything. Dude, I didn’t give him nothing’. And he’s like, ‘Oh my god, what’s he on?’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t freaking know, dude’. I was just drinking some beers. Anyway, so he comes to and that’s it. And we watched Metallica rock.
What’s the greatest show, if you can pick one, that you played?
One of the coolest ones was — recently just all of them. I just liked playing on stage. They’re all my favorites, all of them. I might get frustrated from time to time, but the show must go on and it’s fun to go around and tour and have a good time. We get to see the world man. I would suggest that anybody should just get out and see the world, every once in a while. Take a drive down the road.
What is the most underrated Puddle of Mudd song, can you pick one?
Underrated would probably be “Spin You Around.” No, “Heel Over Head,” — there’s many songs. You’re trying to make me throw my butt under the bus over there dude. Why do you have to do that to me? Come on. That question was tricky, homie. The hell, come on.
Listen, it’s part of my job.
I love it. I feel you.
Final thing. If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
I would go into probably like SpaceX, probably into NASA or something like that. I’m into science. I’m a science dude.
Any final words for the fans out there, anything you want to add?
Ladies and gentlemen, this is Wesley Scantling from Puddle of Mudd. I hope everybody is safe, warm and healthy. Please wash your feet too, I’m serious wash your feet and try to clean the dogs and rodents as much as possible. God bless.
This is a public service announcement from Wesley. Hey Wes, it’s always a pleasure talking to you. I’m looking forward to seeing you on the road.
I wanted to tell everybody like I really wanted to reach out to the first responders, the armed soldiers, and United Nation soldiers that they’re doing a great job as well. It’s amazing and I thank all of them for their service and keep God first place.
Absolutely. Looking forward to seeing you on the road and keep making great music for us. Appreciate everything.
I’m going to start writing more songs right now. You’ve inspired me. I’m going to rock this out. I’m going to do it right now. Thank you.
Puddle of Mudd stream from the Whiskey-a-Go-Go June 6th https://whiskyagogo.com/calendar/events/TWL1564570/puddle-of-mudd-live-stream-/
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