Entertainment
PUDDLE OF BUDD
Mon, Jun 10, 2002 12:00 am
John Fortunato
Photo by Brian Jahn
Forging ahead of the hard-rock pack, Los Angeles-based Puddle Of Mudd are currently selling out shows across the country in support of their resounding platinum debut, Come Clean (Interscope). Despite being labeled the latest "bad boy of rock" for a recent arrest involving an abusive girlfriend, lead singer/rhythm guitarist Wes Scantlin deserves better headlines for the unwavering perseverance and hook-filled, post-slacker grunge-metal his quartet unleashes. Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, Scantlin was ready to give up on his then-unfulfilled music career when the karmic intervention of Fred Durst changed his luck.
Convinced by a friend to attend a Family Values concert with fake backstage passes, Scantlin managed to hand a demo to Durst's security guard, who promptly turned the tape over to the Limp Bizkit frontman. Intrigued by what he heard, Durst invited Scantlin out to L.A. to play an acoustic set for Interscope head Jimmy Iovine. This led to a development deal with Durst's Flawless Records.
Soon after, Durst hooked Scantlin up with guitarist Paul Phillips, a musician friend from his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. He, too, was waiting for a big break to escape the dead-end local scene. When the chemistry between the two was deemed "right," rehearsals were set up to assemble a rhythm section.
"I met Wes in the hallway after the audition," Boston-born bassist Doug Ardito explains, as I share some bud with drummer Greg Upchurch following a live acoustic set at New York City's K-Rock radio station. "He didn't look nervous, but he must have been under some pressure. He hadn't really been outside Kansas City."
The Oklahoma-raised Upchurch is a former member of Eleven and Chris Cornell's post-Soundgarden band. "In my line of work, I can do that," he says as he tokes. "It's better than downing a fifth of Jack Daniel's and doing coke every night."
[cont.]
Puddle of Mudd [cont.]
A few hours later, Puddle of Mudd perform a 75-minute set at Roseland Ballroom, highlighted by such current Top 10 staples as the emotionally riveting "Blurry," the frenzied "Control" and the acoustic "Drift & Die." Seattle grunge monsters Nirvana and Soundgarden have obviously left imprints on several songs, while mainstream nu-metal provides a neat melodic balance.
For the past year, the band has been touring nonstop, finally taking a much-needed break for a few weeks around Christmas. During downtime, the accessibility and freewheelin' lifestyle of Los Angeles, their adopted hometown, suits Puddle of Mudd perfectly.
"The reason I love L.A. is I could get work done there," Scantlin says. "I could go down to the studio, perform music, produce other bands and delve into different artistic areas. They don't have that in Kansas City."
As we smoke backstage, Upchurch and Ardito argue about the pros and cons of marijuana legalization. Playing devil's advocate, he more practical-minded Ardito states: "Anything that changes your perception of normal life should be considered a drug. If you legalize weed, there'd be the most fucked-up next generation."
"George Washington smoked pot," Upchurch enthusiastically counters. "The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp. Our country was founded on weed!"
"I don't think it should be a legal issue," Scantlin interrupts. "I shouldn't go to jail for smoking pot."
"Then the population will be stoned 24 hours a day," Ardito offers. "That means armed servicemen and police could get stoned."
"They already are!" Scantlin exclaims.
"Teachers would go to school stoned," Ardito retorts.
"There'd be a decrease of pot dealers so you could go to the store and get your weed," Scantlin explains. "If cigarettes are legal, pot should be legal. Besides, they only give you a ticket for possession in California these days."
"I buy by the ounce," Upchurch confirms as he rolls up a fatty. "That's considered intent to sell. I have to drive my car to get it and if I get caught, I'll go to jail."
Though Scantlin doesn't toke before performing ("I'll have a couple of beers, but I usually don't go on-stage stoned"), he has a hard-to-quit cigarette habit. "It's becoming uncool to smoke cigs," he says. "Pot is the more natural substance. I like going to bed at night after having a little smoke session."
Forging ahead of the hard-rock pack, Los Angeles-based Puddle Of Mudd are currently selling out shows across the country in support of their resounding platinum debut, Come Clean (Interscope). Despite being labeled the latest "bad boy of rock" for a recent arrest involving an abusive girlfriend, lead singer/rhythm guitarist Wes Scantlin deserves better headlines for the unwavering perseverance and hook-filled, post-slacker grunge-metal his quartet unleashes. Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, Scantlin was ready to give up on his then-unfulfilled music career when the karmic intervention of Fred Durst changed his luck.
Convinced by a friend to attend a Family Values concert with fake backstage passes, Scantlin managed to hand a demo to Durst's security guard, who promptly turned the tape over to the Limp Bizkit frontman. Intrigued by what he heard, Durst invited Scantlin out to L.A. to play an acoustic set for Interscope head Jimmy Iovine. This led to a development deal with Durst's Flawless Records.
Soon after, Durst hooked Scantlin up with guitarist Paul Phillips, a musician friend from his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. He, too, was waiting for a big break to escape the dead-end local scene. When the chemistry between the two was deemed "right," rehearsals were set up to assemble a rhythm section.
"I met Wes in the hallway after the audition," Boston-born bassist Doug Ardito explains, as I share some bud with drummer Greg Upchurch following a live acoustic set at New York City's K-Rock radio station. "He didn't look nervous, but he must have been under some pressure. He hadn't really been outside Kansas City."
The Oklahoma-raised Upchurch is a former member of Eleven and Chris Cornell's post-Soundgarden band. "In my line of work, I can do that," he says as he tokes. "It's better than downing a fifth of Jack Daniel's and doing coke every night."
[cont.]
Puddle of Mudd [cont.]
A few hours later, Puddle of Mudd perform a 75-minute set at Roseland Ballroom, highlighted by such current Top 10 staples as the emotionally riveting "Blurry," the frenzied "Control" and the acoustic "Drift & Die." Seattle grunge monsters Nirvana and Soundgarden have obviously left imprints on several songs, while mainstream nu-metal provides a neat melodic balance.
For the past year, the band has been touring nonstop, finally taking a much-needed break for a few weeks around Christmas. During downtime, the accessibility and freewheelin' lifestyle of Los Angeles, their adopted hometown, suits Puddle of Mudd perfectly.
"The reason I love L.A. is I could get work done there," Scantlin says. "I could go down to the studio, perform music, produce other bands and delve into different artistic areas. They don't have that in Kansas City."
As we smoke backstage, Upchurch and Ardito argue about the pros and cons of marijuana legalization. Playing devil's advocate, he more practical-minded Ardito states: "Anything that changes your perception of normal life should be considered a drug. If you legalize weed, there'd be the most fucked-up next generation."
"George Washington smoked pot," Upchurch enthusiastically counters. "The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp. Our country was founded on weed!"
"I don't think it should be a legal issue," Scantlin interrupts. "I shouldn't go to jail for smoking pot."
"Then the population will be stoned 24 hours a day," Ardito offers. "That means armed servicemen and police could get stoned."
"They already are!" Scantlin exclaims.
"Teachers would go to school stoned," Ardito retorts.
"There'd be a decrease of pot dealers so you could go to the store and get your weed," Scantlin explains. "If cigarettes are legal, pot should be legal. Besides, they only give you a ticket for possession in California these days."
"I buy by the ounce," Upchurch confirms as he rolls up a fatty. "That's considered intent to sell. I have to drive my car to get it and if I get caught, I'll go to jail."
Though Scantlin doesn't toke before performing ("I'll have a couple of beers, but I usually don't go on-stage stoned"), he has a hard-to-quit cigarette habit. "It's becoming uncool to smoke cigs," he says. "Pot is the more natural substance. I like going to bed at night after having a little smoke session."