http://www.rockdaily.com/cps/profile.html?call=WKLQ 

07-30-07

 

Famous Next Words

Life hasn't been easy for Puddle of Mudd as of late. After the massive triumph of 2001 breakthrough Come Clean -- which spawned a series of successful singles, including the huge radio hits "She Hates Me" and "Blurry," and eventually went triple platinum -- the Kansas City, Mo., post-grungers came back down to earth with their follow up. Released in 2003, Life on Display met with a muted critical and commercial response, eventually selling a more modest 600,000 copies.

Four years later, Puddle of Mudd are aiming to bounce back with a new album, Famous, and a revamped lineup. Drummer Greg Upchurch left for 3 Doors Down in 2005 and guitarist Paul Phillips split with the group soon after. In their place, new members Ryan Yerdon (drums) and Christian Stone (guitar) join founding frontman Wes Scantlin and bass player Doug Ardito.

The Puddle of Mudd comeback got off to a false start when the release date for Famous was delayed twice as new songs were added to the disc. "Nowadays, you can't just put out an OK record," Scantlin tells SunHerald.com, perhaps scarred by the experience of Life on Display. "You've got to put an amazing record out, you know? It takes a while to gather up an amazing record full of amazing songs."

Lead single "Famous" is a strong statement of intent. Beginning with a swirl of psychedelic guitars, the track quickly morphs into an up-tempo rock number that is less obviously Nirvana-influenced than earlier Puddle tracks. The song has garnered solid radio play, and currently sits in the Top 10 of Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

If the lyrics to "Famous" betray an understandable cynicism on the part of Scantlin -- "I just wanna be famous/ Be so f**king jaded" -- the singer insists that the ups and downs of the past few years haven't dulled his enthusiasm. "It's about passion and writing music that connects with other people and somehow heals them," Scantlin tells Billboard.com. "I really want to try to crawl under people's skin and at the same time make some kick-ass rock & roll music."

Puddle of Mudd currently are on tour opening for Nickelback through a Sept. 2 show in Puddle's hometown of Kansas City. They also have a pair of headline dates booked through October. Click here to check out the band's complete itinerary. (Matt Glazebrook).

Random Facts

Famous was produced by Bill Stevenson, drummer from California punk rockers the Descendents . . . In 2004, Wes Scantlin was arrested in Toledo, Ohio, for public intoxication . . . In addition to their three major-label releases, POM dropped two independent albums in the '90s, Stuck and Abrasive . . . Puddle of Mudd were named after the Missouri River flooded and swamped the fledgling group's practice space . . . "Famous" was the official theme song of pro wrestling event WWE One Night Stand 2007 . . . Famous was originally titled Livin' on Borrowed Time before being renamed for the title track.