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*CONTINUED FROM THE BIOGRAPHY OF WES SCANTLIN*

2000-2001

BAND MEETS AND RECORDS COME CLEAN

Having lived in the sheltered world of Kansas City all if his life, Wes had never ventured to California until now and he was flying into the ‘City of Angels’. He was a guest in Durst’s home and upon his arrival he was introduced to New York City’s K-Rock DJ Matt Pinfield, who happens to be a guru on music trivia and a former MTV VJ. With an audience of Fred, Matt, and Danny Wimmer, Wes did an impromptu performance, but he felt it was less than satisfactory and really thought his chance for rock stardom was over. He did another showcase the next day for other record company executives and luckily was back up to par. The first priority was in finding musicians that were compatible with his style.

We all know the story, how being in the right place at the right time can determine what happens to you for the rest of your life. Doug Ardito was doing a stint at Interscope Records as an A & R intern and trying to network within the industry and just happens to fill that ‘what a stroke of luck story’. Fred, who had previously seen Doug with his old band Cellophane, was surprised to see him at Interscope’s offices and asked what he had been up to. Durst’s new record label, Flawless Records, had received a demo from Wes and Fred was interested in finding musical pairings for the project. Fred had just made the deal to bring Wes out to L.A. and mentioned a hot new talent he had just found in Kansas City to Doug and was looking for members to put with Wes, there was a bass spot open and would he be interested? They went to the parking garage where Durst played Doug a preview of the ‘backstage demo’ of Wes’ and Doug was thinking this guy was off the hook and of course, he was interested. Doug met Wes when he paid a visit to do a demo for Interscope’s Jimmy Iovine and they hit it off very well from the start and Doug was in as Puddle’s new bass player.

Eager to find the remaining missing pieces, Fred remembered long-time friend Paul Phillips from his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida days and offered him the guitar spot. Paul flew out from Jacksonville and had a good vibe for the project.

Wes and Paul were instant roommates. Their apartment wasn’t as nice as their old homes; one could overlook the rats and crime in the area if they didn’t focus too much on the environment. The disturbing sights kept them on edge but they were still able to focus on writing material. They were completely different personalities, one was a night owl, the other kept regular hours. Living together was difficult, they tried not to get on each other’s nerves, but there were some tough times as they tried to stick it out. Self-admittedly, Wes drove Paul crazy. There were some very lean times that only added to their frustration.

The road to complete Come Clean was an arduous one. Not only did they have to write material, but also in this case they were just getting to know each other, their quirks, talents, and personalities. Their creative efforts were compounded by the pressure of having something to prove to the head honcho’s that were giving them this opportunity and to themselves that they deserved this chance to hopefully become a band with a nation-wide audience. There were some very desperate times for all three members financially; living hand-to-mouth most of the time and making ends meet with the small stipend of their ‘development deal’. One may get signed, but there were no big bucks or a bottomless bag of cash for living expenses. From one’s dark days come insightful lyrics and music, you have nothing left to lose and you let it all hang out; all of it, the good, the bad, and although there was a lot of excitement brewing in themselves there was an ominous cautiousness to not become overconfident.

One key band position that just couldn’t come together in the beginning was that of a drummer. Someone from Jacksonville, Florida seemed to be the choice at first, but in the end things didn’t work out and the search was on once again. With the deadline for recording Come Clean looming before them, renowned drummer Josh Freese came into the mix to record the drum tracks for the album. Josh had an abundance of talent, having played drums professionally since he was a teen and had racked up plenty of album credits for many well-known musicians, he was in high demand for session work by major recording artists, as well as having his own bands, The Vandals and A Perfect Circle.

Studio recording time had finally arrived.

Four songs the band felt deserving to appear on the new album were from Wes’ old Kansas City Puddle of Mudd days. Making the cut were Drift & Die from 1994’s Stuck, as well as Nobody Told Me, Said, and Piss It All Away, which first appeared on the 1997 release Abrasive. Not venturing too far from the old Puddle of Mudd sound, the new members put their twist on the old recordings and made them their own. Drift & Die, which had big fan following in Kansas City, was given new life with a slightly slower pace and a more melodic rhythm. A change of tempo from the original version’s unexpected burst of ‘same old shit, different day,’ during Nobody Told Me now gave it a perfect flow. While there doesn’t appear to be too many changes to Said and Piss It All Away, one can hear the subtle differences that were just the tweaking they needed.

Equipped with a rented Fender Jazz Bass, Doug recorded the bass tracks. Doug had previously used a Jerry Jones Longhorn Bass to audition for the spot in Puddle and used the same bass to record Piss It All Away as it appears on Come Clean.

An open call that Puddle were looking to hire a drummer went out. Greg Upchurch auditioned and was one of 30 who vied for the drummer position. He came in as a hard hitter, but wasn’t familiar with the material which dismayed the members of Puddle of Mudd at first, however they were impressed by his powerful drumming and enthusiasm and gave him a copy of the album and he was told to ‘learn this’, and he did, blowing them off their feet. It was down to a choice between two drummers, Greg’s ability finally won the band over and he was hired. Although Greg did not have a hand in recording the drum tracks on Come Clean having come on board after its completion, his subsequent performances at live shows demonstrated he added his own personal flair to the material.

As Wes puts it, the album Come Clean is a self-proclaimed ‘abstract autobiographical diary of his life’. As the primary songwriter, he is able to translate his life into song, a feat that makes you feel like you are living it with him. Many of the songs reflect his personal hardships and relationship woes. He has the uncanny ability to pull you into the heart-felt storyline, which you can’t decide if it is fact or fiction, unique lyrics from a unique individual.   He learned very early on as a teenager to keep a notebook with him constantly to write ideas down as they came to him, the good ideas as well as those that were rough around the edges. Even today, he keeps a notebook or scrap of paper with him at all times. The quality was always there and he was just getting better as time passed. It’s all about the song and the message you try to get across with your music.

Prior to Come Clean’s release, there was a small amount of exposure for Puddle of Mudd. During Ozzfest 2000 there was a multi-artist CD distributed by Interscope Records, Summer of Slam, which was handed out to concertgoers and featured an early demo of a Puddle song, Said which would also appear on their debut album.

Come Clean carried 11 tracks, diverse, yet unmistakable to a style Puddle of Mudd has become known for. The lyrics reflect relatively close the animosity that had been going on inside of Wes’ head for some time, anguish, resentment, backstabbing, and love going down the tubes.

Song interpretation has always been subjective to the listener. While a few songs will have a specific circumstance that is clear cut, everyone takes away something different from what they hear and associates it with their perspective.

Come Clean was recorded in Los Angeles at Third Stone Recording Studios and NRG Studios. The album was produced by John Kurzweg and Puddle, mixed by Andy Wallace, executive producers - Fred Durst and Jordan Schur and A&R - Danny Wimmer.

The album’s original release date was set for August 14, 2001. Promotional material was ready in anticipation of the media blitz, only to find a delay and the new debut date to be two weeks later, August 28. In a risqué album cover which later became known as ‘pee boy’, an unknown bare-butted boy, graced the front jacket doing ‘his business’ oblivious that anyone had been observing let alone taking a photograph of his derriere. In a humorous poke at themselves and their band name, whether it was intentional or not, the back jacket bears the image of Wes as a young boy on a rural Kansas City road near is grandparents’ place, who just happens to be having a great time in a puddle of mud. Lyric notes on the jacket are unique as they look as though they were ripped out of the writer’s journal, scribbles and all.

Come Clean, backed by Geffen/Flawless Records, had been getting some press in radio and industry trade magazines for the single Control which was going for adds at rock, active rock, and alternative radio stations. Much of the promotion for the CD had been from doing their live shows the summer of 2001 with Staind and later with Godsmack. After their single Control started to get airplay and with the Control video release on July 31, 2001, potential fans were about to find out whom this beanie-wearing, key-tossing, raspy-voiced lead singer and his long-haired bandmates were.

Debut day came and went and then reality set it when the sales numbers came out by Nielsen Soundscan and Billboard. Amazingly enough, this band that seemed to come out of nowhere and had relied a great deal on word of mouth, found itself in the record-setting position of being the highest debut album by a new rock artist at that time. Jumping in at #10 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with 116,097 units sold for it’s first week in stores was beyond everyone’s expectations.

The band was traveling to their next concert on the tour bus when they got the news and thought they must be dreaming and were taking the ‘pinch me I must be sleeping’ approach. Only they know what they were thinking inside, but somehow the words ‘I can’t believe it’ don’t seem too hard to imagine.

Second week purchases of 71,236 propelled sales to 187,333 showing they were doing something right. Sales were rising, fans were going to concerts and it was reflected in sales. With eight weeks on the Billboard 200 Album Chart, Come Clean was certified Gold with 500,000 in sales by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) on October 23, 2001.

Puddle continued to get exposure by going out on tour with Linkin Park in Europe during the later part of 2001 and by October of the same year they were doing their own headlining tour in the United States in smaller venues. Fans continued to buy the album and by December 7, 2001 Come Clean was certified Platinum with 1,000,000 copies sold after just 14 weeks.

2001 TOUR

With only their previous live experiences with their prior bands, Puddle was anxious to hit the road for their first tour. Oddly enough, their first show on stage together was not for the typical buy-a-ticket rock audience but instead for a Vivid Porn party, who is a producer of adult entertainment products. Adding to the bizarreness of the booking, no monies were exchanged for their night’s worth of singing, their pay would be in Vivid Porn merchandise, DVDs, and VHS tapes. An interesting way to start their musical career together, they were already starving musicians and this merchandise could hardly be used at a fast food drive-up as currency. Welcome to the world of rock and roll, you do what you have to do.

Their first official tour date as this re-incarnated version of Wes’ old band, began on May 8, 2001 on an arranged tour with Staind, another Flawless Records/Interscope Fred Durst signed band. Staind was waiting for the upcoming release of their new CD Break The Cycle and also along for the ride with Puddle were other rock newcomers Cold, who were ready to push their new release 13 Ways To Bleed On Stage. Each Puddle band member having done their own tours over the years in caravans or by any other means possible to haul their gear and get to the venues, were now afforded a fairly decent van to begin their get-acquainted-with-America expedition. Puddle of Mudd’s first single Control had not even been shipped out to radio and they were the band audiences were asking the question of, “Who are these guys?” as they tried to impress Staind fans and hopefully recruit some of their own followers along the way.

PUDDLE OF MUDD 2001 – STAIND HEADLINES

As part of MTV Presents: Staind’s “Open Your Eyes Tour”, dates from May 8 to July 1 were breaking ground for Puddle. They had to win their audiences over show by show. Once their single Control began to be heard on radio, fans could finally put a face with the name Puddle of Mudd as the ones who sing the, ‘smack my ass’ song. Part of this tour included radio shows as well as being able to perform with local bands, Adema and Saliva on a few dates and Rammstein in San Antonio, Texas.

PUDDLE OF MUDD 2001 – GODSMACK HEADLINES, DEFTONES SUPPORT

Part two of this tour heated up as they went out with Boston-based Godsmack, who were supporting their new album Awake. On tour as additional support on most dates were the Deftones who were promoting their new release, White Pony. After nearly two months on the road for this leg of the tour, they were becoming more familiar with each other as live musicians on stage as well as having more exposure for their new single and upcoming album release.

PUDDLE OF MUDD 2001 EUROPE – LINKIN PARK HEADLINES, ADEMA SUPPORT

The band Linkin Park were making a big commotion in the music industry with their debut CD Hybrid Theory and they were venturing across the Atlantic Ocean for a two week tour and Puddle was lucky to get on the ticket as their opening band. Their audiences were very similar and made a good match for some lively shows. Fans in the United Kingdom, Germany, and other European countries were excited to see both of these bands; they fed off of each other and kept the shows fast-paced.

This leg of their tour got off to an eerie start. The band was in New York City on September 10 and left for overseas around 8PM that evening. Not knowing what tomorrow would bring, Paul could see the New York skyline and the World Trade Center from his hotel window, which was five blocks away. On the way to the airport, the skyline was beautiful, all lit up against the dark sky. It would be the last time the band members would see the skyline, as they knew it. Fourteen hours later, there would be no World Trade Center standing. They arrived in Germany and of course were worried about their families in the United States; things were chaotic in airports, customs and just a world of uncertainty. They decided to keep their obligations to keep the tour going overseas. Spookily, just after leaving Hamburg, Germany several terrorists were arrested in Hamburg, it had to be a strange feeling they were close twice to what could have been a deadly situation. Shock and amazement were an understatement, yet they tried to do their share to show some strength that time moves on.

PUDDLE OF MUDD 2001 – PUDDLE HEADLINES, MESH STL SUPPORT

Ready to cut their teeth as headliners, Puddle of Mudd went out on a short U.S. tour that included some radio shows with Mesh StL in the opening spot. Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, this band was just as eager to get on the road promoting their debut album Lowercase. It was also an opportunity for Puddle to play with Sevendust and another show with Memphis-based Saliva.

PAPER PRESS 2001

Chart Magazine

October 2001 – Interview and photo of Wes

Guitar One

November 2001 – Control, Incubus cover

Guitar World

October 2001 – Control Tabs

Hits

September 2001 – POM is #1 Vibe-rater for Control

Maximum Ink

August 3 – September 6, 2001 – Wes

Metal Edge

November 2001 – Puddle of Mudd Come Clean

Revolver

November 2001 – Kansas City Rockers have a friend at the top



Rock Sound

September 2001 – Significant Others

Rolling Stone

11-13-01 – Durst gets into Puddle of Mudd

Venice Magazine

11-17-01

Circus

November 2001 – Poster of Wes

Hit Parader

December 2001 – New Band of the Year – Clean and Mean

Guitar One

October 2001 – Wes and Paul – 2 pages plus picture (need this article)

TELEVISION 2001

07-31-01 MTV TRL Control Video Debut

Fred Durst and Wes were on hand on MTV’s TRL to debut Puddle’s first music video Control from their new album Come Clean. Fred is proud to introduce the lead singer from the new band Puddle of Mudd, and the host was quick to say the listeners should be familiar with them somewhat, they have a big hit playing on radio right now. There isn’t much interview time but the host does ask Wes how they got together with Fred. This is one of the first places we get to hear briefly about the fake backstage pass story and the demo that Wes managed to pawn off to one of Fred’s security guards.

They mention this video was filmed in Fred’s hometown of Jacksonville, FL, and he also had the job of directing the video. Fred wanted the video to appear as if the band were in that situation and keep it realistic.

The host breaks to the video and when they come back live, the audience showed their liking to the video with a big round of applause. A few in the crowd were obviously fans of the band and had become familiar with the song and sang along, clearly they had picked up the lyrics from radio, as the album had not yet dropped to the public.

08-31-01 MTV TRL

This was Puddle of Mudd’s first live appearance in MTV’s TRL and they lived up to the hype with a lively acoustic version of the song. Host Carson Daly introduced the band and the crowd went crazy, they couldn’t wait and they let the band know it.

As the band entered the studio, it had to seem surreal. Paul, showing his enthusiasm, jumps to the window overlooking Times Square and does a spread eagle with his arms up to the people on the street below. It is the band’s first view from that vantage point, and only they know what they were thinking at that moment. TRL host Carson comments he had seen the band the day before in a restaurant, but missed his chance to say hello, the band was in and out before he could get over to them.

The conversation turns to rock music in general, there was currently quite a bit of rock on MTV now, TRL in particular and with that there were some very good music videos coming out, including Alien Ant Farm and the Foo Fighters. Paul comments he likes the new Alien Ant Farm video.

Puddle are going to do an acoustic version of Control and Carson asks about performing that song, Wes said they had been playing the song everywhere in radio stations lately and then the band gets a plug from Carson for the new album that just hit the stores.

Inside the TRL studio, the live audience was into the band whole-heartedly, shouting props in the middle of the performance and singing along as well and ending with a huge round of applause. Bringing it in rock and roll style in denim and tees, or that should be denim and knees in Wes’ case, not that the ladies seemed to mind, the audience was ecstatic. With some fans on the street in Times Square just outside the window, they were missing out on the best band of the day. Wes was strong with his vocals; Paul and Doug were at their utmost of concentration on their acoustic instruments while Greg gave the congas an intense workout.

Carson goes to the small studio stage at the end of the song and tells Doug he was sick and slamming on the bass. Doug starts to comment, but Carson isn’t aware Doug was going to reply and as he starts to make a statement it is too late, Carson had already turned to Wes to continue the show. Carson