http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flintjournal/index.ssf?/base/features-3/120309420817350.xml&coll=5

02-15-08

Puddle of Mudd gets its moment in the sun

FLINT

THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION

Friday, February 15, 2008

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Contributing writer

Puddle of Mudd singer/guitarist Wes Scantlin is sitting on his bus talking on the phone, trying his best to answer questions in between yawns and sips of Sprite. It appears the perils of fame - and relentless traveling - have gotten the best of him.

He admitted he didn't really care what his new album was named, just as long as it hit stores. So Scantlin relegated the task to those around him. (The eventual title was "Famous," taken from the song of the same name.)

"We were just kind of like, 'Name it whatever you want to name it,'" Scantlin said through one of his many yawns. "We just want it to come out."

The album title's exposure, as well as the Missouri band's tour with Nickelback, helped push the title track on the air. Puddle of Mudd's "Famous" was also the WWE One Night Stand 2007 official theme song, and it is featured in the videogame WWE Smackdown versus Raw 2008 as well.

Now radio listeners are hearing the next single on the air, the quirky "Psycho:" "Maybe I'm the one/ Maybe I'm the one who is the schizophrenic psycho." Scantlin showed some attachment to that song.

"Psycho' is one of those little ditties that just pops out of nowhere," Scantlin said. "When I write songs, they are either (a) really good or (b) they suck and I throw them away."

Formed in 1993 in Kansas City, Mo., Puddle of Mudd initially reached rock radio in the early 2000s with the song "Blurry," which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 in the United Kingdom. The album from which it came, "Drift and Die," reached triple platinum and produced the subsequent single "She Hates Me."

The band - bassist Doug Ardito, lead guitarist Christian Stone and drummer Ryan Yerdon - scored two more hits from its next album, "Life on Display." "Away From Me" and "Heel Over Head" helped bolster sales to a paltry 650,000 copies. "Famous" peaked at No. 27 and at press time landed at No. 127 on Billboard's 200 album chart.

"Famous'" next single is the ballad "We Don't Have to Look Back Now," the album's hit apparent.

"Yeah, that song is going to be the next single," Scantlin said. "I found that out a couple days ago. I'm pretty stoked to hear that. Yeah it's pretty good song. Yeah, it was pretty much a no-brainer. I knew it was a hit when I wrote it."

Scantlin sounds exhausted but he perks up when asked about "Famous'" producer/musician Bill Stevenson of the Descendents and Black Flag fame. Stevenson is primarily known for his work with indie bands, such as Michigan's Suicide Machines and Mustard Plug.

"He worked very, very hard," Scantlin said. "He's actually a really talented musician all around. But he's actually one of the hardest-working guys I've ever actually met. He just works. That's all he does."

The same could be said for Puddle of Mudd. Scantlin keeps it fresh by changing up the set list every night and sticking to his regimen.

"I get enough sleep. Eat the right diet and try to stay healthy and stay alive," he said. "I feel really good about it."

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