Puddle of Mudd’s Wes Scantlin Reveals He’s ’11 Months Sober,’ Returns to Road
Following numerous run-ins with the law, canceled or aborted shows and drunken conflicts with just about everyone, Puddle of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin says he's now 11 months sober, back on the road and feeling great.
"The last year has been… Getting out of incarceration and then going to CRI-Help in Burbank, California, in North Hollywood, that was awesome — it was really great," he told Rock Titan (as seen in the video above). "I'm 11 months sober now almost to the day, and I feel great. And we're just playing shows [and] rocking."
Scantlin thanked his family and friends for encouraging him to return to rehab and helping him to get sober. "There's really nowhere else to go," he said before a July 7 concert in Chester, Pa.
He added that he always knew he wanted to be in a signed rock band, but admitted he was unprepared for the pressure and temptations that musicians often face.
"I saw Van Halen in 1984, on the 'Jump' tour, and I was, like, 'I wanna do that,'" he said. "But you don't see all the other stuff that goes with it. So I've learned to deal with it. And I've got a great family, and they've been behind me and supportive the whole time. And all the fans are all supportive. It's good to stop doing something that's killing you."
After announcing he was sober, members of the rock community rallied behind him. "Love and good vibes to @puddleofmudd Wes on 11 months ," tweeted Adelitas Way. "Hope to see u guys soon."
"Haven’t spoken to him in six years but I’m very glad to see this!" tweeted ex-Puddle of Mudd guitarist Paul Phillips (Operator, Rev Theory, Burn Season).
Now that he's feeling productive, Scantlin and the rest of Puddle of Mudd are getting ready to continue work on the follow-up to the 2009 album Volume 4: Songs In The Key Of Love & Hate.
"I'm going to work with a really killer producer really soon," he said. "So the new record will be coming out really soon." The band also is returning to the road for a U.S. tour, next playing Worcester, Mass. tomorrow night (July 13). See all their dates here.
Scantlin's brushes with the law date back to 2012 when he was arrested after an altercation with a flight attendant. He was also arrested in 2015 in a Denver airport after hopping onto a baggage carousel and becoming a piece of human luggage.
More seriously, the singer and guitarist was busted in 2015 for possession of a controlled substance. The same year, he was arrested several times for driving under the influence. In January 2016 Scantlin was arrested for breaking into his former home and vandalizing the property. In the spring of that year, he blew off two court dates for the offense and was again arrested. Also in 2016, Scantlin stopped various Puddle Of Mudd shows early and stormed offstage. At one concert he accused a fan of stealing his house.
Watch Scantlin talk about his sobriety below with Rock Titan in the player above.
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