Slow, Public Suicide
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86575)
United States
March 29, 2016 2:12pm CST
I'm about to turn 56, so please forgive me when I say I have no clue who the band Puddle of Mudd is. I have seen the name pop up in news feeds way too much lately, though, because of their lead singer, Wes Scantlin, has engaged in some terrible behavior onstage lately.
A couple of months ago he went off on a fan, accusing a guy in the audience of "stealing my house." Scantlin was obviously drunk when this happened.
Apparently he did it again. During a show in Doncaster, England, Scantlin started an incoherent rant about things. In response his band mates walked off stage, leaving him alone to face the jeers from the audience. During the tirade Scantlin boasted about being high on alcohol and crack.
I just have to shake my head. A number of fans have stated in tweets and Facebook comments that nobody should be surprised when this happens (because these aren't the only two times it's happened, apparently). More significantly, there are countless tweets and replies BEGGING for Scantlin to get treatment for what is obviously a severely out-of-control alcohol and drug problem.
This appears to be another case of a rocker committing a slow, public suicide. Last year it was former Stone Temple Pilots (another band I've heard of but have no knowledge of their music) lead singer Scott Weiland, who died December 3 of a drug and alcohol overdose at the age of 48. (Scantlin is 43.). After Weiland's death his ex-wife wrote an "open letter" in Rolling Stone, begging fans to stop glamorizing and glorifying this type of behavior.
"At some point," she wrote, "this will happen again – because as a society we almost encourage it. We read awful show reviews, watch videos of artists falling down, unable to recall their lyrics streaming on a teleprompter just a few feet away. And then we click 'add to cart' because what actually belongs in a hospital is now considered art."
There are, as someone commented on one of the news articles about Scantlin's most recent incident, probably people who are going to see Puddle of Mudd to "see if Wes is going to die onstage." It's a good possibility.
I don't know this guy, and I don't know his band or his music. What I DO know is that Scott Weiland's ex-wife is correct. We have to stop "woo-hoo"ing and cheering people who are killing themselves with drugs and liquor before our eyes.
I hope this guy gets help before he turns into another rock and roll casualty.
9 people like this
9 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
29 Mar 16
The unfortunate fact about addiction is that you cannot force anyone to get help. You can only suggest that they need help.
There are times in my life when I felt like a broken record stuck on one line. However, when they finally get it, they get it. Sadly though, for others it is like a broken record stuck and repeated. We can only hope and pray that they too will get it before it is too late.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
29 Mar 16
@FourWalls I hope so too for his sake that they can talk some sense into him.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Mar 16
I am sort of shocked you aren't familiar with Puddle of Mudd. They basically came out of the grunge movement and Fred Durst put them on the map. You must have heard Blurry which was a #1.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
30 Mar 16
I stopped listening to mainstream radio in 1984. Grunge wasn't a genre aimed at me (and by that time MTV had stopped being MUSIC TV). So, I have heard OF them, but the only thing I've heard by them is about 45 seconds of their cover of Neil Young's "Old Man."
@crossbones27 (52907)
• Mojave, California
30 Mar 16
I have heard the band. They have one song I really like and a couple of decent ones. Outside that I have never listened to them much. It is a sad situation, but do think many people in this position are enabled more than anything. They usually are never given any constructive criticism until it is to late, and pretty much told they can do no wrong. That is also why Justin Beiber and Miley Cyrus act like such spoiled Children.
There is some bands that still drink very heavy,but have learned how to keep it under the radar. Can't ask anyone to change if they do not want to. I have heard of many musicians using a spit bucket where they take a swig from the bottle and spit it out that way they get the taste in their mouth. This way they can still perform their shows in a way we are costumed to seeing. I have always felt what people do in their off time is their business. I really think the problem is easier to solve than people think. He just needs people around him to support him. It sure worked with bands like Rancid, even the Rolling Stones.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
29 Mar 16
I think but not sure.@crossbones27 every talked about this?
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (52907)
• Mojave, California
30 Mar 16
I have, not as this is a fairly new story that has come to light.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
30 Mar 16
I don't know either group either, but the wife is correct. Maybe since the guy's bandmates left him alone to deal with the results of his mouth, he'd wise up and at the very least keep his mouth shut.
Have a happy upcoming birthday.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
29 Mar 16
I haven't, either, but their Picky Wedia page says they've sold over 7 million albums. 
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
29 Mar 16
Very sad indeed. Yes it is applauded as a way of life for sure my friend.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
29 Mar 16
Yeah, the guy needs help.
Oh, and Stone Temple Pilots were a pretty good band. Weiland was a pretty charismatic front man.
1 person likes this
