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The brewing tension behind one of post-grunge’s most notoriously unstable lineups has officially boiled over. Two long-term former touring members of the multi-platinum rock outfit Puddle of Mudd have broken away to launch a savage, highly pointed new tribute act dubbed X-Mudds.
Promoted explicitly as “the musicians who powered Puddle of Mudd for 10 years,” the project serves as a clear, definitive statement against frontman Wes Scantlin’s decades of erratic behavioral cycles, massive onstage meltdowns, and an astronomical band member turnover rate that has left the official group in complete structural chaos.
Ex-Members Reclaim the Catalog: “The Music is Back”
The foundation of X-Mudds is spearheaded by guitarist/vocalist Matt Fuller and veteran drummer Dave Moreno. Both musicians did multiple grueling stints handling the core instrumentation for Puddle of Mudd, most notably anchoring the touring lineup together through a turbulent decade from 2013 to 2023.
To handle the highly distinctive vocal parts originally recorded by Scantlin, the duo has recruited Gabe Maska—a performer who built a massive underground reputation fronting the widely acclaimed Nirvana tribute band Come As Nirvana.
The promotional rollout for X-Mudds pulls absolutely no punches, framing the new project as a direct rescue mission for the classic radio hits that defined the early 2000s post-grunge boom:
“THE TOURING MEMBERS. THE MUSIC. THE REAL DEAL. The musicians who powered Puddle of Mudd for 10 years are back!!”
By aggressively marketing themselves as the legitimate “Real Deal” anchor of the group’s classic live sound, Fuller and Moreno are presenting rock fans with an unprecedented alternative: the multi-platinum hits they love, delivered with total professional stability and zero percent chance of a sudden onstage collapse.
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Inside the 18-Member Revolving Door of Wes Scantlin
While the formation of a spin-off tribute group is rare in the active rock community, industry insiders view the emergence of X-Mudds as an inevitable breaking point. Puddle of Mudd’s historical ledger reads less like a standard band roster and more like an chaotic revolving door, with frontman Wes Scantlin operating as the sole surviving original constant.
At the moment, public records and historical band archives index a staggering 18 former members who have cycled through the group’s rhythm and lead sections. This exceptionally high turnover rate is directly tied to Scantlin’s highly publicized personal battles and erratic live behavior over the last two decades.
Notable incidents include a notorious disaster in Doncaster, UK, where Fuller, Moreno, and their bassist completely abandoned Scantlin mid-concert, walking off the stage after the frontman suffered an absolute psychological breakdown. Scantlin was left sitting alone on a stool in front of a cursing, hostile crowd before the venue cut his microphone and canceled the gig entirely. While temporary reconciliations kept the lineup afloat for a time, the formal launch of X-Mudds marks a permanent, un-crossable line in the sand.
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FAQ: Puddle of Mudd vs. X-Mudds Split
Who exactly is in the new band X-Mudds? X-Mudds is a high-octane trio consisting of former long-time Puddle of Mudd lead guitarist Matt Fuller, veteran drummer Dave Moreno, and fronted by Gabe Maska from the Nirvana tribute circuit.
Are they allowed to legally tour playing Puddle of Mudd music? Yes. In the United States, venues pay performing rights organizations (such as ASCAP and BMI) broad licensing fees that allow any cover band or independent artist to perform registered catalog material live without needing direct permission from the original songwriter.
Where can fans see X-Mudds perform live this summer? The tribute act has locked in an initial trio of launch dates across the United States:
- 07/11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Cat’s Crawl
- 08/07 – Westland, MI @ Token Lounge
- 08/08 – Marion, OH @ Tiki Stik Fest
STAY LOUD: Catch the full, unfiltered analysis of the post-grunge spin-off wars on the Loaded Radio Daily Podcast. Visit LoadedRadio.com or download our free app now to stream heavy tracks 24/7.
TL;DR:
Former Puddle of Mudd touring veterans Matt Fuller and Dave Moreno have launched “X-Mudds,” a spin-off tribute group fronted by a Nirvana cover vocalist. The project serves as a stable alternative to original frontman Wes Scantlin, whose erratic behavior over the years led to 18 former members leaving the main band. Initial US tour dates drop this July and August.
Is launching an official spin-off tribute group the ultimate way for disgruntled musicians to reclaim their hard work, or should these former members move on to entirely original musical projects? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post “The Real Deal”: Former Puddle of Mudd Members Launch Savage Revenge Band After Decades of Frontman Drama appeared first on Loaded Radio.