Backstage With Gentry Thomas

Wes Scantlin Unfiltered: Music, Life, and the Road Back

Backstage With Gentry Thomas

Show Notes

In this high-energy episode of Backstage Pass with Gentry Thomas, we sit down with Wes Scantlin, frontman of Puddle of Mudd, to talk about the band’s brand-new album Kiss the Machine. Wes opens up about the inspiration behind the record, the evolution of their sound, and what fans can expect from this latest chapter in their rock journey.

He also shares details about upcoming tour dates, what life on the road looks like today, and how performing live continues to fuel his passion for music. Fans can check out tour dates, merch, and more at: Puddle of Mudd

Want to hear the latest music? Watch the new single “Free” here: Puddle Of Mudd - Free

Wes and Gentry dive into everything from the roots of rock music to Wes’s upbringing and how being “country at heart” shaped his style. He reflects on learning guitar in a time before YouTube, where passion, repetition, and raw dedication were the only tools, and how that old-school grind still influences his approach today.

From the rise of Puddle of Mudd to the future of rock, this episode is packed with stories, attitude, and authenticity. Don’t miss it.

More from Backstage With Gentry Thomas

Sep 15, 2026

In this exciting episode of Backstage Pass with Gentry Thomas, Gentry sits down with Darryl Bell and Cornell Young IV to talk about the return of one of television’s most beloved shows, A Different World. The new Netflix continuation brings fans back to Hillman College, the iconic fictional HBCU that helped define style, culture, friendship, and social conversation for a generation.

Aug 6, 2026

In this nostalgic and wildly fun episode of Backstage Pass with Gentry Thomas, legendary TV host Marc Summers joins Gentry to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Double Dare, the messy, groundbreaking game show that helped put Nickelodeon on the map and became a defining piece of childhood for an entire generation.

Jul 21, 2026

In this fascinating episode of Backstage Pass with Gentry Thomas, legendary actor Kelsey Grammer joins Gentry to talk about his new sci-fi mystery film, Lars Shrike Walks the Night. In the film, Grammer plays Lars Shrike, a mysterious character who may have escaped from a writer’s imagination and must navigate the real world with only fragments of understanding. The film arrives on digital platforms July 24.

Jun 18, 2026

In this nostalgic and fun-filled episode of Backstage Pass with Gentry Thomas, actor and legendary voice performer John Ratzenberger joins Gentry to talk about his return to the world of Pixar in Toy Story 5. The new film brings the beloved toys back for a fresh adventure where classic, old-fashioned playthings face off against modern technology. Disney describes the story as “Toy meets Tech,” with Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the gang navigating a world where screens and gadgets are changing the way kids play.

Jun 16, 2026

In this heartfelt and powerful episode of Backstage Pass with Gentry Thomas, country music icon Wynonna Judd joins Gentry to talk about her Raised on Radio Tour with Melissa Etheridge. The tour brings together two legendary voices for a night built around the songs, stories, and radio memories that shaped their lives and careers. Fans can find tour dates and buy tickets here: Wynonna Tour

See all episodes →