After getting the call from Durst, Paul decided to try out for Puddle of Mudd, and was accepted, choosing to leave college in order to join. Fred Durst decided to contact a guitarist he knew from his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, Paul Phillips, who had formerly played in a local band there called Happy Hour. They were still in need of a guitarist and drummer. When Scantlin found out about Ardito's bass playing, they decided to work together. One of the first people Scantlin met upon arriving in California was Doug Ardito, an intern at Interscope Records. Durst contacted Scantlin, and after hearing that his band had broken up, decided to bring him to California to attempt to put a new band together. Scantlin's start in the music business came after a copy of his demo tape was delivered to Fred Durst. Kenny and Sean were still in the band and Wes had gone out as a DJ for his girlfriend. Differences of opinion and other factors led to the break-up of the original Puddle of Mudd by early 1999, leaving Scantlin as the only original member. It had eleven tracks, all written by the band, three of which would eventually make it on to Puddle of Mudd's first major label release. Minus Jimmy Allen, the group released a second album, Abrasive, in 1997 on Hardknocks Records.
It spawned two radio singles (the first was "You Don't Know", the second "Drift and Die"). Rose, and was recorded at Red House Studio in Lawrence, Kansas. The album was produced by the band and E.J. In order to get to their practice space, the band "had to walk through a pile of shit." The group's first album, Stuck, was released in 1994 on V&R Records. According to Wes Scantlin, the band name was inspired by practicing next to the Missouri river levy, which always inundated the band's practice space but never ruined their equipment since they were on the second floor. Puddle of Mudd was formed on Septemin Kansas City by Wes Scantlin (vocals/rhythm guitar), Jimmy Allen (guitar), Sean Sammon (bass), and Kenny Burkitt (drums). 1.6 Re:(disc)overed, upcoming sixth studio album (2011–present).1.5 Vol.4 Songs in the Key of Love and Hate (2009–2010).