Multi-platinum rock band Puddle of Mudd has released a new lyric video for the song “Firefly.” The track, from the band’s latest album, Kiss The Machine, is a multi-layered tribute to fallen rock icons, a reflection on frontman Wes Scantlin‘s own personal battles, and a nostalgic look back at his childhood.
Scantlin explained the song’s primary inspiration as an homage to the voices that influenced him.
He said:
“I wrote ‘Firefly‘ as a tribute to Layne Staley [Alice in Chains], Chester Bennington [Linkin Park], Chris Cornell [Soundgarden] and all the fallen soldiers who gave their lives. Their voices and sacrifices lit a fire in me, and I wanted this song to be a way of keeping their light alive.”
He then connected their struggles to his own, sharing his gratitude for his own survival and the healing power of music.
“They all struggled with demons most people couldn’t see, and the song is my way of recognizing that pain while keeping their light alive. I’ve been through my own battles too, and I’m in a better place now. I feel lucky to still be here. I’m a lucky dude. Music heals me, and I hope it heals others as well.”
Scantlin also revealed a third, more personal layer of meaning in the song, which draws from cherished childhood memories and explains the track’s title.
“I miss my grandma. She used to kick us kids out of the kitchen before supper and send us outside, where we’d catch fireflies in jars and turn them into makeshift lanterns,” he shared. “Those sweet, beautiful memories stayed with me and are woven into this song. I wanted that feeling of joy and light to live inside the song alongside the sadness. The Firefly is that spark of hope we hold onto, even in the darkest times.”
The song “Firefly” is featured on the band’s latest album, Kiss The Machine, which was released in May via Pavement Entertainment.
