Scott Meissner, the brains and soul behind Majestic Mudd, has had music as a major influence since he was very young. “When I was seven, I began playing drums. I learned from watching the drummers in my brothers’ bands while they were jamming in the basement. I began playing guitar at age nine or ten, my oldest brother Dave taught me three chords and told me to go write a song. It actually was a pretty decent song!” Scott credits both his brothers, Dave and Jeff, as his main musical and personal influences. “I learned to play several instruments and write songs mainly from my two older brothers. They were, and will always be, my heroes, my role models, my teachers, and my mentors. Thank you guys!” Because of this influence, Scott plays, “guitar, both acoustic and electric, 12-string bass guitar, drums, percussion, keyboard, drum programming and whatever else I can find laying around! I did take a few months of vocal lessons because I wanted to make sure I didn’t wreck anything in my throat. Other than that, I learned everything else from my two brothers or by ear.”

Scott told us more about his beloved brothers. “My oldest brother, Dave was a spiritual giant of love, life and music. He died of leukemia in 1994 at age 32. Dave was erupting with life. He loved from deep in his soul, and he poured his heart into every inch of his music. He was the free spirit and most of what he knew he learned on his own through research and just figuring it out. Dave taught me how to play guitar, write songs, and record music. During his last year on earth, he taught us all how to live life through love and compassion.”

“Jeff was always living the will of God. My only other brother died of hypothermia in a kite surfing accident in 2007 at age 40. Jeff was the very highly educated and very technical one in the family. He studied life, love, and music, and mastered all three. As far as I’m concerned, Jeff knew everything, he always had an answer on the tip of his tongue to whatever question you were asking, whether it was about God, or the origin of the pentatonic minor scale. He never talked about doing things, he just did them.”

Scott grew up in Sussex, Wisconsin, and now resides a few miles down the road in Menomonee Falls with his family. He has quite an eclectic taste in music. “I love practically every type of music. I was a metal dude and rocker guy when I was young, then I got into a serious rap phase - old school, of course - along with pop in my early teens, then it was classic rock, blues and jazz,” Scott explained. “I have been writing, recording and performing music for a long time and my major goal was to get it to sound as good as what is on the radio. In early 2007, when I began writing songs for the new album “On The Edge Of Something” it was like a switch was flipped and the music reached a new level. It had gotten to where I really enjoyed listening to the songs and I am my very worst critic!

As for Majestic Mudd’s music, “I wrote and recorded everything on the album myself and I play live show either as a solo act or with the following band members – Chuck Brummond on drums and percussion, Eric “Bearcave” Madunic on bass and vocals, Steve “Chimmy” Chmielewski on drums and percussion, and Greg Knaebe on keyboards.” Their music, as Scott put it, “is Adult Alternative in a category with U2, Matchbox20 and Ben Harper. It is a mixture of several genres including rock, roots, blues, pop, jazz, Christian, alternative and soul.” The band got together when, “after I finished the album, I wanted to start playing out live so I could promote it and get back on stage. I called a couple neighbors and some good friends and we put it all together,” Scott said.

“Our live performances are not only exciting musically or uplifting inspirationally, but it is almost like a comedy where the audience is definitely a big part of the show. Also, I’m a really nice guy! I truly want you to get more out of my music than I do, and the music comes genuinely from my heart and soul and meant to be a positive experience.”

The band’s name has quite an interesting meaning. Scott said, “Majestic Mudd is an earthy fusion of water, dirt and life. When life gives you Mudd, make it Majestic! It is a philosophy of making the best out of any bad situation you may face.”

The band plays a number of gigs in the greater Milwaukee, WI area and their music can be found on ITunes, CD Baby, ReverbNation, as well as off the band’s website, majesticmudd.com. They also have pages on Facebook and Myspace. Check them out! You will not be disappointed!