Wesley Reid Scantlin (born June 9, 1972) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and the only remaining founding member of the American post-grunge band Puddle of Mudd.
Video Wes Scantlin
Early life
Scantlin was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from high school in 1990 from Park Hill High School in Kansas City.
Maps Wes Scantlin
Career
Scantlin has been the guitarist and lead singer for the rock band Puddle of Mudd since they released their debut album, Stuck. They released their next album Abrasive in 1997. Four years later, with the addition of three new members, Come Clean was released in 2001. In 2003, the band released Life on Display. Then they released the album Famous in 2007. Most recently Puddle of Mudd released Vol. 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate in 2009. The first single off the album was "Spaceship".
Scantlin sometimes tours with Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, playing acoustic Alice in Chains songs. He was also one of the musicians that participated in Alice in Chains reunion tsunami benefit show. Scantlin was one of the many artists who worked with Carlos Santana on his album, All That I Am, specifically on the song "Just Feel Better". The song was recorded with Scantlin and Steven Tyler; however, Tyler's version appears on the album.
Scantlin has been ranked in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists by Hit Parader (#96).
Scantlin was influenced by groups such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Van Halen.
Personal life
Scantlin has a son, Jordan, born in 1997 from a previous relationship. Scantlin married Jessica Nicole Smith in January 2008. The couple filed for divorce in 2011, and the divorce was finalized in May 2012. His life was featured in his music video Blurry.
Legal troubles and controversy
Arrests
In 2002, he and his then fiancee, actress Michelle Rubin, were both arrested for allegations of domestic violence after witnesses reported seeing the couple, on their way to a video shoot, fighting on the side of Highway 126 in Piru, California. Several witnesses reported seeing Scantlin forcing Rubin into a Jeep Cherokee driven by an unknown third person. Scantlin and Rubin were both arrested and were released after posting $20,000 bail each.
On September 4, 2012, Scantlin was arrested while traveling on a cross country flight from Boston to Los Angeles because he was intoxicated. The airplane had to make an emergency landing in Austin, Texas. He was charged with public intoxication.
In May 2013, Scantlin was arrested on domestic violence charges after he apparently dragged his ex-wife and then pulled her by the arm or the shirt.
In 2013, Scantlin was arrested on charges of felony vandalism after he used a buzz saw to destroy some property that was on his neighbor's patio.
On April 15, 2015, Scantlin was arrested and charged for disorderly conduct at the Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
On July 26, 2015, Scantlin was arrested in the early morning hours after leading Renville County, Minnesota sheriff deputies on a high-speed chase in excess of 100 mph. Scantlin was facing a felony charge of fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle and two gross misdemeanors of driving under the influence of alcohol, but the charges were eventually dropped.
On August 5, 2015, less than one month removed from his last arrest, Scantlin was arrested in Sturgis, South Dakota for driving under the influence.
On January 10, 2016, he tried to re-enter the house he lost in foreclosure the previous year, and was arrested for destroying property inside the residence.
On April 2, 2016, Scantlin was arrested at his Los Angeles home following a standoff with 30 armed police officers.
On August 16, 2016, Scantlin was caught drinking just before a flight to Louisville, Kentucky. He was removed from the flight and so had to cancel a scheduled performance in Louisville.
On August 23, 2016, Scantlin wired up two cars, to try to deter thieves who were breaking into his car, by attaching a radio to the underside of one vehicle with wires leading to the motor, while the second had wires leading from one door to the gas tank. This resulted in neighbors reporting the incident to the police.
On August 18, 2017, Thetford Mines' Festival de la Relève had to cancel a performance by Puddle of Mudd, who was the festival's headliner, after neither Scantlin, nor the rest of the band appeared at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, where volunteers were to pick them up to drive them to the festival. No reason was given for the band's absence.
On September 9 2017, Scantlin was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after he tried boarding a plane with a BB gun, his bail was $850,000. It appears there were other charges as well.
Onstage incidents
During a 2004 show at the Headliners night club in Toledo, Ohio, Scantlin took the stage with his band, but after only four songs admitted to the audience that he was too intoxicated to continue. Frustrated, his bandmates walked off the set, leaving Scantlin by himself on stage.
On April 16, 2014, Scantlin had an on-stage meltdown during a show at Trees Dallas, in which he threw a microphone and beer into the audience, as well as appearing to threaten and attempt to physically attack members of the audience. He also received criticism as he appeared to be lip-syncing during the performance.
During a live performance on April 2, 2015, Scantlin had a meltdown, smashing his guitar, headphones and part of the drummer's kit.
References
Source of article : Wikipedia