Wes Scantlin

Wes Scantlin
Background information
Birth name Wesley Reid Scantlin
Born (1972-06-09) June 9, 1972
Kansas City, Missouri, United States[1]
Genres Hard rock, post-grunge, grunge, alternative rock, alternative metal
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Years active 1990–present
Associated acts Puddle of Mudd
Alice in Chains

Wesley Reid "Wes" Scantlin[1] (born June 9, 1972) is an American songwriter, lead singer, guitarist, and the only remaining founding member of the American post-grunge band Puddle of Mudd.

Career

Wes Scantlin has been guitarist and lead vocalist for 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).

Influences

Scantlin was influenced by groups such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Van Halen.

Personal life

Scantlin graduated from high school in 1990 from Park Hill High School in Kansas City. He has a son, Jordan, born in 1997 from a previous relationship.[2]

He is the cousin of former Miss Missouri Teen USA pageant winner and reality TV participant, Melana Scantlin. He is also related to MLB all star Ryan Braun.

Scantlin married Jessica Nicole Smith in January 2008.[3] The couple filed for divorce in 2011, and the divorce was finalized in May 2012.[4][5]

Legal issues and controversy

Scantlin has had many run-ins with the law over the years, including arrests for several of his controversial acts.

Arrests

Domestic violence

In 2002, he and his then fiance 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. Sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol officers stopped the Jeep shortly thereafter and arrested the couple. Scantlin and Rubin were both booked at the Ventura County jail and were released after posting $20,000 bail each. The reason for the argument remains unknown.[6]

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.[7]

Intoxication

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.[8][9]

On April 15, 2015, Scantlin was arrested and charged for disorderly conduct at the Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[10]

On July 26, 2015, Scantlin was arrested in the early morning hours after leading Renville County (MN) sheriff deputies on a high-speed chase in excess of 100 mph. Scantlin is currently facing a felony charge of fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle and two gross misdemeanors of driving under the influence of alcohol.[11]

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.[12]

On December 26, 2015, he was arrested for drug possession.[13]

Home issues

In 2012, Scantlin found himself in trouble again when he failed to pay nearly $45,000 in federal taxes in 2009, on top of a $17,000 tab for state taxes.[14]

He was arrested in 2013 on charges of felony vandalism after he used a buzz saw to destroy some property that was on his neighbor’s patio.[15][16][17]

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.[18]

On April 2, 2016, Wes was arrested at his Los Angeles home following a standoff with 30 armed police officers.[19]

Miscellaneous

Late in 2007, Scantlin got himself into trouble when he was banned from Graceland for swimming in an off limits pool while touring the facilities.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

On January 16, 2015, Scantlin was arrested at Denver International Airport for riding on the baggage carousel and ending up in the restricted area.[27]

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. He remained on stage for another 30 minutes, insulting the crowd and singing random songs that seemed to be made up as he went along. Objects were then thrown back and forth between Scantlin and the crowd before he walked off the stage, where he was subsequently arrested by the Toledo Police Department for disorderly conduct while intoxicated. On the way to his booking, additional charges were brought after he repeatedly spat on the windows in the back of the police cruiser he was being transported in. He was released on a $150 cash bond. He said he would never play in Toledo again because he was arrested for "nothing".[28]

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.[29]

During a live performance on April 2, 2015, Scantlin had a meltdown, smashing his guitar, headphones and part of the drummer's kit.[30]

On June 20, 2015, Scantlin and his band were booed off stage in Versailles, Ohio, while performing at BMI Indoor Speedway, a small indoor go-cart track in rural Western Ohio. Audience members noted he was extremely intoxicated, sat down often, and was lip-syncing. The official Puddle of Mudd Facebook page was deleted soon after.[31]

On January 30, 2016, during a Puddle of Mudd show in Marietta, Ohio, Scantlin interrupted the song to accuse an audience member of stealing his house, before leaving the stage. The venue subsequently apologized for the incident on Facebook and offered to issue a ticket to any upcoming show of their choice to anyone who had attended the Puddle of Mudd concert that evening.[32]

On March 22, 2016, Wes Scantlin was abandoned on stage by his bandmates after another drunken rant during a concert in Doncaster, UK.[33] On April 30, 2016 he was arrested after a show in Hermosa Beach, California for skipping a court date his trespassing and vandalism case from earlier in 2016. [34] [35] [36]

References

  1. 1 2 "Wes Scantlin". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  2. "Puddle of Mudd : Wes Scantlin : Lead Singer : Guitar". Puddleofmuddfanpage.com. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  3. "Puddle of Mudd Frontman’s Wife Attempts to Throw Out Prenup During Divorce Proceedings". Loudwire.com. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  4. Graham Hartmann (February 9, 2012). "Puddle of Mudd's Wes Scantlin Signs Divorce Papers With Two Smiley Faces". Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  5. Goodman, Abbey (March 11, 2002). "Puddle of Mudd Frontman Arrested After Fight With Fiancee – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  6. "Puddle of Mudd's Wes Scantlin Arrested for Domestic Abuse: Report". Billboard. May 14, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  7. Ethan Sacks (September 4, 2012). "Puddle of Mudd's Wes Scantlin arrested for antics during flight". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  8. Eleanor Gower (September 5, 2012). "Puddle of Mudd singer Wes Scantlin arrested after 'fight over alcohol on flight, forcing plane into emergency landing'". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  9. "Puddle of Mudd's Wes Scantlin arrest at Milkwaukee Airport". Today's TMJ4. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  10. Cherveny, Tom (2015-07-27). "Puddle of Mudd singer plays jail house blues in Olivia | West Central Tribune". Wctrib.com. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  11. "Wes Scantlin Arrested for DUI in South Dakota". Loudwire.com. 2015-08-06. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  12. "Wes Scantlin - Caught Riding Dirty in Beverly Hills". TMZ.com. 2015-12-26. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  13. "Puddle of Mudd Singer Wes Scantlin Reportedly Owes $60,000 in Back Taxes". Loudwire.com. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  14. "Puddle of Mudd's Scantlin Arrested for Vandalism With Buzz Saw". Loudwire.com. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  15. "Puddle of Mudd's Wes Scantlin explains buzz saw-wielding arrest ahead of Utica concert". Syracuse.com. 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  16. "Puddle of Mudd's Scantlin Arrested for Vandalism With Buzz Saw". Loudwire.com. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  17. "Wes Scantlin: Busted for Trashing the House ... He USED to Own!". TMZ.com. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  18. Michallon, Clemence. "Puddle Of Mudd's Wes Scantlin sees 30 armed police officers storm his LA home | Daily Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  19. "Rock Singer Banned From Graceland". Spinner. September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  20. "Puddle of Mudd Banned From Graceland". Cinemablend.com. September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  21. "Melodic Net – Puddle of Muddâ's Wes Banned From Graceland For Life". Melodic.net. September 27, 2007. Archived from the original on June 19, 2010. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  22. "de beste bron van informatie over shoutmouth. Deze website is te koop!". shoutmouth.com. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  23. "Puddle of Mudd.html". The Gauntlet. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  24. Barrett, Simon (September 26, 2007). "Puddle of Mudd in Trouble at Graceland – Blogger News Network". Bloggernews.net. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  25. "Barr's Music 101: Wes Scantlin". Musiconeoone.blogspot.com. September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  26. "Puddle of Mudd's Wes Scantlin Arrested at Denver Airport". Loudwire. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  27. "Puddle Of Mudd Singer Speaks Out On Toledo Incident". Blabbermouth.net. 2004-03-05. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  28. "Puddle of Mudd singer in Dallas concert meltdown". Kegl.com. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
  29. "Puddle of Mudd's Wes Scantlin Smashes Gear Onstage + Walks Out On Fans Mid-Performance". Loudwire. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  30. "PUDDLE OF MUDD Deletes Facebook Page After Being Booed Off Stage". Today. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  31. "Puddle of Mudd's Wes Scantlin Accuses Fan of Stealing His House, Ends Concert". Loudwire.com. 2016-02-02.
  32. "Everyone Else in Puddle of Mudd Walks Offstage During Another Wes Scantlin Meltdown". metasucks.com. 2016-03-28.
  33. http://loudwire.com/puddle-of-mudd-wes-scantlin-arrested-skipping-court-date/
  34. http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/02/puddle-mudd-frontman-wes-scantlin-arrested
  35. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/wtf/another_day_another_wes_scantlin_arrest.html
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