Wes Scantlin

Wesley Reid Scantlin (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.

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. The couple filed for divorce in 2011, and the divorce was finalized in May 2012.

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

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

On June 20, 2015, Scantlin and his band were boo'ed 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.

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.

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.