Wes Scantlin
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Wes Scantlin was born Wesley Reid Scantlin, on June 9, 1972, in Kansas.
He has been guitarist and lead vocalist for Puddle of Mudd since releasing their debut Stuck. Three years after Paul moved to college in 1991, they released their next album Abrasive in 1996. Five years later, with the addition of three new members, Come Clean was released in 2001.
In 2003, the band released Life On Display.
Scantlin sometimes tours with ex-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. He is often criticized for trying to sound like Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain, partially due to the fact the Puddle of Mudd is considered by many a Post-Grunge band.
Although it would appear Wes Scantlin's influences would be Alice in Chains and Nirvana, he has stated his main musical influence is Led Zeppelin.
The inspiration for one of Puddle of Mudd's most successful and enduring songs, "Blurry", was Wes' son Jordan. Wes is separated from Jordan's mother. "Blurry" very emotively captures Wes' desire to be a good father to Jordan and to continue spending time with him despite the separation. The music video (which shows a father's joy at being with his son and subsequently the pain he feels when he must return him to the estranged mother) is particularly moving: the child in the clip is actually Jordan.
Wes was one of the many artists who worked with Carlos Santana on his new album, All That I Am, specifically on the song Just Feel Better. The song was recorded with Wes and Steven Tyler but Santana said he felt Tyler did it better, with more emotion, although he liked both. That's why Tyler's version appears on the album.
Wes graduated high school in 1990 from Park Hill High School in Kansas City MO.