Static-X

Static-X

Static-X is an industrial metal band from Los Angeles, United States, formed in 1994 and active to the present. Their music spans industrial metal, nu metal, alternative metal, alternative rock, industrial, metal and rock.

Formation and early line-up

The group is formed by Wayne Static and drummer Ken Jay after the end of Static’s earlier band, Deep Blue Dream, which also includes future Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan. After moving to Los Angeles, Static and Jay work with guitarist Emerson Swinford and bassist Tony Campos before taking the name Static-X. Guitarist Koichi Fukuda later joins the band.

Albums and chart success

Static-X signs to Warner Bros. Records in 1998 and releases its debut album, Wisconsin Death Trip, in 1999. The record becomes linked with the late-1990s nu metal scene and later goes platinum in the United States. It includes the singles “Push It”, “I’m with Stupid” and “Bled for Days”, and the band tours widely in support of it, including appearances at Ozzfest.

Fukuda leaves after the touring cycle for Wisconsin Death Trip. The second album, Machine, arrives in 2001 and later goes gold; Wayne Static writes most of its material. Tripp Eisen joins for touring, and the band’s third album, Shadow Zone, follows in 2003 with a more melodic sound and the singles “The Only” and “So”.

During the production of Shadow Zone, Ken Jay leaves and is replaced by Josh Freese on recording and Nick Oshiro for touring. The compilation Beneath... Between... Beyond... is released in 2004.

Work on Start a War sees Tripp Eisen dismissed from the band after his arrest in a criminal investigation involving minors. Koichi Fukuda returns, and the album is released in 2005 with the singles “I’m the One” and “Dirthouse”. Cannibal follows in 2007, marks Fukuda’s return to the recording line-up, and includes “Destroyer”, “Cannibal” and “No Submission”, with the last of those appearing on the Saw III soundtrack.

Static-X’s sixth studio album, Cult of Static, appears in 2009 and reaches number 16 on the Billboard 200, the band’s highest chart position since Machine. Its associated tracks include “Lunatic”, which appears on the soundtrack to Punisher: War Zone. Nick Oshiro leaves before touring and is replaced live by Will Hunt.

Break, revival and later work

After touring in 2009, the band enters a period of inactivity amid internal tensions. Tony Campos joins Soulfly, while Wayne Static releases the solo album Pighammer in 2011. In 2012, Static revives the Static-X name with a touring line-up that does not include the original members, and in 2013 he announces the band’s breakup. He continues to perform Static-X material until his death in 2014.

In 2018, original members Tony Campos, Koichi Fukuda and Ken Jay reform Static-X as a tribute to Wayne Static. The group announces Project: Regeneration, built around unreleased recordings featuring Static’s vocals and guest performances. During the reunion tour, the band performs with the masked vocalist Xer0, later identified as Edsel Dope of the band Dope.

Project: Regeneration Vol. 1 is released in 2020 and includes “Hollow (Project Regeneration)”. Project: Regeneration Vol. 2 follows in 2024, with a lead cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Terrible Lie”. The band tours with acts including Fear Factory, Dope, Mushroomhead, Twiztid and Sevendust, and a documentary titled Evil Disco: The Rise, Fall, and Regeneration of Static-X is announced in 2024.

Members

Past and present members include Koichi Fukuda, Ken Jay, Tony Campos, Wayne Static, Steven O’Neal, Tripp Eisen, Nick Oshiro, Brent Ashley, Ashes, Andy Cole, Sean Davidson and Xer0.

The band’s label association includes Otsego Entertainment Group.