Techno News: The Late Wayne Static Soul Keeps Static-X Focused

Static-X describes itself as an American industrial metal band. Their music plays a strong flavor of techno spicing up the dance beat and rhythm. Still, there might be those few listeners who say Static-X guitarist delivers the rock.

If you looked at a picture of Wayne Static guitar playing, you noticed that his hairdo relates to his last name. The hair goes straight up as if he’s electrified. But, in an interview with UGO Static admits he used lots of hairsprays while blow-drying his hair.

Static, the driving force behind the band, he told UGO, “I've co-produced every record. I've never been listed as the producer, but I'm the kind of guy that's got to be involved in every aspect of what I do."

Before passing away, Wayne kept Static-X retained the focus of the group even though the band has had its ups and downs with members of the group. The group originated in the Midwest when Static met up with drummer Ken Jay in Chicago. Both decided to head to California together and start a new band.

They arrived and immediately hooked up with Osaka-native Koichi Fukada after Fukada responded to a classified ad, becoming the band’s new guitarist and programmer. Next, the band signed up Tony Campos.

Combining aggressive metal and trash with overtones and techno sounds, Static-X became a successful band. In February 1998, Warner Bros. signed up the band for a recording session. Wisconsin Death Trip arrived on the streets close to a year after signing their contract and went certified gold.

Fukada left the band, and Tripp Eisen took his place for the recording of Machine in 2001. Then, Jay left after recording Shadow Done in 2003. Unfortunately, Eisen had to leave the group for personal reasons in 2004. That didn’t stop Static-X, and Wayne kept the group focused. Fukada rejoined taking his former position as guitar and programmer. Nick Oshiro came on as the full-time drummer.

In 2005, Static-X felt rejuvenated and recorded Start a War, a popular album. Another setback occurred when Tripp had a run-in with the law and immediately fired. Still, the group continued to make aggressive music with the release of Cannibal in 2007 and Cult of Static released in 2009.

Wayne did keep the band moving forward despite all the setbacks. All I can say is Wayne had his problems. A tragic figure, who lived a life of self-destructing. Abusing both drugs and alcohol sends artists in the wrong direction.

The Static-X discovered vocal tracks of Wayne Static. It appears the tracks were lost and then found. Static recorded them before his death, so Project Regeneration album features his lost vocal tracks on more than half of the album.

The surviving members of the group (drummer Ken Jay, guitarist Koichi Fukuda, bassist Tony Campos) reunited with a Wisconsin Death Trip 20th anniversary tour. The tour commemorates Static-X’s debut of their first studio album after Wayne Static met Ken Jay in Chicago at Virgin Records and formed the band.

The remaining members of the band are excited and posted the news recently, starting with “WE HAVE AMAZING NEWS!!“

They went on to announce the arrival of Project Regeneration arriving on the streets, explaining the extra work it took to get Wayne’s vocals on the album.

They report 12 tracks to the album along with the release of videos. One hiccup came into play with the album’s release. The band needs a label partner, and once that is cinched. The album will be officially released. They released some teaser clips and qualified them with “works in progress.”

On a final note, as they finalize the album, they went on their 20th-anniversary tour. The tour began in Tempe, Arizona and ended in Las Vegas.

All in all, I am curious about Wayne’s vocals on the next album. It sounds too good to be true. We shall see.