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Static-X

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Static-X
File:Static-x44.jpg
Background information
Years active1994–present
MembersWayne Static
Tony Campos
Koichi Fukuda
Nick Oshiro

Static-X is an American Crossover band.

Biography

The beginning and debut (1994-2000)

File:Wisconsin death trip.jpg
Static-X's platinum debut album, Wisconsin Death Trip.

Static-X was formed in 1994 from the ashes of Wayne Static and Ken Jay’s former band, Deep Blue Dream. Static and Jay began searching for members for the new band in Chicago, but after useless search they decided to head to Los Angeles to continue their search. There they met bassist Tony Campos and guitarist Koichi Fukuda, completing the band’s original lineup.

Static-X signed with Warner Brothers Records in early 1998, and released their debut album, Wisconsin Death Trip, in March 23, 1999 and soon after, they released their first single ‘Push It’, followed by ‘I'm With Stupid’ and ‘Bled For Days’ in 2000. Static-X toured strictly in support of the album and twice performed on Ozzfest. In the following year the little-known EP, The Death Trip Continues, was released and the band contributed the song ‘Otsegolation’ to the PlayStation video game, Omega Boost. In 2001, Wisconsin Death Trip went platinum and is to this date Static-X’s only album to reach this success.

Machine/Shadow Zone (2001-2003)

After recording their follow-up album Machine, Koichi Fukuda left the band to spend time with his family and pursue other musical opportunities. As Fukuda’s replacement, Tripp Eisen, formerly of Dope, stepped in. Machine was released May 22, 2001 to major success, and short after, Static-X began work on their third album, Shadow Zone, this time with Eisen performing and writing on the album. However, before they could start recording, Ken Jay left the band due to musical and political differences. To drum on the album, Josh Freese of A Perfect Circle and The Vandals was brought in. Later, Nick Oshiro, formerly of Seether, was selected as Jay’s replacement and the band’s permanent drummer. Shadow Zone was released October 7, 2003.

Beneath, Between, Beyond/Start a War (2004 ―)

July 20, 2004 saw the release of Beneath... Between... Beyond..., a collection of rarities and demos. Due to the release, this was thought by many to be the end of Static-X. However, shortly after the release of Beneath... Between... Beyond..., the band commenced work on their fourth studio album, Start a War. On February, 2005 Tripp Eisen was arrested in a sex scandal involving minors, and was therefore fired from Static-X. Former guitarist Koichi Fukuda, who had been mixing the new album, rejoined Static-X to fill the gap left by Eisen. Start a War was finally released June 14, 2005. From this album, the song "Skinnyman" is in the soundtrack of the famous street racing video game Need For Speed: Most Wanted.

Static-X's latest album to date, Start a War.

The band is now preparing for creation of new record which they plan to work on in Autumn 2006. The new album should be available in the first half of next year. It is said that new album is going to be heavier than anything Static-X has already done. It will also feature 4 tracks that have been recorded for Start a War (e.g. "Hollow").

Static-X cite Ministry, Prong, Pantera and Type O Negative as major musical influences. They are frequently likened to these bands by fans and critics, along with others such as White Zombie, Nine Inch Nails, Fear Factory, Danzig, and Coal Chamber. Their self-described "evil disco" is based on industrial metal, using heavy overdrive distortion, gothic-like keyboards, pounding bass riffs, and fast-paced, angry vocals. Songs generally apply heavy use of synthesizers and insertion of external samples such as movie snippets.

The "Otsego" songs

Static-X is known to involve a version of the title "Otsego" in at least one song on every album, such as the songs 'Otsegolation', 'Otsego Undead', 'Otsegolectric' and 'Otsego Amigo'. The track 'Otsego Undead' is misspelled on the Dracula 2001 Soundtrack and was printed as 'Ostego Undead'. An explanation for the "Otsego" tracks was given in a 2003 interview with Metal Edge Magazine, where Wayne Static says, “Otsego is a town near where I went to college in Michigan (Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo), and it was kind of a depressing, small town-- there was a guy named Dean there, and I had his fake ID.”

Members

Current members

Former members

  • Ken Jay - drums (left due to "musical differences")
  • Tripp Eisen - lead guitar (fired due to a sex scandal involving minors )

Session Members

Discography

Full-Length LPs

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock UK
1999 "Push It" - #36 #20 - Wisconsin Death Trip
2000 "I'm With Stupid" - - #38 - Wisconsin Death Trip
2000 "Bled For Days" - - #36 - Wisconsin Death Trip
2001 "Black and White" - - #35 - Machine
2001 "This Is Not" - - #36 - Machine
2002 "Cold" - - #29 - Machine
2003 "The Only" - - #22 - Shadow Zone
2004 "So" - - #37 - Shadow Zone
2005 "I'm the One" - - #22 - Start a War
2005 "Dirthouse" - - #27 - Start a War

DVDs

Soundtracks

Trivia

  • A Dios Alma Perdida samples spaceship drone sound effects and alien chatter from the film Laserblast.
  • Static-X for a period of time in their early days back in Chicago shared rehearsal space with Smashing Pumpkins.
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