Static X

July 20, 2005

Static X have been through more than a few ch-ch-ch-changes, as David Bowie might say. Now on their fourth album of original material, the band is also nearly back to their original configuration, which Static terms as “...getting the old team back together.”
A little history: Static X was formed in ‘94 in Los Angeles by Michigan’s own Wayne Static, along with Illinois native drummer Ken Jay, who was introduced to Static at a record store by none other than Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan. Signed four years later, the band’s blend of metal, goth, aggressive vocals, and industrial dance influences proved a success, sending their Death Trip album into platinum status and earning the band several stints on the Ozzfest tour.
Unfortunately, success doesn’t always keep a band together, as guitarist/programmer Koichi Fukada and Ken Jay both left for other projects around 2003. But now, Fukada’s back - in part because the position of guitarist, which had been taken over by Tripp Eisen, was quickly opened up again by Static when Eisen was recently arrested on criminal charges. Producer Ulrich Wild is back working with the band again, as well.
Jay may still be MIA as far as Static X is concerned, but there’s a vitality that’s been shot back into the band with the departure of Eisen and with their reunion of sorts, and the result is an album that’s as much a confirmation of that reunion as it is a new set of songs.
“Well, we’ve got three-fourths of the original lineup back,” Wayne Static explains, “and it kinda feels like we’re back to square one. But that’s a good thing. It’s hard to keep things together, hard to keep bands together, and it’s hard to keep people in the same space. But it’s all good.”
Static is used to trying to keep bands together. “I had bands going all through high school and college,” he laughs.
He grew up in Shelby, Michigan and spent his college days at Western Michigan University. His hometown compadres are sure to show up for Static X’s upcoming Traverse City show.
“I’ll be there with my mom and dad,” Static confirms,”I have lots of friends from TC, and my parents live in Muskegon now. We usually play in Michigan, and I also make a trip back to Michigan about once a year.” (Static currently lives in California.)
So what’s to be expected at a Static X show? Well, plenty of energy, that’s for sure. MP3.com calls their new record “...raucous... an industrial thrash waste valve...” and their MTV.com bio calls the band “...rejuvenated.” Static says they’ll be playing tunes from their new effort, Start A War, as well as from all of their previous albums.
“We’ll be playing songs from all of it,” he continues. “We’ve been touring for so long now that we’ve got a serious dedicated following, so we like to make ‘em happy. Not a lot of bands get such dedicated fans.”
Static X tourmates being American Head Charge, Blood Simple, and Ten Years, hardcore fans are set to get a virtual overload of music when they show up for a Static X show.
And Static also sounds pretty excited about the new album itself. “It’s actually a CD with DVD, and it’s got lots of cool stuff on it, entertaining stuff, behind the scenes stuff. Tell everyone to check it out!”

Static X plays live on Wednesday, July 20 at Ground Zero in Traverse City with special guests American Head Charge, Blood Simple, and Ten Years; doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.; tix available now.