Static-X
Static-X is an american industrial metal band.
Biography
Formed in 1994, the band was originally formed by Wayne Static and Ken Jay. After some researching for members in Chicago, the two went to Los Angeles. There, they met Tony Campos and Koichi Fukuda, completing the first lineup of the band. The band signed with Warner Bros Records in early 1998.
They released their first album, Wisconsin Death Trip, in 1999. Wisconsin Death Trip included such notable songs as Push It, I'm With Stupid, Bled For Days, and Fix. They went on to do two Ozzfest tours. One year later, they released the little-known EP The Death Trip Continues. It is interesting to note that the Playstation game Omega Boost released in September 23, 1999 licensed tracks from the album. It was developed by Polyphony Digital (developers of the Gran Turismo series) and featured Otsegolation on the option screen.
After the recording of their follow-up album Machine, Koichi Fukuda left the band due to personal problems. Tripp Eisen, formerly of Dope, stepped in as Koichi's replacement. The band released their second album Machine in 2001.
Static began work on their third album, Shadow Zone, this time with Tripp perfoming and writing on the album. But before they started recording, Ken Jay left the band because of "political differences". They brought in Josh Freese, who is in A Perfect Circle, to play drums on the album. Officially, though, their drummer is Nick Oshiro, former member of Seether. They released the album in October, 2003. In 2004, they released Beneath...Between...Beyond, a collection of rarities and demos.
The group then began work on their latest album, Start a War. Unfortunately, Tripp was arrested in February of 2005 for "lewd conduct against children". Static dropped him from their line-up two days later. They searched for a new guitarist for a few weeks, and found one that seemed to excite some fans, and disappoint others - Koichi Fukuda, who had been mixing the new album, rejoined as the guitarist. The new album is set to be released in summer 2005.
Releated Artists and Influences
Static-X's music is based on hardcore Industrial metal, using heavy overdrive distortion, fast paced, angry vocals, gothic-like keyboards and brain pounding bass riffs.
Some Static-X fans consider them to be a Industrial metal band similar to Nine Inch Nails, Fear Factory, Danzig, Marilyn Manson and White Zombie/Rob Zombie. Others consider them "Nü-metal" because they lack guitar solos, focus entirely on rhythm guitar, have a lot of nu metal bands as their influences, teen angst lyrics and predictable song structures.
Members
Current members
- Wayne Static - vocals, guitar, programmer
- Tony Campos - bass, backing vocals
- Koichi Fukuda - lead guitars, programming, keyboards
- Nick Oshiro - drums
Former members
- Ken Jay - drums (left the band due to "musical differences")
- Tripp Eisen - lead guitar (ejected from the band due to a scandal involving minors)
Discography
- Wisconsin Death Trip (1999)
- The Death Trip Continues (2000, EP)
- Machine (2001)
- Shadow Zone (2003)
- Beneath Between Beyond (2004, collection)
- Start a War (2005)