The band's debut album, Wisconsin Death Trip, was released March 23, 1999. Notable songs from the album include Push It, I'm With Stupid, Bled For Days, and Fix. Static-X's touring schedule in support of the album included two Ozzfest stints. The following year saw the release of the little-known EP The Death Trip Continues, and the band contributed the song "Otsegolation" to the PlayStation video game Omega Boost. Push It also appeared on the Playstation video games Street Skater 2 & Duke Nukem: Land of the Babes.
After recording their follow-up album Machine, guitarist Koichi Fukuda left the band to spend time with his family and pursue other musical opportunities. Tripp Eisen, formerly of Dope, stepped in as Fukuda's replacement. Machine was released May 22, 2001.
Static-X quickly began work on their third album Shadow Zone, this time with Eisen performing and writing on the album. Before they started recording, however, Ken Jay left the band due to "political differences." Josh Freese of A Perfect Circle was brought in to drum on the album, and Nick Oshiro, formerly of Seether, was later selected as Jay's replacement. Shadow Zone was released October 7, 2003, and July 20, 2004 saw the release of Beneath... Between... Beyond..., a collection of rarities and demos. Later that year, Wayne did guest vocals on the Skinny Puppy song Use Less.
Shortly after the release of Beneath... Between... Beyond..., the band commenced work on their fourth studio album, Start a War. In February of 2005, Tripp Eisen was arrested in a sex scandal involving minors, and was fired from Static-X shortly after. Former guitarist Koichi Fukuda, who had been mixing the new album, rejoined Static-X to fill the vacancy left by Eisen. Start a War was released June 14, 2005.
Cannibal, released on April 3, 2007, marked the studio return of their original guitarist, Koichi Fukuda. One of the new tracks called "No Submission" is available on the Saw III soundtrack. The full track has also been released on Static-X's MySpace page. "Cannibal" was released as a digital download single at iTunes. "Destroyer" was released as a lead off radio single, before the album was released. Videos for the singles were supposed to be taken at the same time.
On March 20, the upcoming album was preceded with an exclusive Destroyer EP. The video for "Destroyer" has also been produced and is available now at headbangersball.com. The album itself debuted at #36 in the U.S. with sales of over 30,000.
On May 10, 2007 it was announced that the band would be playing on the main stage at Ozzfest 2007. Additionally, in a recent interview, Wayne Static announced his side-project called "Pighammer". The chorus of the song "Destroyer" was used in an advertisement promoting the latest video game in the WWE franchise, Smackdown vs. Raw 2008.
In November 2007, Tony Campos joined legendary industrial act Ministry as a temporary touring bassist for Ministry's C U LaTour in the wake of Paul Raven's death.
The band began their sixth studio album, Cult of Static, in January 2008 after returning from the Operation Annihilation tour in Australia. In a posting at the Static-X message boards Wayne Static said that this time around he is focusing on longer buildups and break downs like in the Wisconsin Death Trip days of the band, however the album still maintains the heaviness that was present on Cannibal.
On October 14, 2008 Static-X released their much anticipated live CD/DVD, Cannibal Killers Live. On December 11, 2008 Wayne Static confirmed on the Static-X Message Board the new album's release date and name saying "I had hoped to announce it here first, but my publicist beat me to the punch! The new record is indeed entitled "Cult of Static" and will be released March 17. The "cult" part of the title is not to be taken in any religious manner, I am referring to and giving respect to the loyalty of all you good people that have supported us through the years. This record is definitely darker than Cannibal and has more synths and loops as well. And this is also the most crushing guitar tone I have ever had. There are 11 songs instead of our usual 12, and they are mostly longer and more epic than ever before." The album debut at #16 on the Billboard 200 chart, the highest a Static-X album has ever been since their second studio album, Machine. A new Static-X song called "Lunatic" appeared on soundtrack to the movie Punisher: War Zone.
In 2009, the band performed at the Download Festival. It also was the first time the band made an appearance at Rock on the Range.After finishing their final tour dates in Australia at the end of 2009, Wayne Static announced on the band's official X-Boards that he will now be focusing on his side project Pighammer. In a follow up post he was quoted "It's doubtful I will do anything with Static-X for the next couple years" leading fans to interpret that the band is still together and just on hiatus.
Later, he revealed that Tony Campos had left the band, and Campos has since joined the metal band Soulfly, taking over from Bobby Burns. Koichi Fukuda went on to join industrial metal / ambient band Drugstore Fanatics.
In 2010, Wayne Static has been confirmed for Graspop Metal Meeting 2011 as part of his 'Pighammer' solo project. He released his debut solo album "Pighammer on October 4, 2011.
In 2012 Wayne Static decided to reform Static-X, but none of the original members will join him. Instead his solo band will tour under the name Static-X.
The band's musical styles are industrial metal, alternative metal, and occasionally nu metal. But the band rejected the nu metal label and they also call their music as "evil disco". The band are influenced by metal and industrial bands like Ministry and Fear Factory.
On 1st of November 2014, news surfaced of Wayne Static's death. At this point no formal reason has been published for his passing.
Static died on November 1, 2014 in Landers, California, three days before his 49th birthday. He had consumed half of an oxycodone pill as well as alcohol that morning before going to bed with his wife Tera Wray. She woke up later that day to find that he had died in his sleep. His family issued a statement stating that rumors of his death being drug-related were false, noting that he and Wray had stopped using illicit drugs in 2009. An autopsy later confirmed that Static had died of multiple prescription drug toxicity, consisting of the painkillers oxycodone, hydromorphone, and the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam combined with alcohol, though the report also noted that years of past "chronic prescription drug and alcohol abuse" was a contributing factor.
Former Static-X members Koichi Fukuda and Tony Campos paid tribute to Static. Static was cremated in California. A memorial rock show followed in Los Angeles, and a family service followed in Illinois. In 2019 it was announced that a new Static-X album would be coming out with a new lead singer named "Xer0", who is rumored to be Edsel Dope from the band Dope.
Static-X released an album titled “Project Regeneration Vol. 1” on July 10, 2020 that features completed tracks that use demos of Wayne’s voice. The original band lineup, minus Wayne Static, contributed to this album as a tribute to Wayne. There are a few songs with the entity, Xer0, involved and one featuring Al Jourgensen from the industrial metal band Ministry. Ulrich Wild returned to produce this album along with Edsel Dope.
After multiple pushed back dates, another album called “Project Regeneration Vol. 2” was released on January 26, 2024. It features the last of Wayne’s unfinished vocal demos as well as some Xer0 original tracks. This is the final volume of Project Regeneration.
Members
Xero – vocals, lead guitar (2019-present)
Tony Campos – bass, backing vocals (1994–present)
Koichi Fukuda – lead guitars (1994–2000, 2005–present)
Ken Jay – drums, percussion (1994–2002, 2019-present)
Former
Wayne Static – lead vocals, rhythm guitars, keyboards, programming (1994–2014)
Ashes – lead guitars (2012–2014)
Brent Ashley – bass (2012–2014)
Sean Davidson – drums, percussion (2012–2014)
Tripp Eisen – lead guitars (2001–2005)
Nick Oshiro – drums, percussion (2003–2012)
Set It Off
Static-X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Played light, played hard
Had to go my way
I feel like death wearing a disguise
Can't catch my breath
From all this noise
I want
Give me a new found sensation
Take it
Take all the pills
I'll try anything to get me off
Come on
Kicked in the ass
Why do you tell me I can't?
Fake it
I can't go on
Give me anything to set it off
I bite your tongue
Watch with keen eyes
I found the gun
Nervous excitement
Go on and toush it
You just might like
I sip your poison one last time
My confidence is all that's left
Under this veil I count the minutes
I'm growing weaker
Search for a glimmer
Pulsating sounds come blaring out
You may be right
My mind is gone
I'll try anything to set this off
Set it off
Anything to set it off
The lyrics of Static-X's song Set It Off focus on a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction with life. The persona is bored and wants to feel something new and exciting, even if it means going to dangerous lengths to achieve it. The lines "I feel like death wearing a disguise, can't catch my breath from all this noise" suggest that the persona feels suffocated and trapped by their own life, and that their desperation for a release is taking a toll on their mental and physical health. They turn to pills, poison, and weapons to experience this new sensation, showing a complete disregard for any potential consequences. The repeated refrain "Anything to set it off" emphasizes the persona's commitment to finding this release, no matter what.
The second verse continues this theme of desperation and recklessness. The persona's "confidence is all that's left" and they are counting down the minutes until they can experience this new rush. They have become so consumed with the need for something new that they are willing to risk everything to find it. The line "My mind is gone, I'll try anything to set this off" suggests that the persona is becoming unhinged, and that their pursuit of this new sensation has become all-consuming.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait every hour of every day
I am constantly waiting, without rest or reprieve.
Played light, played hard
I have approached life with both subtlety and aggression.
Had to go my way
I have had to follow my own path, regardless of others' expectations or judgment.
I feel like death wearing a disguise
I feel as if I am already dead, only pretending to be alive.
Can't catch my breath
I am feeling overwhelmed and suffocated by my surroundings.
I want
There is something missing in my life that I am craving.
I'm fucking bored
My current situation is dull, uninspiring, and unfulfilling.
Give me a new found sensation
I am searching for something novel and exciting to experience.
Take it
I am willing to take risks or try anything to find what I'm looking for.
Take all the pills
I am willing to experiment with drugs or other substances to achieve my desired state of mind.
I'll try anything to get me off
I am desperate to escape my current state of boredom and unhappiness, and am willing to go to great lengths to do so.
Come on
I am urging or provoking someone to challenge or defy me in some way.
Kicked in the ass
I am feeling motivated or energized by a recent event or circumstance.
Why do you tell me I can't?
Someone is trying to limit me, and I am questioning their authority or logic.
Fake it
I am pretending, either to myself or to others, that I am more capable or confident than I truly am.
I can't go on
I am feeling overwhelmed and unable to continue with my current course or situation.
Give me anything to set it off
I am desperately seeking a catalyst to break free from my current state and ignite a new passion or purpose in my life.
I bite your tongue
I am provoking someone to speak their mind, or silencing them before they can do so.
Watch with keen eyes
I am observing someone or something with great interest, scrutiny, or suspicion.
I found the gun
I have discovered a powerful tool or weapon that I am not afraid to use.
Nervous excitement
I am feeling a combination of fear and anticipation about what is to come.
Go on and touch it
I am daring someone to take a risk or cross a boundary.
You just might like
I am implying that someone may find pleasure or satisfaction in something they might not initially expect.
I sip your poison one last time
I am indulging in something harmful or dangerous, even though I know it may be my undoing.
My confidence is all that's left
I have lost everything else, and my only source of strength or hope is my belief in myself.
Under this veil I count the minutes
I am feeling trapped or held captive, and am counting the moments until I can escape.
I'm growing weaker
I am losing energy or vitality, and may be close to giving up.
Search for a glimmer
I am desperately seeking any sign of hope or possibility in a bleak situation.
Pulsating sounds come blaring out
I am experiencing an overwhelming, even painful, sensory overload.
You may be right
I am admitting the possibility that someone else is correct or has a valid point.
My mind is gone
I have lost my grip on reality, and may be experiencing a mental breakdown.
I'll try anything to set this off
I am willing to try anything to escape my current state, even if it means risking my own well-being or sanity.
Set it off
I am urging or commanding someone to take action to provoke a dramatic change or transformation.
Anything to set it off
I am willing to take any action necessary to initiate a major change, even if it is risky or dangerous.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERIK OGB BUND, LOURENZO JOAO, DJ LUKE, HAUKE MALECK, STEPHEN MURRAY, DJ STATIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind