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)
Terminal
Static-X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Descending, unending
Light the halo
Watch the day glow
Spiral is viral
I'm seeing believing
Dig the feedback
Harder and harder
The hollow deceiver
Hit the noise box
Smash the ice box
Louder and louder
Forgetting the setting
Kill the digital
Beat the terminal
Go, take it slow
Let it go
Get down hard
Down, it's terminal
Sensing, commencing
The final dismantle
Your confusion
My illusion
Terminal heading
Advance to the hideout
Put the light out
Throw me down, throw me down
Harder and harder
The hollow deceiver
Hit the noise box
Smash the ice box
Louder and louder
Forgetting the setting
Kill the digital
Beat the terminal
Go, take it slow
Let it go
Get down hard
Down, it's terminal
Go, take it slow
Get down hard
It's terminal
Go, take it slow
Let it go
Get down hard
Down, it's terminal
Slow, go take it
Slow, go take it
Slow, go take it slow
The lyrics of the song Terminal by Static-X describe a sense of descending into an intense and chaotic experience. The lines "Spinning and whirling, descending, unending, light the halo, watch the day glow" set the scene for a dizzying and overwhelming journey. The "spiral" mentioned in the next verse refers to the repetition and cyclical nature of the experience, which is vividly conveyed through the use of alliteration and rhyme. The line "I'm seeing believing" suggests that the experience is so visceral and sensory that it becomes difficult to discern between reality and illusion.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the destructive and aggressive nature of the experience, with lines such as "hit the noise box, smash the ice box, kill the digital" that evoke a sense of violence and rebellion. The lyrics also contain a sense of urgency and finality, with references to "the final dismantle" and "terminal heading" creating a feeling of impending doom. The final repetition of the phrase "go, take it slow" suggests a sense of resignation or acceptance of the experience, even as it continues to be overwhelming and intense.
Line by Line Meaning
Spinning and whirling
The world is in chaos, a whirlwind of activity, overwhelming and uncontrolled.
Descending, unending
The chaos continues without any hope of ceasing, spiraling downwards into a bleak conclusion.
Light the halo
Illuminate the world, give hope, but also see reality more clearly, including the darkness.
Watch the day glow
Experience the vibrant beauty of life, but be aware of its impermanence and fleeting nature.
Spiral is viral
The chaos is contagious, spreading and infecting everything around it.
I'm seeing believing
Only when you witness something for yourself can you truly understand it and accept its reality.
Dig the feedback
Embrace the criticism, use it to grow and improve.
Take another crack at it
If at first you don't succeed, try again, learn from your failures, and persevere until you achieve your goals.
Harder and harder
The challenges in life become increasingly difficult, requiring more effort, willpower, and determination to overcome.
The hollow deceiver
A false, empty promise or hope that ultimately betrays and disappoints those who trust in it.
Hit the noise box
Make your voice heard, speak your mind, and don't let anyone silence you.
Smash the ice box
Break free from the constraints and limitations of society, push boundaries, and challenge the status quo.
Louder and louder
Rise above the noise and chaos, become more confident, assertive, and powerful.
Forgetting the setting
Lose sight of your surroundings, your present circumstances, and focus single-mindedly on your goals, ambitions, and passions.
Kill the digital
Disconnect from the distractions and superficiality of modern technology, free yourself from its grasp, and live in the moment.
Beat the terminal
Overcome the final obstacle, escape the inevitable end of life, and achieve immortality in some way, whether through legacy or memory.
Go, take it slow
Don't rush in recklessly, consider your actions carefully, and proceed at a steady pace.
Let it go
Release your concerns, worries, and fears, accept what you cannot change, and move forward with confidence and clarity.
Get down hard
Focus intensely, put in maximum effort, and leave everything you have on the field of life.
Down, it's terminal
Your journey is coming to an end, the final destination is in sight, and you must face the consequences of your choices and actions.
Sensing, commencing
Feeling the beginning of the end, knowing the time is near and preparing for it.
The final dismantle
The last stage of breaking down, bringing everything to a close, and readying oneself to depart.
Your confusion
The uncertainty and doubt that plague everyone at some point in their lives, a reflection of inner turmoil and indecision.
My illusion
The perception and reality that we create for ourselves, the false beliefs and ideas that we hold, and the need to see the truth.
Terminal heading
The moment of death is approaching, the irreversible trajectory is set, and there is no escape.
Advance to the hideout
Retreat from the world, find sanctuary or escape, but also confront the reality of the situation.
Put the light out
Accepting the fate that awaits, letting go of life, and embracing the darkness.
Throw me down, throw me down
Surrendering to the inevitable, accepting the end, and welcoming the release from suffering.
Slow, go take it
Be patient, take the long view, plan ahead, and focus on the journey more than the destination itself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANTONIO CAMPOS, WAYNE WELLS, WAYNE R. (STATIC-X) WELLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind