Static-X Reunites with Tribute Vocalist Xer0

In 2018, Static-X reunited with original members Tony Campos, Koichi Fukuda, and Ken Jay along with new vocalist Xer0, widely believed to be Dope vocalist Edsel Dope.

Respecting the Artistic Integrity of Static-X

During an interview with Audio Ink Radio, Edsel Dope said that the character Xer0 allows him some privacy and that his moniker in the band should be respected. According to Dope, Static-X can have a future beyond Wayne Static because Xer0 is a frontman, and not Edsel Dope or anyone else.

“Really and truthfully, it’s not so much about it being private as it is about respecting the brand of Static-X and retaining the respect when writing or discussing it. And a good example I can use for that is Ghost. Everybody knows that there’s a dude called Tobias that’s behind the paint, but when people write about Ghost, they don’t call him Tobias; they respect the entity and they call him Papa whatever the fuck he is. And that’s because they respect the creative, they respect the artistic integrity of it enough to honor that.”

Creating a Character to Continue Static-X’s Legacy

The lore of Ghost and the business and creative side of Ghost are two different things. Lore stories refer to the character, whereas interviews are always about Tobias Forge himself. There’s no change in the name of Xer0 to Edsel Dope in stories or quotes about upcoming bands. It’s the same with Static-X. The same way Edsel Dope refers to Static-X as Edsel Dope, Static-X is referred to as Edsel Dope by Edsel Dope.

“With Static-X, we knew very early on that we would not have the overwhelming support of the media and the community. And in the world that we live in, most people’s goal is not to be supportive; it’s to try and tear things down. It’s to try and be the one to uncover and let you know that there is no Santa Claus or whatever it is. So, for me, it was more about ensuring that Static-X was properly represented because I would never be interested in looking at a photo of Static-X or reading a liner note that mentions me as the singer of Static-X. Edsel Dope has no interest in being the singer of Static-X.

“There’s one living, breathing singer of Static-X, Wayne Static. And then there’s a character, an entity, for lack of better words, that was created to allow Static-X to have a future and to continue and be the legacy act that they are and tour and perform, and we gave that character a name that is respective to Static-X and fits the branding of what Static-X is, and that’s what the importance is. It’s important to recognize the character instead of the person behind the character.”

The campaign to “tear down” Static-X doesn’t exist either. The first Project Regeneration album was great, and we have covered everything they’ve done since the reunion. The second volume of Project Regeneration is coming up this year, and I hope it is just as good.

I also think that if you put any musician out there in a mask, everyone’s first question is “who is it?” Take Sleep Token. How many editorials have you seen attempting to figure out who they are? That’s what happened to Ghost for years. It’s not about destroying an artist, it’s just that natural curiosity about who makes the music you enjoy.

A shitstorm would’ve ensued if Static-X had hired a regular old non-costume-wearing vocalist, Dope continued. He’s probably right – Wayne Static was Static-X’s face, so putting someone new in his place would have been a bad idea. Originally, the costume for Xer0 was received with mixed reactions, but everyone seems to be enjoying it and cool with it.

“You have to understand that if we didn’t make that an absolute mission of ours that people would shit all over it and they would have done everything they could to discredit it. And if it were Edsel Dope singing for Static-X, it would be, ‘Oh, it’s Static Dope.’ Or if it was Burton from Fear Factory, it would be, like, ‘Oh, Static Factory.’ It’s, like, ‘Go fuck yourself.’ You can’t give people the ability to control your narratives or else they’re gonna control it in the worst fucking way possible, because, for whatever reason, that’s the culture that we currently exist in.

“If it were 25 years ago, we wouldn’t have any of this mess because we’d call the editor of fucking Rolling Stone magazine and go, ‘Hey, dude, we’re gonna let you in on what’s happening,’ and they would go, ‘Oh, this is great,’ and they would get behind it and they would properly help you tell your story to the world. But in the world that we currently live in, that’s not the goal. The goal is, as I said, to be the naysayer and the one who lets you in on the fact that there is no Santa Claus and ruins the parade for everybody because they’re just dicks.”

The Story Of Static-X, Wayne, and Xero

Static-X, an industrial metal band, formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1994. The band consisted of Wayne Static (vocals, guitar), Ken Jay (drums), and Tony Campos (bass). Static-X’s music, characterized by its heavy use of electronic sounds and aggressive guitar riffs, explored themes of technology, death, and society.

The band released six studio albums, starting with “Wisconsin Death Trip” in 1999, which achieved platinum certification in the US. Throughout the 2000s, Static-X toured extensively and gained recognition as a prominent band in the metal scene.

In 2014, the band went on hiatus due to personal reasons. Tragically, Wayne Static passed away from a drug overdose in the same year. However, in 2018, the surviving members of Static-X reunited with a new vocalist Xer0, believed to be Edsel Dope from the band Dope. They released the album “Project Regeneration Vol. 1” in 2020, which included previously unreleased recordings of Wayne Static. The band has continued to tour and evolve their sound with Xer0 as their frontman, while honoring the legacy of Wayne Static.

New Album and Tour with Fear Factory and Dope

Below is a list of dates where you can catch Static-X with Fear Factory and Dope.

2/25 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
2/27 – Portland, OR – Roseland
2/28 – Seattle, WA – Showbox
3/1 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater
3/2 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
3/3 – Boise, ID – Revolution Concert Hall
3/4 – Reno, NV – Virginia Street Brewhouse
3/5 – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades

3/7 – Phoenix, AZ – Van Buren
3/8 – Albuquerque, NM – El Rey Theater
3/9 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
3/10 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
3/11 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater
3/12 – Houston, TX – House Of Blues
3/14 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theater
3/15 – Orlando, FL – Plaza Live
3/16 – Charlotte, NC – Underground
3/17 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage
3/18 – Philadelphia, PA – T.L.A.
3/19 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
3/21 – Boston, MA – Big Night Live
3/22 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s
3/23 – Montreal, QC – Corona
3/24 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix
3/25 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall

3/26 – Cleveland, OH – House Of Blues
3/28 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian
3/29 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogarts
3/30 – Columbus, OH – The King of Clubs

3/31 – Ft. Wayne, IN – The Clyde
4/1 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
4/2 – Green Bay, WI – Epic Event Center
4/4 – Grand Rapids, MI – Intersection

4/5 – St. Louis, MO – Del 3/Hall
4/6 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
4/7 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues
4/8 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore
4/9 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theater
4/11 – Denver, CO – The Summit
4/13 – Las Vegas, NH – House Of Blues
4/14 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues
4/15 – Los Angeles, Ca – Belasco Theater