Static-X

One of the most thunderous acts to emerge from the late 1990s nu-metal scene, Static-X mixed doom-laden industrial ambience, speed metal barrages and electronic, techno storms into a sound they dubbed “evil disco”. Front man Wayne Static took up the guitar at the age of seven and was playing in bands by 12. He moved to Chicago in his early 20s and played with a pre-Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan in Deep Blue Dream. Static and drummer Ken Jay headed to California and teamed up with bass player Tony Campos and guitarist Koichi Fukuda and began molding a sound that combined Pantera, Sisters of Mercy, and The Prodigy. They enjoyed a big breakthrough when they landed a spot on Ozzfest in 1999, and their debut album Wisconsin Death Trip, grew into a cult classic that reached platinum status. 2001’s Machine reached number 11 in the US charts and the band played the Extreme Steel tour with their heroes Pantera. They toured steadily throughout the first decade of the 21st century, releasing four more albums (Shadow Zone, Start a War, Cannibal, and Cult of Static) that all hit the top 40. The band splintered due to personal issues in 2009, and Static died in 2014 aged 48. A 2018 tribute album, Project Regeneration Volume 1, contained previously unreleased recordings by Static, and guest appearances from Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch, Al Jourgensen of Ministry and David Draiman of Disturbed.

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