EDSEL DOPE Once Again Addresses His Involvement With STATIC-X, Blasts Heavy Metal Media For ‘Tearing Down The Artists’
Danish metal zine Metal a Day captured a profile view of Xero, the Static-X frontman, where a neck tattoo is clearly visible that matches one seen on Edsel. The album's release was eventually pushed back to January 26, 2024, nearly ten years after Static's death. On February 8, 2023, the band announced the album would be released later in the year on November 3.
"I needed a name," he continues, explaining he settled on Zer0 "because it's like starting over — zero followers, zero fans, zero expectations." "I didn't want anybody to know who the fuck I was. I just wanted to put on a mask and disappear and go do something creative and fun," Edsel said on the Ryan Seaman and Friends podcast. It's sure to send certain fans right down the rabbit hole from whence they came in regards to uncovering the true identity of the enigmatic Xer0.
He’s avoided confirming this over the years and, during a recent interview as well as a promotional video, he admitted he had been touring anonymously as Zer0 in the electronica duo Drama Club. On the topic of the former, Dope said it’s essentially way too expensive to put on a Static-X show for it to be a “cash grab;” and on the latter says he feels Static would approve of his legacy being upheld. In an interview with the Battleline Podcast, Dope explained in detail why he feels the band isn’t a cash grab and why he thinks that Static would be proud.
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The problem with being a mysterious character in the world of entertainment is if you have a prior history in the world, and recognizable tattoos, it’s very hard to keep your identity a secret. On October 12, Edsel Dope posted a lengthy statement on his band’s Facebook page quashing the rumours, implying Xer0’s telltale neck tat was in fact a Photoshop job. The LP is a collection of songs that contain the final vocal performances and musical compositions of Static, along with the original "Wisconsin Death Trip" lineup featuring Campos, Fukuda and Jay. Back in February 2023, Edsel was asked in an interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio about the decision to keep Xer0's identity "private" and not publicly name the person who has spent much of the last three years performing and touring alongside Campos, Jay and Fukuda. A collection of 14 brand-new songs, the LP was produced by Xer0 and mixed/mastered by longtime collaborator Ulrich Wild.
Static and Ken Jay later moved to Los Angeles to start a new band with guitarist Emerson Swinford, whom they had met through their mutual friend, Chicago singer-songwriter, PJ Olsson. Static played in the band in the late 1980s with future Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. “The band, our producers, and most importantly Wayne’s family are incredibly happy with the way that the album is turning out and we know that Wayne is looking down on us all with a big smile.” Speculation ran rampant last October when fans thought they had uncovered Xer0’s identity as Dope singer Edsel Dope, but the latter vocalist stuck a fork in that rumor.
Dope also mentions that having Xer0 as the frontman for Static-X, and not Edsel Dope or whoever else, allows the band to have a future beyond the iconic Wayne Static. Catch dope on the 2023 Rise of the Machines tour with headliners Static-X as well as special guests Fear Factory, Mushroomhead and Twiztid at these stops. The project began in 2013 with the aim of playing late night parties and to distance himself from the working world and other music he has famously been a part of. Edsel Dope, founder of nu-metal/industrial outfit Dope, has been rumored to be Xer0, the frontman taking the stage in tribute to the late Wayne Static in the reactivated Static-X lineup. On Felons and Revolutionaries, Dope's first album released in 1999, Edsel played and programmed most of the musical instruments. This week sees new music from the likes of Converge, Gogol Bordello, Mariachi El Bronx https://lapxuonghiepky.com/how-to-find-my-employee-id-number-and-where-to/ and Story Of The Year amongst the many...
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Funny enough, this is the second time the mystery member of a prominent band has been identified by an exposed tattoo, after Slipknot’s Alessandro Venturella. Was there ever any doubt that ‘Xer0,’ the highly unsettling Wayne Static cosplayer currently touring with Static-X (tickets), is, in fact, lead Dope dope Edsel Dope? And it took allof us to do it.” The group issued five more studio albums before disbanding permanently in June 2013. Nobody’s out here changing Xer0’s name to Edsel Dope in stories about tours or any quotes about upcoming bands. Between the two releases, STATIC-X fans around the globe have been treated to over two dozen brand new songs — most of which feature Static on lead vocals — and all released after his untimely passing. The new album was produced by Xer0 and mixed/mastered by longtime collaborator Ulrich Wild.
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So, Edsel Dope is not the singer of STATIC-X.” I kind of like to consider myself to be the creative director for STATIC-X, because there was a big void left by late STATIC-X frontman Wayne Static, and somebody sort of needed to step in that has that sort of capability. There aren’t any Dimebag or Vinnie (Paul) masks going on.”
STATIC-X's recent tour celebrated the 20th anniversary of the band's platinum-certified "Wisconsin Death Trip" album and paid homage to Static, who died eight years ago. DOPE leader Edsel Dope, who is widely believed to be Xer0, the masked frontman of STATIC-X, was asked in a new interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio if he is in fact the person who has spent much of the last three years performing and touring alongside bassist Tony Campos, drummer Ken Jay and guitarist Koichi edsel dope xero Fukuda. This week’s new albums include music from the likes of Blackwater Holylight, Buzzcocks, Kula Shaker and MØL amongst the many outstanding... Ukrainian metalcore outfit Space of Variations return with their new album, Poisoned Art, out now via Napalm Records (order here). In the fast-moving world of new music, missing even a week means missing countless new songs and album announcements.
"I feel like as long as we never put another face to STATIC-X, Wayne will always be the face of STATIC-X. It's appropriate. That was the number one most important thing. I'll help my friends. This all started in 2014. In 2014, I moved to L.A. I was working on the DRAMA CLUB project and I really, really wanted to produce another band and make a great record without me being in the band. I just wanted to move the controls, do what I do and help another band sound great. I had done it with a couple of other bands that I produced, but I wanted to do it with a band of note. "The motive behind it is that I, Edsel Dope, have zero interest in being the frontman, https://www.cmapass.com/a-beginner-s-guide-to-cash-net-realizable-value/ face or being known as the singer of STATIC-X," he said. DOPE leader Edsel Dope has shared his thoughts on "Xer0", the masked frontman of STATIC-X who is widely believed to be him. “So it's really nice for the legacy of the whole thing that the band has been so successful in bringing it back and bringing it to a new generation of fans that can appreciate it.
- One thing we can agree with Dope frontman Edsel Dope is that trying to find the identity of Static-X’s new frontman, Xer0, does feel like a Scooby-Doo episode.
- Despite being out on the road with the band, Edsel Dope hasn’t contributed to Static-X’s upcoming new studio LP, ‘Project Regeneration’.
- "The thing about the band for us was the energy and the vibe that we all got from the interaction the four of us had on stage, and you just don't get that with a hologram. So that got chucked out the window pretty quickly. So we figured out it had to be somebody. Once we found Xer0 and saw and heard that he could do the job, we were, like, 'Cool. How do we present this in a cool way that doesn't make it about…?' 'Cause we didn't wanna come out and, like, 'Hey, here's STATIC-X with their new singer.' That's not what we were trying to do. It was about remembering Wayne and remembering the good times we had back in the early days and remembering the fun we all had together 20 years ago touring on 'Wisconsin Death Trip'. And so we really wanted to keep the focus on that and not on the new singer. So the idea of a mask came."
- Sadly, even though it’s Wayne Static playing Static-X songs, it’s not the same as Static-X.
- That’s a lot of connectivity to those same fans.”
- He also touched on his relationship with the late Static-X frontman Wayne Static and touring with Static when he was going solo in the mid-2010s.
- Originally released in 2009, now available on streaming services for the first time.
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- This article about a United States rock singer is a stub.
- But as far as who’s singing for STATIC-X under the mask, I think that it’s important for me or for us to say that the goal was that for there always to only ever be one living, breathing singer of STATIC-X, and that’s Wayne Static.
- Tripp Eisen replaced Fukuda on guitar for touring in support of the album.
- "But I think once people heard our story and heard that Wayne's family had given us their blessing to do what we were doing, and then once they actually saw it, I think that was the big turning point. Once people came out and experienced the show and saw what we were doing, I think it made most of those people turn around."
- I don’t know if I ever want to put out another album, because I feel like the pressure of it is part of what makes it take so long.
See the music video for that cover here and look for the album to be released on Nov. 3 later this year. DOPE leader Edsel Dope has shared his thoughts on “Xer0”, the masked frontman of STATIC-X who is widely believed to be him. Static had been pursuing a solo career at the time of his death.
The group issued five more studio albums before disbanding permanently in June 2013. According to Campos, Xer0 wasn't the only singer who was in the mix for the STATIC-X frontman job. Jeff Hannemann clarifies that Slayer never glorified Nazism, urging fans to honor the music's legacy without spreading negativity. I also think that if you put any musician out there in a mask, everyone's first question is "who is it?" Look at Sleep Token. "There's one living, breathing singer of Static-X, and that's Wayne Static. And then there's a character, an entity, for lack of better words, that was created in order 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 the importance of recognizing the character as opposed to recognizing the person behind the character." Nobody's out here changing Xer0's name to Edsel Dope in stories about tours or any quotes about upcoming bands.
In his statement, Dope also expressed his gratitude at the chance to tour alongside the nu metal band in honour of Wayne Static and Static-X’s album ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’, which marks its 20th anniversary this year. Ex-STATIC-X guitarist Tripp Eisen says that “it’s silly” for DOPE leader Edsel Dope to pretend that he isn’t Xer0, the masked frontman of STATIC-X who has spent much of the last three years performing and touring alongside bassist Tony Campos, drummer Ken Jay and guitarist Koichi Fukuda. DOPE leader Edsel Dope, who is widely believed to be Xer0, the masked frontman of STATIC-X, spoke to the "Battleline Podcast" about what it has been like to have spent much of the last three years performing and touring alongside bassist Tony Campos, drummer Ken Jay and guitarist Koichi Fukuda.
EDSEL DOPE Defends STATIC-X Comeback: It Was Done 'Right'
The mask was made by the late Laney Chantal, wife of Twiggy Ramirez. Edsel himself denied this initially, but later admitted to his role, saying that he and the band felt Xer0 should be a separate entity from Dope. While Xer0's identity has never been officially revealed, speculation has generally pointed at Dope singer Edsel Dope. The band insisted that Static's family gave the band their blessing, and Jay noted that it fit Static's "terrifically morbid sense of humour". Despite her claims, the coroner's report, released in March 2015, indicated that his death was the result of a combination of excessive prescription drugs and alcohol in his system, though the manner of death was deemed "natural." Wray herself died of suicide in 2016. Static's wife, Tera Wray, released a statement stating that despite Static's prior history of drug use, he had stopped his drug use in 2009, and that his death was not drug or overdose related.
The Thermometer would display the overall progress in reaching various fundraiser goals such as the release of the live DVD and making it to United Kingdom and Europe for a tour. Instead he’s bringing in all the guys who worked on Static-X as well as guys from other bands and is sharing this with everyone. If it was a cash grab he could have easily hired cheaper musicians to pocket as much $ as possible. Pretty fucked up considering how much we shared with a guy we looked at as a brother, but you’re really not going to make a huge fuss about it at the time and be as classless as her. The reason none of the original crew or band members were at the memorial was because Tera banned us all from attending.
Reflecting on the impact of Static-X’s revival, Edsel spoke to the band’s continued legacy and its appeal to new fans. He saw Static-X’s identity as more than just the music; the “evil disco” concept was now enhanced by technological advances https://playvaf.com.ar/window-dressing-pptx/ that let the band expand its visual storytelling. Static-X was always this fun, almost smile-on-your-face metal band.
Metaladay.dk have shared the below photos, which find the current Static-X frontman ‘Xer0‘ sporting the exact same neck tattoo as Edsel Dope. Static-X are currently out on a European tour with Dope ahead of further dates in the US over the coming months. The album, which is due for release in May next year, contains unearthed vocals from Wayne Static. Despite being out on the road with the band, Edsel Dope hasn’t contributed to Static-X’s upcoming new studio LP, ‘Project Regeneration’.
Anyone with the nerve to throw virtual tomatoes at a traveling memorial, that has been orchestrated and supported by the family, loved ones, and long-time friends of the deceased should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. I have personally seen their tears of joy and their expressions of gratitude and approval for the way that Tony, Ken, Koichi, & Xer0 are celebrating the music and memorializing the life and legacy of their son and sibling, Wayne Wells Static. It’s incredible how far some people will go to get attention or clicks, so let me remind you how easy it is to slap a little tribal neck tattoo onto someone in photoshop. The group has been doing something special in complete honor of Wayne that keeping the frontman a mystery has been a vital part of their tribute.
The new Static-X singer goes by the name of XerO and wears a mask to make him look like original singer Wayne Static. But then the group’s surviving original members — guitarist Koichi Fukuda, bassist Tony Campos and drummer Ken Jay – re-formed the group and hit the road with a masked singer going only by the stage name XerO. In a way it is good that it took six years for these recordings to make their debut; there has been enough time for fans to mourn Static so now they can celebrate and thoroughly enjoy his last works. The band’s neon face paint, in addition to frontman Joseph Poole’s cast of costumes and props, produced an aesthetic as captivating and dark as its sound. With this volume out, and people already looking forward to Volume II, I questioned Tony about how the two albums compare.
Sadly, even though it’s Wayne Static playing Static-X songs, it’s not the same as Static-X. “When I got to L.A., the first thing I did was a short West Coast tour with Dope and Wayne Static. But if he was looking down at that, dude, you couldn’t do anything except for be absolutely blown away and honored by the amount of love and admiration and the amount of work that myself and the band and his family put into orchestrating all that. “I think if myself and Dave Mustaine could have co-existed for four years, it would have been a very different band.” Dope continued, saying that if Static-X had hired just a regular old non-costume-wearing vocalist, there would’ve been a shitstorm. “For me, when coming onboard to help complete the last bit of music that Wayne left behind, which ended up accidentally stumbling into what became a treasure trove of content, which I’m so excited and so blessed to have been the guy who got to uncover it,” he said. Edsel then discussed the role he’s taken on to ensure Wayne Static’s legacy is handled properly, including the 2020 “Project Regeneration” album that consisted of Wayne’s last recordings.
