Static-X are an American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1994 by frontman Wayne Static and drummer Ken Jay. For most of the band’s first run the line-up was anchored by Static himself, but guitarists, bassists and drummers came and went around him, and since the 2018 reunion the group has been led by the three other original members with a masked vocalist known as Xer0. Here is every member, with instruments and years.
Current Static-X Members
| Member | Instruments | Years active |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Campos | Bass, backing vocals | 1994–2010, 2018–present |
| Koichi Fukuda | Lead guitar, keyboards, programming | 1994–2000, 2005–2010, 2018–present |
| Ken Jay | Drums | 1994–2003, 2018–present |
| Xer0 | Lead vocals, rhythm guitar, programming | 2018–present |
Campos, Fukuda and Jay are all founding-era members who played on the 1999 debut Wisconsin Death Trip. Xer0 is the masked vocalist who has fronted the band since the reunion; the band has never officially revealed his identity, although Dope singer Edsel Dope later admitted to the role.
Former Static-X Members
| Member | Instruments | Years active |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne Static | Lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, programming | 1994–2010, 2012–2013 (died 2014) |
| Emerson Swinford | Lead guitar | 1994 |
| Tripp Eisen | Lead guitar | 2000–2005 |
| Nick Oshiro | Drums | 2003–2010 |
| Brent Ashley | Bass, backing vocals | 2012 |
| Andy the Kid | Bass, backing vocals | 2012–2013 |
| Diego Ibarra | Lead guitar | 2012–2013 |
| Sean Davidson | Drums | 2012–2013 |
Touring Members of Static-X
- Marty O’Brien – bass (2001)
- Will Hunt – drums (2009–2010)
- Bevan Davies – drums (2010)
Session drummer Josh Freese of A Perfect Circle also played on Shadow Zone after Ken Jay left the band two days before formal recording began.
How the Original Line-Up Came Together (1994–2001)
Wayne Static and Ken Jay founded the band in 1994, with Tony Campos on bass and Koichi Fukuda on lead guitar. Emerson Swinford held the lead guitar spot briefly in that first year. Static-X signed with Warner Bros. Records in early 1998 and released Wisconsin Death Trip on March 23, 1999; it eventually went platinum in 2001.
The heavy touring behind the debut strained the band. Static wrote the follow-up material himself on the road, which caused friction, and Fukuda left when the tour ended. The remaining three recorded Machine, released May 22, 2001, and Tripp Eisen replaced Fukuda on guitar for the tour.
Who Changed During Shadow Zone and Start a War (2003–2005)
Ken Jay left two days before recording began on Shadow Zone, so Josh Freese drummed on the album, which came out October 7, 2003. Nick Oshiro, formerly of Seether, was then hired as the permanent drummer for the tour.
In February 2005 Tripp Eisen was arrested and fired from the band. Koichi Fukuda, who had already been contributing samples and keyboards to the next album, rejoined to fill the gap, and Start a War was released June 14, 2005. Cannibal (April 3, 2007) marked Fukuda’s full studio return on guitar.
Why the Band Went on Hiatus and Broke Up (2009–2013)
Nick Oshiro left before the Cult of Static tour in 2009 and was replaced by touring drummer Will Hunt, with Bevan Davies also filling in during 2010. After the final Australian dates at the end of 2009, tensions came to a head: Fukuda wanted to focus on his family, Oshiro’s sobriety clashed with Static’s substance use, and Campos later described the period as a toxic environment. Static turned to his solo project, Pighammer, released October 4, 2011, and Campos went on to join Soulfly, though he has maintained he never left the band.
In 2012 Static reformed Static-X using only members of his solo touring band, which is how Brent Ashley, Andy the Kid, Diego Ibarra and Sean Davidson came to be listed as members. Static announced the band’s official break-up in June 2013. He died on November 1, 2014, at the age of 48.
How the Reunion Line-Up Was Formed (2018–present)
On October 23, 2018, Tony Campos, Koichi Fukuda and Ken Jay announced they were reforming Static-X in Wayne Static’s honor. The band toured in 2019 for the twentieth anniversary of Wisconsin Death Trip with the masked vocalist Xer0 out front. Project: Regeneration Vol. 1, built around unreleased Wayne Static vocals, was released July 10, 2020, and Project: Regeneration Vol. 2 followed on January 26, 2024.
Static-X Members FAQ
Who founded Static-X?
Wayne Static and drummer Ken Jay, in Los Angeles in 1994.
Who is the singer of Static-X now?
A masked vocalist billed as Xer0. His identity has never been officially revealed by the band, but Edsel Dope of Dope has admitted to the role.
How many drummers has Static-X had?
Three official drummers: Ken Jay, Nick Oshiro and Sean Davidson, plus touring drummers Will Hunt and Bevan Davies and session drummer Josh Freese.
Who replaced Tripp Eisen?
Original guitarist Koichi Fukuda, who rejoined in 2005 after Eisen was fired.
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