The band has a ‘rabid’ fan base, Wayne Static says.


The band has a ‘rabid’ fan base, Wayne Static says.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

Static-X may seem an unlikely band to epitomize the new business model of recording-industry success; however, the members of this alt-metal act, which may seem to exist more in the margins than the mainstream, are feeling quite confident with not only the release of their sixth studio effort, “Cannibal,” but the group’s place in the concert world.

“Dude, we’re at the top of our game,” said singer-guitarist-songwriter Wayne Static, calling from Albuquerque, N.M. “As far as our touring, we’re the biggest we’ve ever been. Our last tour, almost every show was sold out. That’s the measure of success for a band now. It’s not CD sales any more.”

Static-X has successfully carved out a niche as a cultlike metal act. Even though its 1999 debut “Wisconsin Death Trip” went platinum, the band’s 2005 effort “Start a War” barely sold 200,000 copies. Still, the band remains on a major label, Warner Bros. Records.

Loyal fans

As far as Static-X’s following, is it as simple as everyone who buys an album also buys a concert ticket?

“That’s part of it,” Static said. “We’re not like a big radio hit band; we do have a few but we’re not like a Linkin Park or Staind. So all of our fans are hard-core, and all of them own all of the records and come out to the shows whenever they can. Everyone is rabid and everyone at the show is going crazy. It’s not just casual people chilling out.”

Nothing less is what Static said Youngstown can expect when Static-X uses a day off from its current main stage Ozzfest 2007 gig for a headlining show Wednesday at The Cellar. The band will be performing a 70-minute show featuring material from its entire career, including a few from “Cannibal.”  

The new album marks a return to basics for Static-X, with original guitarist Koichi Fukada back in the fold.

“For ‘Cannibal,’ I went back to my old sort of method of writing by myself in a room building songs off of one guitar riff or drum beat and more rhythmic vocal style,” Static said. “Beyond that, I wanted to make it heavier and more metallic, so we started delving back into the heavy stuff. This one is definitely the heaviest one we ever made.”

Something new on the horizon for Michigan native Static is his first solo project, currently titled “Pighammer.” He hopes to write and record the album, along with Static-X’s next studio effort, sometime next year. Should Static-X fans be worried?

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m [expletive] hav9ing a great time in Static-X,” Static said. “I love this band, and it’s awesome. It’s just once in a while you want to do something different. It’s definitely going to be more extreme.”

Though solo albums can often find band members digressing from their day jobs, Static said the material will most definitely fall under the metal umbrella.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Static said. “I’ve discovered over the years that I enjoy playing metal the most, so I’m just sticking to that.”

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