“And we were always friends, but now we’re like the best of friends. And we owe each other a lot. I’m grateful for the opportunity because without those guys and the years of work they put into building STATIC-X, I wouldn’t have a project to land all those efforts too. And for them, without my efforts to help them survive and exist in the modern day, they would have this band that is no longer around. For lack of a better word, we literally brought STATIC-X back from the dead. And it took allof us to do it.” In an interview with Blabbermouth, Dope discussed his choice to go by the name Xer0 and to wear a mask on stage. He also touched on his relationship with the late Static-X frontman Wayne Static and touring with Static when he was going solo in edsel dope xero the mid-2010s. The first of two volumes, “Project Regeneration Vol. 1” featured 12 brand new tracks, containing many of the final vocal performances and musical compositions of Static, along with Campos, Jay and Fukuda. I knew that if people showed up to see us, they would be blown away by the vision we had for this. I knew that people wanted Wisconsin Death Trip, and I knew that they had no real idea of how the hell we could give them that without Wayne.
But Edsel Dope is certainly talking about Static-X as Edsel Dope, and is referred to as such. The irony is quite obvious as the aliases are nearly identical and are pronounced (presumably) the exact same way. 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. In the fall of 2019, Edsel Dope even addressed the rumors that he is Xer0 in Static-X in a statement that dismissed a story claiming to have photographic proof of his neck tattoos being exposed. He dubbed it “clikcbait and hilarious” and provided Photoshopped images of various celebrities sporting that same neck tattoo. I had some basic dialog with Tony, and I just started listening to what he had and it just began to quickly grow into something really exciting to me.
Back in October 2019, a photo was posted online clearly showing that Dope and Xer0 shared the same neck tattoo. However, Edsel later posted a lengthy statement on his band’s Facebook page attempting to quash the rumors, implying Xer0’s distinctive body ink was in fact a Photoshop job. Dope even provided a photograph of himself supposedly observing a STATIC-X performance sidestage to prove he and Xer0 were not the same person. While Xer0’s identity has never been officially revealed, speculation has generally pointed at Dope singer Edsel Dope, though Edsel himself has denied this. In 2012, Wayne Static decided to reform Static-X, but none of the original members would join him. He’s another great human being and the energy that he brings to this band both on and offstage is very special.
I thought it was well done and the songs were great, and I hope the second volume coming up this year is as well. Either way, if you were planning on catching some of these Static-X reunion shows, this confirmation shouldn’t really stop you. The band is on tour right now with DevilDriver, Dope, Wednesday 13, and Raven Black. STATIC-X — featuring the lineup of Campos, Fukuda, Jay and Xer0 — will hit the road in 2023, headlining the “Rise Of The Machine” tour with FEAR FACTORY alongside DOPE, MUSHROOMHEAD and TWIZTID.
Drama Club, “My Life”
Brief interjection – writing about Ghost’s lore and writing about the business and creative side of Ghost are two different things. Lore stories refer to the character, while interviews are always done with Tobias Forge the person. Nobody’s out here changing Xer0’s name to Edsel Dope in stories about tours or any quotes about upcoming bands.
Compared with an old photo of Edsel Dope, the tattoo seems to be an exact match. A super close up shows a similar gap in the tattoo, looking almost like an cartoonish orbital socket. Since his debut in Static-X, Xer0 has covered his neck to conceal any identifying features. However, during an Oct. 7 concert in Hamberg, Germany, Xer0’s neckerchief slipped down, revealing a tattoo on the right side of his neck.
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When Erickson noted that social media has given everyone a voice, which in turn has turned out to be more of “negative than a positive”, Dope concurred. It was first reported that former Static-X guitarist, Tripp Eisen, was going to have some involvement, but that was quickly downplayed. When Wayne Static died, I thought we’d never get to hear his distinct vocal stylings again, and that thought was not among my favorite ones.
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- 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.
- Dope is currently touring Europe with Static-X, and will support the nu metal band on the second leg of their North American tour, which kicks off in Austin, Texas November 8.
- STATIC-X — featuring the lineup of Campos, Fukuda, Jay and Xer0 — will hit the road in 2023, headlining the “Rise Of The Machine” tour with FEAR FACTORY alongside DOPE, MUSHROOMHEAD and TWIZTID.
- Compared with an old photo of Edsel Dope, the tattoo seems to be an exact match.
- “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.
I became very inspired by the challenge and the more I got involved, and the more I begin to dig into what was there, the more responsibility I began to feel toward doing this for Wayne and I just got sucked into the project further and further. I’m a producer and a vocalist / guitarist, and I live in L.A., so it was kind of unavoidable that I would be involved with this project to one degree or another. In retrospect, this feels like it kind of falls under that mystical category of “meant to be.” Just yesterday (Oct. 7) Static-X revealed a U.S. tour with DevilDriver, Dope, Wednesday 13 and Raven Black.
Along with the news of the new record came a pair of new songs, “Believe” and “No Respect,” which can be heard here. Static-X’s influences include the Crystal Method, the Prodigy, Prong, Pantera, Ministry, Korn, the Sisters of Mercy, the Chemical Brothers, Joy Division, Kiss, Mortician, and Crowbar. On March 20, the album was preceded with an exclusive Destroyer EP, with a video being produced for the title track.
Musical Style And Influences
For the 20th Anniversary tour, the last thing that I wanted to do was put my own face out there to represent something that I had absolutely nothing to do with creating. “When it came time to put it on stage and take it on tour, it was, ‘There should never be another singer of Static-X… Dope is currently touring Europe with Static-X, and will support the nu metal band on the second leg of their North American tour, which kicks off in Austin, Texas November 8. The group issued five more studio albums before disbanding permanently in June 2013. Many of these comments echo what Edsel said in a pre-order announcement video for Dope’s forthcoming album, Blood Money Part Zer0.
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In time, the design of the mask will likely morph and mutate, but I really have no desire to ever perform with Static-X without it. I think wayne is being remembered and honored the best and awesomest way he is. I don’t care a bit about the politics or who fucked over who, doesn’t matter. What matters is that they’re doing a solid tribute to Wayne, and if they continue on with the band, fine. Static-X has been described as industrial metal, nu metal, and alternative metal. Self-described as “evil disco”, Static-X’s style, according to The Washington Post, “combines electronic elements influenced by industrial artists such as Ministry and Skinny Puppy with the harshness of bands like Pantera”.
Eventually, my writing caught some notice, and I was asked to join the team at Doomed and Stoned. “With STATIC-X, we knew very early on that we were not going to have the overwhelming support of the media and the community,” Edsel continued. “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. “I personally get to see the joy, the tears, and the incredible sense of healing that is occurring on the faces and in the hearts of Static-X fans, each and every night, around the world. In the next couple of years, I was asked to contribute to The Ripple Effect, It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine, and am a regular monthly contributor to the Doom Charts. With this volume out, and people already looking forward to Volume II, I questioned Tony about how the two albums compare.