Since its inception, metal (and metal bands) have often spent a vast career’s worth of creative ingenuity going through great lengths in outdoing each other in more than just music and showmanship, but presentation and performance. From KISS to Motley Crue, each band was often defined by more than just a clever riff, but a resplendent front man doused in fire or supportive pyrotechnics. Hell, some even went as far as testing your gag reflex with their cover art.
Case in point, in the 80’s and 90’s, you were going to “know” who these bands were.
Enter Static X in 1994. One defining, recognizable and seemingly everlasting feature to this hard stomping, industrial nu metal giant remains to this day, and will be more than visible when they play the Texas Tattoo Showdown July 13 -15 at the El Paso County Coliseum.
We recently caught up with their beacon’d singer Wayne Static to see how he felt about being on the road, tattoos, impromptu bowel movements between cities and of course, that one defining, recognizable and everlasting “thing” – on top of his head.
Hey Wayne, it’s been a while!
I know! I remember playing there recently on my solo tour and it was great. Everyone in the crowd going fucking crazy, you know. The people in Texas, especially southern and west Texas are absolutely insane.
Right on, no arguments here. So let’s get started, what’s going on in your life? What’s the big story?
Well the big thing right now is our tour, including the solo thing I’ve been doing for the last couple of years.
I’m glad you brought that up! Your show at the Texas Tattoo Showdown is being billed as a “Reunion Tour”, only it doesn’t really feel like a reunion with you guys.
Yeah, it’s only really been a few years. It’s not as though we’ve been gone for like 10 or 20 years. Still, I know our fans, and for the hardcore Static fans – 3 years is an eternity to wait for a show. When we started touring back in ’98, we never took more than a year off at any given time. This has really been the longest time we’ve been apart in a while.
Straight up! In fact, you all built your success on being the ultimate road dogs, if you will.
Yeah, that’s what it takes for metal bands. Ya know? More and more these days, radio is very rarely supporting heavy and extreme music. I know there’s a station in El Paso that plays our music, but going around and around the U.S., it’s very far and few in between. Really, the only way for us to do this is to go out on the road and just stay there. Keep your eye on the road and let it build up naturally over the years.
Let’s talk about Pighammer. What it Pighammer.
Well, Pighammer (my solo project) started off as just a word. I’m really big on words. They’ll just stick in my head and I become obsessed with them. I love the way it wounds and the way it reads. I knew I wanted to do a big project on my own, and use the word ‘Pighammer’ as the central focus of the album’s concept. The story of the Pighammer is twisted. It’s about a mad plastic surgeon who loves to take women and turn them into pigs, using a pig’s foot as a shaping tool – or hammer. It’s a bunch of really crazy stuff, ya know. I had some fun with it.
That sounds awesome! That’s always seemed to be the vibe I’ve had with Static X and even Pighammer, though. Everything just seems so very imaginative, like a very spastic horror movie.
I have a very dark sense of humor. Everything I’ve done, really – creatively and artistically has that bit of weird and dark humor to it.
Well, musically, the CD is fun to listen to. It doesn’t sound like a current ‘Static’ album. It sounded like an older ‘Static’ album, actually.
Yeah, my biggest goal with the album was to get in there and really do what I wanted to do without having to compromise to anything. In the beginning, everything was pretty much created by me, sitting in my room, alone and drunk (laughs). So basically, that’s what I wanted to do with Pighammer. I sat by myself in the studio, I had a great time and I didn’t have to listen to anybody arguing about the volume on the bass or the drums or whatnot. I think that’s why it has that old Static X feel to it. This is me, this is 100 percent of what I do, and that’s “evil disco”.
So it was a therapeutic trip for you.
Oh yeah. Over the years, having to make an album became tedious for me. I’d have to go into the studio with a producer and the band, I’d compromise and compromise to the point where I’d feel that my original demos would sound better than the finished piece. It just felt better to go into the studio and work without having to compromise to anyone.
Let’s go back to the road, yeah? What are some of the things you really love about being on tour? Anything you don’t like?
Generally, the part I love is performing every night. I love the energy, having the crowd and seeing their faces light up when we bust into their favorite song. They sing along and go crazy, and that’s why I chose to live on the road in the first place. To be honest, looking back on it, the only bad part about being on the road is not being able to take a shit on the bus.
[Laughs] Wow!
It’s just weird, you know? Having to look for a different toilet everywhere you go, going into a weird bathroom where you know other people have taken many shits. It’s really bizarre when you think about it.
I’ve actually never once thought about that! Even during my wildest fantasies about being a rock star on tour, never.
I know, right?! Just don’t think about it. I try not to.
Absolutely. Let’s talk about tattoos. How many do you have?
Um, I guess you can say two now. I never had tattoos until I got married (back in 2008). I’ve always had these major commitment issues and could never decide what I wanted, ya know?. When I married my wife, I was 42 years old at the time and it just seemed like the right thing to do.
What do you have?
I have a Japanese script going down my right arm that say’s “eternal love”. After that, we both put each other’s zodiac symbol on each other’s arm, with her name under my design and mine under hers.
Right on.
For me, a tattoo just has to be very memorable. I don’t think I could be one of those guys who’s all sleeved up. Its like, how can so many things be that important in your life? Still, I know that tattoos mean something else to everyone and not just me.
What have you been listening to lately?
I haven’t really been listening to anything new for a while. I’m a grumpy old fart who listens to really old music. I still listen to the same records I did in high school, Sabbath and Maiden. A few goto bands like Deftones or Audioslave. I even love Journey, believe it or not. That’s definitely one of my favorite bands of all time. I don’t really understand the new school, but it’s probably because I’m just too old to get it [laughs].
Ok, as much as I hate to ask this question, I’ve been told that I have to. Let’s talk about your hair. Is it like that right now?
No, actually I’m out camping with my wife right now, so I’m in disguise. I don’t really need any extra attention. When I’m on tour, my hair generally stays up all of the time. It’s pretty comfortable.
Do people still ask you all of those silly questions regardin your hair and beard?
Oh yeah, all the time, every day, no exception. Honestly, it used to piss me off, but I can’t really blame people. I mean, if you’re gonna rock a hair do like that, you pretty much have to expect it.
I didn’t really feel comfortable asking about it, to be honest.
You know what? It’s ok. I mean, I’m known for something. I grew up worshiping KISS. They were known for their look and their show. I wanted to do the same with my look. Worst case scenario, somebody hates my music, they know who I am. I’m one of the most recognizable faces in music, whether you like me or not.
Words: Joey Velarde | Photos: Hector Riveroll