Former Static-X Members Tony Campos + Koichi Fukuda Pay Tribute To Wayne Static
The death of Static-X mastermind Wayne Static has stunned the rock and metal world. A huge outpouring of love from fans and fellow musicians has shown how much Static meant to countless people, including former Static-X musicians Koichi Fukuda and Tony Campos.
Wayne Static's passing was announced on Nov. 1 by FIXT Publicity, with no cause of death mentioned at the time. However, a separate press release from VQPR, which repped Wayne Static in the past, claimed that drugs played no part in the musician's death despite speculation by some that it was an overdose.
As for Static's former bandmates, guitarist Koichi Fukuda memorialized the late Static-X leader:
I am still trying to process the sad fact that I’ve lost my dear old friend, Wayne Richard Wells. He was an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind, very special person and also a very gifted artist with a clear vision. On a personal level, he was a smart, kind, caring sweetheart and soft-spoken gentleman. I really loved his dark, biting and sharp sense of humor. We all shared so many great times and also some tough times together like we are 'family.'
It makes me so sad and angry at the same time that I'll never have a chance to reconcile with him.
I thought the time is the only thing needed for all of us to realize what we had is something so special.
I was just waiting patiently for my old friend Wayne to come back and hoping someday we'll play music together again in a same room with a smile on our face and have fun like old times.
I'll miss that special chemistry between the four of us forever.
My heart is breaking for his parents, Richard and Darlene Wells, and also his brother and sisters. They are the sweetest people I know. My deepest condolences go out to them.
Rest in peace, Wayne. Thank you for everything. You will be missed by so many people, including me.
Bassist Tony Campos, who had a famously tumultuous relationship with Static, also released an official statement:
I'm having a hard time finding the words to express how I feel right now, and it's taken me a long time to even try to write something.
I knew Wayne for 15 years. Some of the best times of my life were with him. I considered him a good friend. It's sad the way our friendship ended, but even more sad that we never got to settle things between us.
Even though we were no longer friends the last five years, I held on to a sliver of hope that my old friend would come back. We were like family: Koichi Fukuda, Nick Oshiro, Erik Fincher, Bruce Reiter, Brandon Webster, Dinkus Maximus, Royal Jensen; we all just wanted our old friend back. Sadly, that'll never happen.
I feel so horrible for his parents and his brother and sisters. I can't even begin to imagine what they must be going through. My deepest condolences go out to them. All we can do now is remember the good times we all shared.
Rest in peace, Wayne.
Stay tuned for more on Wayne Static's sudden passing as news breaks.