STATIC-X Frontman: 'I'd Stay On Tour For The Rest Of My Life If I Could'

Jeff Hahne of CreativeLoafing.com recently conducted an interview with STATIC-X frontman Wayne Static. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

On lineup changes:

"I always make the KISS comparison. Tony [Campos, bass] and myself are like Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. You know, KISS can always go on as long as Gene and Paul want it to go on. STATIC-X is the same way. We're the two founding guys and the two vocalists and the driving force of the band. We can go on as long as we want, as long as the two of us are together. If I ever lost Tony, I'm sure I'd start something else."

On the return of guitarist Koichi Fukuda:

"Having him back is more of a vibe thing, especially live. He's got this great vibe and he's a really tight player, so I know we sound better with him in the band. It's like a chemistry thing — having guys on stage play off each other. As far as the record, he laid down some great solos — that's what I challenged him to do on this record."

On playing this year's Ozzfest:

"The first time (1999),we were on the second stage and nobody knew who we were and we got treated as such. The next time around (2000),our album was platinum, everyone knew who we were and we were on the main stage. That year, because tickets were so expensive for the seats up front, a lot of people were showing up for PANTERA and OZZY. When we were going on, we were going on to a theater of empty seats with tens of thousands of people in the lawn a hundred yards away. It was a really weird vibe. This year, it's pretty much packed from the front all the way to the back of the lawn, which is fuckin' awesome."

On his signature hair and beard:

"Pretty much every other question I get from fans is about my hair and beard. I thought about changing it a few years back, but I was afraid I might carry myself different on stage if I just had long hair hanging in my face. So, I thought I would keep it as it's kind of the visual trademark of the band. Either people think I look like a fucking idiot, or they think it's cool, but they think something. It gets a reaction either way. Whatever it takes to get noticed, that's why I did it in the first place."

On touring:

"This is what I've wanted to do my whole life. Making records, that's cool and everything, but being out playing every day and partyin' every night — that's the fucking life, man. I love this shit. I'd stay on tour for the rest of my life if I could. It's awesome."