Editing Static-X (section)

===Formation, ''Wisconsin Death Trip'' and ''Machine'' (1994–2001)===
[[File:WayneStatic.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Wayne Static]]
Static-X was founded in 1994 after the disbandment of [[Wayne Static]]'s prior band, Deep Blue Dream. Static played in the band in the late 1980s with future [[Smashing Pumpkins]] frontman [[Billy Corgan]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/static-x-frontman-wayne-static-dead-at-48-20141102|title=Static-X Frontman Wayne Static Dead at 48|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 2, 2014|access-date=November 21, 2014}}</ref> However, when the Smashing Pumpkins began to gain popularity, Corgan made the choice to commit all of his attention to The Smashing Pumpkins, and Deep Blue Dream eventually disbanded.<ref name="static2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/wayne_static_im_much_of_like_a_james_hetfield_kind_of_guy.html|title=Wayne Static: 'I'm Much of Like a James Hetfield Kind of Guy'|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103212940/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/interviews/wayne_static_im_much_of_like_a_james_hetfield_kind_of_guy.html|archive-date=November 3, 2014 |publisher=[[Ultimate-Guitar.com]] |date=October 21, 2014 |access-date=October 25, 2017}}</ref> Static and Ken Jay later moved to [[Los Angeles]] to start a new band with guitarist Emerson Swinford, whom they had met through their mutual friend, Chicago singer-songwriter, [[PJ Olsson]]. They formed a band called Drill,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emersonswinford.com/photos/ggpq69pk2zrr9rytnihd38r5jhifi4|title=PHOTOS|website=Emerson Swinford}}</ref> which included [[Tony Campos]] on bass and started performing in the LA music scene. After Swinford left to pursue touring and session work, they recruited guitarist [[Koichi Fukuda]], and renamed the band Static; however, during the recording of their debut album, they realized there were multiple other bands named Static, and subsequently renamed the band to Static-X.<ref name="ThatJustHappened">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18ufaf82Bnk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/18ufaf82Bnk| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Static-X - Live Interview|author=That Just Happened|date=2019-11-21|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="static2014"/>
[[File:DRILL1994.jpg|thumb|Drill in 1994]]

Static-X signed with [[Warner Bros. Records]] in early 1998, and released their debut album, ''[[Wisconsin Death Trip (album)|Wisconsin Death Trip]]'', on March 23, 1999.<ref name="15th">{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/wayne-static-preparing-wisconsin-death-trip-15th-anniversary-tour/|title=Wayne Static Preps 'Wisconsin Death Trip' Anniversary Tour|work=Loudwire|date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=November 21, 2014}}</ref> Soon after, they released their first single "[[Push It (Static-X song)|Push It]]", followed by "[[I'm with Stupid (Static-X song)|I'm with Stupid]]" and "[[Bled for Days]]" in 2000.<ref name="15th"/> Static-X toured strictly in support of the album and twice performed on [[Ozzfest]], supporting [[Fear Factory]]. In the following year, a promotional [[Extended play|EP]], ''[[The Death Trip Continues]]'', was also released.

The band toured heavily in support of the album, with Static recounting:

<blockquote>"It was really just a whirlwind and I barely remember it. We worked so hard and toured so hard that I don't even remember most of it. We played 300 shows in the first year and we just never went home. We would tour on one tour for six or eight weeks and that tour would end somewhere on the East Coast and we'd drive a couple days and hook up with [[Slayer]] and tour with them for four or five weeks. That tour ends and then we'd drive a few days to Boston to hook up with [[Sevendust]]. We just kept going and kept going and never went home. I mean I didn't even have a home. I lived at the rehearsal space for the last year before we started touring. I had to quit my job to make the record so I didn't have anywhere to even go home to...I look back at it now and I kinda wish I had taken the time to sit back and appreciate it more. Maybe got to know some of the other bands a little more and spend time and having a good time and partying and maybe taking some pictures of the other guys."<ref name="static2014"/></blockquote>

Commercially, the effort paid off, with the album eventually going platinum in 2001.<ref name="platinum" /> The follow-up tour was documented on the DVD ''Where the Hell Are We and What Day Is It... This Is Static-X''. However, the pressure of recording a follow-up was hard on Static and the rest of the band. Static, worried they would be unable to deliver another successful album, desired to start work on follow up material while still touring in support of ''Wisconsin Death Trip'', while the rest of the band wanted to focus on enjoying the touring.<ref name="static2014"/> Without support, Static took matters into his own hands, writing all of the material himself over the course of the two years of touring.<ref name="static2014"/> This caused friction from within the band, who resented Static for not waiting for them or including them in on the creation process, of which all members had been part of in the prior album.<ref name="static2014"/> Fukuda would leave the band upon the conclusion of the tour, leading the band to record the album as a three-piece;<ref name="static2014"/> Static would later describe the split both as "amicable"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theprp.com/thevault/interviews/staticx.shtml |title=Interview: Static-X |website=www.theprp.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706125255/http://www.theprp.com/thevault/interviews/staticx.shtml |archive-date=6 July 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and "definitely not [...] amicable".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2fast2die.com/rewind-wayne-static-talks-poop-etc/|title=Rewind: Wayne Static Talks Poop, etc.|date=November 2, 2010}}</ref> Despite this, the band still managed to find success, with the second album, ''[[Machine (Static-X album)|Machine]]'', releasing on May 22, 2001, and eventually being certified gold with 500,000 units sold.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web | url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?&artist=%22Static-X%22 | title=American certifications – Static-X | publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] | access-date=March 28, 2012}}</ref> [[Tripp Eisen]] replaced Fukuda on guitar for touring in support of the album.<ref name="static2014"/>