Former Static-X guitarist Tripp Eisen has once again attempted to walk into the spotlight, claiming his alleged involvement with the group’s new album, Project Regeneration Vol 1 (read our review here). Despite spending a decent amount of time in jail for having sex with a 14-year-old girl, Eisen continues to stir the pot with his former bandmates instead of taking responsibility and living with the consequences for his actions. However, the Eisen story somehow is still relevant, which feels more like a pitch script for a new daytime soap opera. Regardless, according to a press release, Eisen has issued the below statement claiming his “involvement” with the industrial metallers new record:
“As Static-X thanks everyone for making the album Project Regeneration Vol. 1 successful, their former guitarist and co-songwriter Tripp Eisen responds with a genuine “you’re welcome.”
Tripp’s material has been used in the development of this incarnation of Static-X. This is evident in the lead song on the Project Regeneration Vol. 1 teaser: “Bring You Down”, also a featured song on Spotify. Tripp actually wrote a majority of the music and lyrics on this particular song. The exact same is true for the song “Something Of My Own.” (see below)
In October 2018, the song “Road To Hell” was used in the teaser that launched the Static-X reunion. This was 100% Tripp’s music with a partial lyric credit. This song was re-titled “My Destruction” and is on the new album.
The question of the true authorship of certain songs casts a shadow over this project, one which is supposed to honor the memory of Wayne Static, a man of integrity and vision, a man who called Tripp a brother and who collaborated with him on some of Static-X’s memorable hits like “The Only” and “I’m The One.”
If you listen to the new chorus to the first single “Hollow” you will hear a part borrowed from the Eisen/Static collaboration “I’m The One” – the signature hook ‘yeah-yeah-yeah’!
The original versions of all of the older songs on Project Regeneration Vol. 1 are completely Wayne Static and Tripp Eisen material; none of the current members had anything to do with their creation. The band obviously wants to gloss over this fact and the patently deceptive songwriting credits on the new album highlight this point.
This is not taking anything away from the album as it is a great effort and a high quality-sounding album. We all love the memories of Ken, Koichi and Tony circa 1999-2000 and it is good to see them working together even without Wayne.
HISTORY OF THE REUNION:
This project began in September 2016 because Tony Campos and Tripp reconnected and reestablished their friendship. Tripp traveled to California to pitch his idea of the Static-X reunion. He brought his friend Edsel Dope into the project as well.
This reunion was born around several good friendships and mutual respect. Tripp’s past legal troubles were addressed early on and Tony Campos had Tripp’s back, knowing the details of his case, the exaggerations in the press and judged his friend fairly and without prejudice.
Edsel shared Tony’s sentiments about Tripp and knew his good character. They continued to work together, and Tripp was part of the project up until April 2019 when he finally objected strongly to the changing of the material and took legal action.
The real conflict is Tripp’s objection to everyone trying to get their names and imprint on the songs and trying to get every dollar they can, which sort of takes away from Wayne’s estate and family’s financial interest!
This is an uncomfortable fact but evident as you read the album credits. The band made many promises to Tripp as the project developed and he trusted his friends. Tripp was never after the profits, but mainly wanted proper credits, appreciation and to keep the project authentic!
He will take credit for spearheading this reunion, take credit for much of the noted and unnoted songs on the album, and take credit for putting Edsel Dope (aka Xer0) in the band.
Tripp also wants fans of Xer0 to know that the idea of Edsel wearing a mask was there from day one. At the first meeting it was agreed upon, that if he was to be the singer, he would be wearing a mask with an “X” on it. The idea was spawned from the X-Man in the Static-X comic book from 2002.
The release of Static-X: Project Regeneration is the culmination of 4 years of planning and hard work. The band has benefited from this and did a great job bringing back Evil Disco and paying tribute to Wayne Static for fans worldwide…”
His statement resulted in catching a lot of attention, including Static X as the band shared the following Tweet:
Claims. We all know why he was fired 15 years ago. Deplorable! no credibility. Desperate. Begging for attention. 😩😩😩
— Static-X (@OfficialStaticX) July 14, 2020
Hours later, Dope frontman Edsel Dope took his gloves off and shared the following brutal message via Facebook:
“Fuck You!!!!
You 2 time CONVICTED sex offender piece of shit!
Keep my name out of your talentless mouth!
I fired you 20 years ago, because you are an egotistical, low talent idiot and Static X fired you more than 15 years ago because you were a 40 Year old creep, who was arrested for having sexual relations with multiple 14 year old fan girls. DEPLORABLE!
You have not progressed in the least bit. Not even after spending 2 separate stints in jail.
You are an antagonist, who paints himself as a victim.
BOO HOO & FUCK YOU!
Meanwhile, You’ve never even apologized to our metal community for betraying all of our trust, by preying on young, impressionable fan girls for your own selfish perversions.
And now, you are trying to attach your name to an incredibly well orchestrated memorial / tribute that you had ABSOLUTLY NOTHING to do with.
GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE!!!
For your information.
Wayne and I had a very pointed discussion about you, while on tour together in 2014, so I know EXACTLY how he felt about you. WAYNE FUCKING HATED YOU & he had no interest in ever associating with you again…
You’ve been begging for people to pay attention to you and your new band for 3 years..
Attempting to tie yourself to virtually everything Static-X or Dope does.
Hash-tagging Dope, Static-X, and the Murderdolls in virtually every post..
After all of that, you have managed to gather roughly 1,000 followers in TOTAL….
LOLOLOLOLOLOL..
IT’S OVER dummy.
You will always be known as that 40 year old creepy guy with “LEE PRESS ON” dreads, who targeted underage fan girls for sex.
This is not my opinion.. This is a fact and it is public record.
Charges were filed against you in 2 separate states for kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated sexual assault, and luring to entice a minor through the Internet.”
You were ARRESTED & SENTENCED.. GAME OVER.
I hope that ICP and all the Jugalos across the world are reading this and remember who you are, what you did, and why you’ve ended up crying on the sidelines.
I’M SO DOWN WITH THE CLOWNS and I so hope the Juggalos are listening.
EDSEL DOPE
#14 year olds dude…”
This isn’t the first time Eisen attempted to call out Static-X, it was shortly after the band initially announced Project Regeneration last year when the group had to clear up rumors on Eisen’s involvement, stating:
“Listen! Let me make this very clear. Wayne, Tony, Ken and Koichi are the ORIGINAL line up of the band and we are celebrating our 20th anniversary & memorializing our friend Wayne!!! The 3 of us and Wayne are the TOTAL focus of this album and this tour. That guy was in static x for a couple years prior to HIS OWN personal troubles. His issues have NOTHING TO DO WITH US!!! … He was a co-writer on songs with Wayne & the band in the past. Some of those old songs ended up being tracks that Tony and the producers recovered some of Wayne’s unreleased, isolated vocals on. Clearly, the guy you mentioned is promoting his new band by mentioning his PAST involvement with Static-X and he is attempting to gain credibility through his PAST association. Aside from Wayne’s vocals and a couple guest vocalists, NOBODY ELSE is involved in the recording and production of his album. Tony, Ken, Koichi and touring vocalist “Xer0” are the only people that have been in the studio recording and working with the bands original producer Ulrich Wild on this incredibly special new album. End of story..”
