One thing we can agree with Dope frontman Edsel Dope is that trying to find the identity of Static-X’s new frontman, Xer0, does feel like a Scooby-Doo episode. Similar to the classic cartoon series, there have been times when Scooby and his friends guessed the wrong person. Whether or not this confirms or negates the photo of a neck tattoo on Xer0 belongs to Edsel, we can admit that this was the closest piece of evidence on trying to reveal the mysterious singer. And after spending an entire summer trying to find the identity of Tortilla Man, you can say it’s been quite an adventurous Scooby Doo season.
Instead of reaching out to Metal a Day or photographer Anders Groos Mikkelsen who took the photo, Edsel made a statement via Dope’s Facebook Page, citing Adobe Photoshop is to blame. Edsel continued to go on with the Scooby-Doo-esque episode to explain how the neck tattoo reveal was nothing but clickbait and hilarious and how “people can do amazing things with Photoshop.”
While Edsel didn’t entirely deny being Xer0, he continued to discuss how the tour is in honor and a memorial to Static-X’s late singer, Wayne Static. The unmasked reveal that has now gone viral is something the band never wanted to happen. The group has been doing something special in complete honor of Wayne that keeping the frontman a mystery has been a vital part of their tribute. Therefore, unless the group wants to announce who Xer0 is, perhaps we should keep him a mystery, and look at the stage in Wayne’s memory. Check out their tour dates here and enjoy the show!
You can read Edsel’s full statement below:
“EDSEL DOPE Confronts Static-X Rumors: Calls Photo of Neck Tattoo “Click Bait and Hilarious”, While reminding us that “People can do Amazing things with Photoshop”
DOPE front-man EDSEL DOPE, in the midst of a flurry of online speculation, has broken his silence to address the claims of photographic evidence attempting to prove his role as the masked vocalist, named Xer0, on the current STATIC-X Wisconsin Death Trip 20th Anniversary Tour / Memorial for WAYNE STATIC.
Hello world.
I have quietly sat through all of this speculation and have thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Yesterday’s internet eruption reminded me of an episode of Scooby-Doo.
It’s incredible how far some people will go to get attention or clicks, so let me remind you how easy it is to slap a little tribal neck tattoo onto someone in photoshop.
I’m honored for myself and for my band DOPE to be part of this 20th anniversary celebration, along with this unbelievable, traveling memorial to our old friend Wayne Static.
Wayne is currently on the minds and in the hearts of the metal community in a very unique and special way. His memory / legacy is more celebrated than it has ever been before.
I personally get to see the joy, the tears, and the incredible sense of healing that is occurring on the faces and in the hearts of Static-X fans, each and every night, around the world.
I’m not attempting to be a spokesperson for Static-X, but I will share that I have personally met Wayne’s parents and siblings, as they have attended a number of these shows.
I have personally seen their tears of joy and their expressions of gratitude and approval for the way that Tony, Ken, Koichi, & Xer0 are celebrating the music and memorializing the life and legacy of their son and sibling, Wayne Wells Static.
I’m including a candid photo that I snapped of Static-X drummer Ken Jay embracing Wayne’s father, while Tony Campos, Wayne’s mother, Wayne’s siblings and friends share some personal time together. Words cannot express the love and respect that I’ve experienced out here.
It’s one thing to go on a Scooby-Doo scavenger hunt, or to use photoshop to attempt to prove whatever you are trying to spin, but it’s entirely different when trolls, masquerading as journalists, spew their ignorant, hateful words towards something that is so incredibly personal.
Anyone with the nerve to throw virtual tomatoes at a traveling memorial, that has been orchestrated and supported by the family, loved ones, and long-time friends of the deceased should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
In the end, I’m not the type of person to allow others to dictate the narrative of my life or my art, so I’ve decided to also include a picture of me chatting it up, while watching another SOLD OUT Static-X show from the side of the stage the other night.
#Scooby-Doo
#TrollsAreLonely&StillLiveAtHomeWithMom&Dad
Dope will be heading over to the Ukraine and Russia next week before returning to North America for the second leg of the North American Wisconsin death trip 20th Anniversary Tour and Memorial to Wayne Static:
10/17 @ Atlas – Kyiv, Ukraine 10/19 @ Aglomerat – Moscow, Russia 10/20 @ ZAL – Saint Petersburg, Russia
Dope will be supporting Static-X on the second leg of the North American Wisconsin death trip 20th Anniversary Tour and Memorial to Wayne Static, kicking off in Austin, Texas on November 8.”
