Tripp Eisen Claims To Have Initially Pitched Static-X Reunion, Alleges “Patently Deceptive Songwriting Credits” On New Album (Updated)

Update: July, 14th, 2020 11:31 AM:

Static-X have responded to commentary on Eisen‘s claims via social media:

Original Story:

Former Static-X guitarist Tripp Eisen (aka Tod Rex Salvador) has issued a press release on his alleged involvement with Static-X‘s newly released album “Project Regeneration, Vol.1“. That outing is the first of two to be built around previously unreleased studio recordings of the band’s late frontman Wayne Static.

Eisen claims to have been key in the resurrecting the band and in helping pen several songs featured on this new record. He further states that he had been a member of the project up until April 2019, where he claims to have taken legal action after being unhappy about changes being made to previously written material.

He goes on to claim that he and bassist Tony Campos initially met for the reunion, and that it was his own suggestion to bring his ex-Dope bandmate Edsel Dope into the outfit as Wayne Static‘s live fill-in ‘Xer0‘. His statement reads as follows:

‘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…’

Eisen‘s press release also provided screencaps of BMI registrations and splits of three songs, “Bring You Down“, “Hollow” and “Something Of My Own“, all of which were registered in 2005. Those songs found Wayne Static, Tony Campos and Eisen splitting the songs to a varying degrees with Eisen claiming 50%, 20% and 46% respectively.

An image of Eisen, Tony Campos and Edsel Dope sharing a metal together said to be dated September 03rd, 2016 was also included with the release.

Notably the versions of those above-mentioned trio of songs featured on “Project Regeneration, Vol. 1” are subtitled (Project Regeneration) to apparently denote their updated versions. Eisen and the current Static-X lineup have clashed previously over Eisen‘s level of involvement in the project (see here and here).

Eisen was fired from Static-X back in 2005 for charges related to sexual activity with underage girls. Among his charges were being found guilty of having had oral sex with a fourteen-year-old girl, he was 39 at the time. He was sentenced to prison on the charges and would later return for a parole violation. He addressed his criminal past in this 2017 interview.

Currently he performs with Face Without Fear, who also cover Static-X material live.