Static X has had a turbulent year but it’s easy to see that they have come out on top. With the arrest of Tripp Eisen on child molestation charges the band was dealt a serious blow, but one that would ultimately end up being a positive thing because it saw the return of former guitar player Koichi to the band. With their new release ‘Start A War’ already garnering critical acclaim, and a single climbing the charts; Static X is back with a vengeance.
After meeting up with Tony, we went on a short road trip through Portland looking for Carl’s Junior before we finally found parking and went in to save time by eating and doing our interview. Tony is very easy to talk to, even with his mouth full of burger. This is the second time I have met him and it’s always fun to catch up on where Static X, and particularly Tony, is at.
Crave: So how is the tour going so far?
TC: It's been great. We've got two more shows, including tonight and then we're done. We are just finishing two and a half months. That's a pretty long tour but previous to this, we were sitting at home for ten months working on the record so it hasn't been too bad. If we had done two and a half months at the end of the touring cycle, I would have shot myself by now. The shows have been killer, great response everywhere we go.
Crave: Now that Koichi Fukuda is back, do you feel like the line up is solidified?
TC: Everybody is stoked Koichi is back. Things happen for a reason. He had his time off and now he's back and ready to do it again and we're all having a good time.
Crave: Was the change back a hard transition after what happened with Tripp?
TC: No, actually it was like perfect from the first rehearsal it was like he never left, it just clicked you know, it was natural. It was great, It felt right.
Crave: I think "Start a War" is an amazing album, has there been a lot of excitement since it came out?
TC: Yeah, people are digging the record. They are catching into the old school vibe we have tried to bring back into it and we are getting a really good response to it. We are currently doing four songs off the new record in the set and they are going over great. We see new people getting into it.
Crave: Do you think the overall Static sound has evolved with Start a War?
TC: I think so, in a way, it has gone in different directions and evolved and morphed into different things, but we have always been able to maintain a certain identity, even stuff off of 'Shadow Zone' that was really different for us to do you can still tell, that's Static X. I think we have been able to maintain our identity through all the changes, kept our signature sound.
Crave: What was the writing process like this time around?
TC: it was a lot more laid back, as opposed to previous records where we were under a lot of pressure from the label to like “break the hit”. This time around we really just went back to having fun and writing fun songs and not necessarily caring or trying to write something that’s gonna get played on radio. We’ve just about giving up on radio!
Crave: The first single “I’m The One” is blowing up, what’s your favorite track?
TC: Yeah I really like “Dirthouse” that’s fun to play live. It’s in our set.
Crave: What was the first album you ever owned, do you remember?
TC: I remember the first time I ever went out to buy a cassette I bought two of them, I bought Van Halen “51/50’ and Ozzy “The Ultimate Sin”. Those are great records.
Crave: The DVD you guys made was really compelling. I don’t think I have watched one of those things from beginning to end. You really put the truth out there for people to see.
TC: Its just random nonsense to me, you know. The meat of it is us in the studio, creating the record. All the shenanigans and everything. That’s pretty much the way it went down with everybody sitting around drinking wine and taking naps and eating sushi and just generally having a good time ya know.
Crave: Have you been listening to anything new lately?
TC: I just picked up the new Black Dahlia Murder record and the new Devil Driver record, those are both great albums.
Crave: Oh yeah, I love the new Devil Driver, its amazing. So what do you do in your time off? When you actually have a day off?
TC: I usually try to go to the mall, maybe hit the movie theater, we usually all have dinner and some of us will go out and drink, Koichi always goes back to his room, he brought out his pro tools rig so he is constantly working, he’s got it set up in his bunk ya know. A few of us might hit a bar or something at the hotel maybe. We all have our own activities, we get together to eat and talk about upcoming events then we usually spread out.
Crave: Are you spread out before shows, or do you do anything like as a team?
TC: We all meet in our dressing room a half hour before show time and stretch out and listen to some tunes before we go up on stage and get to work.
Crave: Do you have any advice for new bands just starting out?
TC: The most important thing is that you’re in it for the right reasons. If you don’t live for that half hour or hour you get on stage every night then there is a lot of bullshit you are going to have to deal with, and if you don’t love that time that your playing music, after a while its not going to be worth it to you. The other thing is, make sure the people you are in a band with are people you are going to be able to get along and live with because you are stuck with each other, it’s a family, and if you don’t get along with someone its not gonna work. I’ve seen so many bands self-destruct cuz they can’t get along.
Crave: After more then six years has touring and being away from home gotten any easier?
TC: It’s gotten easier over the years. We are at a place now that we can afford a few creature comforts that make it easier. A two and a half month tour now at this point is doable after being at home for ten months. Sometimes it does take its toll.
Crave: If you can describe in one word what being on stage is like to you?
TC: It’s Fun. Always. I’ve always said the day this stops being fun I’ll go find something else to do. Life is too short.
Crave: What is the craziest thing you have ever seen happen in the pit?
TC: I’ve seen so much shit it’s all a blur. Recently, we were in Baltimore and during one of the Asesino sets some guy broke his ankle in the pit, second song into the set the EMT’s were coming in with a stretcher taking this kid out. It was funny as soon as he got cleared out the pit just started going again.
Crave: Are there any new bands on the scene we should be looking out for?
TC: The only new band I have really gotten into lately is the Black Dahlia Murder. This is their second record already so I don’t know how new they are but I really like them.
Crave: If you could have a drink with any dead rock star, who would it be?
TC: Cliff Burton, by far. That’s an easy one
Crave: So tell me what’s going to happen after this tour is over?
TC: We’re supposed to go home for a little bit, then we are nailing down a European tour and we’ll do that for a couple weeks and then maybe go to the states again in the fall. We’ll be putting together another package then and hit some of the markets we didn’t hit on this tour.
Crave: Is Europe fun?
TC: It can be fun. It can be hell. You take the good with the bad I guess. The shows out there are phenomenal. But the living conditions are kind of sub par you could say. Customs is a pain, and you really have no rights over there your just kind of at the mercy of whatever country your in.
Crave: If you could choose how you die, how would you want to go?
TC: probably in my sleep. Sittin in a chair, having a beer. Have you ever seen a dog, ya know who knows when its ready to die and he goes and finds a place alone to die. That’s how I want to be. I want to know that Its over, I’m done, I’m ready to go, I have lived a full life. I’ve done everything. It’s time, then just sit back and say goodbye. I hope i'm lucky enough to get that. Eating burgers and shit like this I’ll probably die of a fucking heart attack!
