Static X announced Wayne Static's death via Facebook on Nov. 1, and the rumors began flying.
Static-X Founder Wayne Static Passed Away At Age 48 https://t.co/W7wLQoqv9o
— Wayne Static (@IAmWayneStatic) November 2, 2014
There was little information at the time as to the cause of his passing, but rock publication Blabbermouth reported that drugs may have been involved, and Papa Roach vocalist Jacoby Shaddix posted that the death was the result of an overdose.
But that's apparently false, as a new statement from the band says that Static had been drug-free since 2009.
Today is a sad day in the music industry - frontman and founding member Wayne Static of Static-X passed away quietly in his sleep at his home last night.
The couple [Wayne Static and Tera Wray] was getting ready to leave for a Fall/Winter tour this morning. They were to have left the night before on Halloween, but decided they would head out early in the morning November 1st.
The couple, known for partying heavy, had left hard drugs in 2009 and had not touched them since. Static's first solo album - 'Pighammer' - was a tribute to his new non-drug life and hoped it would help others to get clean from hard chemical drugs.
More official information about his passing will be released in the following days. This is not a drug related incident or an O.D. Please be courteous to his family and wife and leave positive messages.
Wife Tera Wray Static added the following:
I would like to thank everyone on behalf of all the Wayne's family and myself for all the kind words from all of Wayne's friends and fans and other bands.
Wayne went very peacefully in his sleep and probably didn't even know that it happened (which makes me feel better that he wasn't in pain).
It will be sometime before we know why it happened but I will keep everyone informed.
He had so much more to give the world.
As his wife, biggest fan, and worshipper, I will keep him alive and finish everything that I can that he has been working on. He will never die and I want to share everything that I can that he has to give to his fans and friends. I will try my hardest to be strong and make him proud.
And guitarist Koichi Fukuda also added his thoughts:
I am still trying to process the sad fact that I've lost my dear old friend, Wayne Richard Wells. He was an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind, very special person and also a very gifted artist with a clear vision. On a personal level, he was a smart, kind, caring sweetheart and soft-spoken gentleman. I really loved his dark, biting and sharp sense of humor. We all shared so many great times and also some tough times together like we are 'family.'
