Press Release: Wayne Static Died in His Sleep, Drugs Not Involved

A press release that just arrived from Wayne Static’s publicist states that drugs were not involved in the Static-X founder’s death this weekend. There had been speculation that Static had overdosed based on a social media post by Papa Roach’s Jacoby Shaddix.

The entire text of the press release follows:

HOLLYWOOD, CA (November 1, 2014) – Today is a sad day in the music industry – Front-man and founding member WAYNE STATIC of STATIC-X passed away quietly in his sleep at his home last night.

The couple 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~

The unnamed other member of “the couple” is of course Tera Wray, Static’s wife of six years. We can only imagine the horror of waking up next to your deceased loved one, and we wish her nothing but the best in this incredibly trying time.

It’s really relieving to know that drugs weren’t directly involved, but still a sobering reminder that past drug use can cause permanent damage. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

For more on Static’s death, check out reactions from across the metalsphere, including condolences from members of Lamb of God, Slipknot, Motorhead, System of a Down, Shadows Fall and Fear Factory, as well as Fred Durst, Devin Townsend, Ozzy and more.