Wayne Static, the former guitar player singer of the industrial/nu metal band Static X passed away Saturday, November 1st at the age of 48, according to his publicist. No cause of death has been stated at this time, but several of Static’s friends and associates are indicating that drugs were a factor.

Watch the official video for Static X’s song “Push It” from their 1999 debut album Wisconsin Death Trip.

Wayne Static was born Wayne Richard Wells on November 4, 1965 in Muskegon, Michigan. His early career was spent in Chicago where his band Deep Blue Dream shared a rehearsal space with The Smashing Pumpkins. Static relocated to Los Angeles in 1994 and formed Static X. The frontman was instantly identifiable by his iconic, gravity-defying hairdo. Static X was one of the most successful acts of the nu metal era in the late 1990s to early 2000s. After 6 albums and nearly 20 years, they called it quits in 2013 when disputes between Wayne and bass player Tony Campos could not be resolved.

Wayne Static had released his first solo album entitled Pighammer in 2011. His second solo recording was to be released in 2015 and his solo band was set to play a co-headlining tour of the U.S. with Powerman 5000 later this month.

Static was just 3 days shy of his 49th birthday and leaves behind his wife of 6 years, former porn star Tera Wray.

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