Convicted sex offender Tripp Eisen was let go as the guitarist for Static-X back in 2005, after being arrested for having sexual relations with a minor who was 14 when he was 39. The performer was eventually sent to prison for his crimes, while the band reunited with their founding guitarist Koichi Fukuda.
Eisen has now released a press release, claiming to have written three songs from the band’s latest album release Project Regeneration, Vol. 1:”Bring You Down”, “Hollow” and “Something Of My Own.” This statement claims that Eisen wrote these tracks back in 2005, alongside the band’s late frontman Wayne Static. He also took credit for the reunion in the press release and stated that he was responsible for placing Edsel Dope, known as Xer0, into the group.
“Tripp’s material has been used in the development of this incarnation of Static-X,” the release states. “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.'”
According to the PRP, Eisen provided screencaps of BMI registrations and splits of the three songs, with Eisen reportedly claiming claiming 50 percent, 20 percent and 46 percent for “Bring You Down”, “Hollow” and “Something Of My Own,” respectively. He also reportedly had a photo alongside band member Tony Campos and Dope which held a 2016 date.
The release further claims that Eisen reconnected with Campos in 2016, which is when he claimed to have pitched the idea for a reunion. This also claimed that his own “past legal troubles,” regarding his sexual assault conviction involving a 14 year old minor, were “addressed early on,” and that Campos “had Tripp’s back,” before highlighting the incident as having had “exaggerations in the press.”
“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,” the release reads.
Statix-X responded to these claims on Twitter, replying to a statement on the PRP’s post, where they called his claims and the story “horseshit.” They also added that everybody knows why he was fired, before continuing to call him “deplorable,” “desperate” and “begging for attention.
Read his full press release below:
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…
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