Static-X Frontman Wayne Static's Cause of Death Confirmed

BY Alex HudsonPublished Mar 13, 2015

Back in the fall, rumours spread regarding the tragic passing of Static-X singer-guitarist Wayne Static, with some suggesting that he had died of a drug overdose and his management responding that "this is not a drug related incident or an O.D." Now, his official cause of death has been revealed.

According to the coroner's report [via Blabbermouth], the 48-year-old died of a mixture of alcohol and prescription drugs.

The metal musician, whose real name was Wayne Richard Wells, apparently took Xanax daily and followed the dosage on his prescription. On the day he died, he also had some of his wife's oxycodone, a drug that he sometimes had a prescription for (but he more frequently used his wife's supply).

Although Wells had stopped using illegal drugs in recent years, he was an alcoholic. It's unknown exactly how much alcohol he had consumed when he died. His official cause of death is listed as "mixed prescription drug (oxycodone, hydromorphone, alprazolam) with alcohol toxicity, hours," due to "chronic prescription drug and alcohol abuse, years."

Below, read the coroner's report.

On November 1, at approximately 0700 hours, [Wayne] and his wife went to bed. His wife stated that just prior to going to bed, he crushed one-half of a 30 mg oxycodone pill and consumed it. The oxycodone had been prescribed to his wife. He also drank an unknown amount of alcohol. His wife awoke at around 1530 hours. She found the decedent dead in the bed and called 911 at 1547 hours. Paramedics arrived and confirmed death at 1600 hours, noting rigor mortis and lividity. There was no evidence of foul play or any indication a struggle had taken place.

…[Wayne's] wife said he took oxycodone, Xanax (alprazolam) and alcohol to relieve panic attacks. He took Xanax on a daily basis and was compliant with the prescribed dosage. His wife stated he would occasionally have his own prescription for oxycodone, but he would usually take hers. The decedent also had a history of gynecomastia… His wife stated both she and the decedent had a history of cocaine and ecstasy abuse, but they stopped using illicit drugs in 2009.

The decedent's mother stated he was a self-admitted alcoholic. She believed his drinking had been a problem for about two years. Both his wife and his mother stated that he was not suicidal.


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