Guitarist/vocalist Wayne Static of Los Angeles metallers STATIC-X has released the following statement:

"There has been much speculation about the future of STATIC-X and I would like to make the official statement...

"After this U.S. tour is done we have plans for five shows in Australia. That will most likely be the end of touring for STATIC-X this year, but I am very excited to announce I'm finally going to start working on my PIGHAMMER [solo] record. I'm writing now while we're on tour and I hope to release it early next year.

"These remaining dates will be the last STATIC-X shows for a while, so come out and enjoy... and then look forward to PIGHAMMER in 2010!!!

"I have no further details to reveal on the PIGHAMMER project at this time, but I will keep everyone updated when there is more to report. In the meantime, enjoy these last few STATIC-X shows... and if we're not coming to your town check out the 'Cannibal Killers Live' DVD.

"Thanks for the continued support!"

In a December 2007 interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com, Wayne stated about PIGHAMMER, "It is going to be a side project and I'm going to write with a whole bunch of different people and it is going to be heavy as fuck. And it will not have any boundaries as I'm not going to worry about who is going to play it or if we're going to play it live. I am just going to do it for fun. It is going to be very extreme and I'll be working with as many different people as I can. And I'll be doing all the vocals on it too. But beyond that, I'm going to try and get a bunch of different cool people. I'm going to be writing with John 5 [ROB ZOMBIE, ex-MARILYN MANSON], we've talking about working with Al Jourgensen [MINISTRY] too and Tony Campos [STATIC-X] is also going to help me out. Whoever wants to help out, I'd love for them to so. I'm even talking about working with Tommy Victor from PRONG. I want to write some music with these people but then make it my own thing too."

STATIC-X is recording most of its live performances on the Pedal To The Metal tour and making them available to fans on a USB wristband for purchase at the STATIC-X merch booth right after the show. The USB sticks not only feature the night's performance audio but also a variety of exclusive bonus material put together by the band especially for their fans, such as a personal message to fans in the city of the show, a brand new picture gallery, several "Behind The Scenes – The Making of The Cult Of Static" video clips and links to related web sites.

"Cult of Static", the new album from STATIC-X, sold 19,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 16 on The Billboard 200 chart.

STATIC-X's previous CD, "Cannibal", opened with more than 30,000 copies back in April 2007 to land at No. 36. This represented a slight drop from the 35,000 tally registered by the band's "Start a War" album, which came out in June 2005 and debuted at No. 29.

As previously reported, STATIC-X has tapped drummer Will Hunt (EVANESCENCE, DARK NEW DAY, ex-SKRAPE, TOMMY LEE) to fill in for Nick Oshiro on the group's current tour. Hunt also appears in STATIC-X's new video for the song "Stingwray".

Oshiro is reportedly "taking a break" from STATIC-X, but has not officially left the band.