Filmmaker Matt Zane claims to have obtained a cease-and-desist letter from the property and household of late Static-X frontman Wayne Static. Zane is at present engaged on an unauthorized documentary about Static and his late spouse Tera Wray, which each the Static and Wray families have expressed vehement opposition towards. Regardless of the households’ needs, Zane has carried on and even launched a crowdfunding campaign to make the documentary.
Based on Blabbermouth, Zane mentioned the cease-and-desist will not cease him. And pay attention, I am not a lawyer – however ignoring a cease-and-desist looks like a nasty name: “”This would possibly not cease me,” mentioned Zane. “I am prepared and prepared to take this so far as it goes. If it leads to court docket, so be it. This film will likely be made and launched if it is the very last thing that I do.”
Zane additionally famous that there are different Static-related documentaries on the market, and he is unsure why this particular one is a matter: “When you go to YouTube proper now you will see a number of unauthorized documentaries about Wayne Static with a whole lot of hundreds of views.
“None of them had been threatened with authorized motion. I am the one one served with a cease-and-desist letter — and I have not even began manufacturing but. Why am I being singled out?”
Zane initially introduced his plans for a documentary in November 2025. Zane mentioned he’d begin filming in January 2026, and even had a few of the challenge accomplished when Static and Wray had been nonetheless alive. Zane partially said in November.
“I filmed bits and items through the years, however we wanted a number of strong weeks within the desert at their home to complete it — that was the plan. Sadly, funding fell by way of. I do know that is one thing Wayne and Tera needed to get accomplished, and so they needed me to do it. I really feel I owe them this — to inform their story the best way they needed it advised.”
Zane additionally famous there can be music he and Static labored on to accompany the movie: “There’s about an EP’s value of fabric Wayne and I recorded for a film Tera was doing, however his label stepped in and stopped it. A few of these concepts ended up on ‘Pighammer’, however the remaining has been sitting in my archives. I am revisiting it now and can end a few of it with assist from A.I. expertise.”
Zane launched an Indiegogo to fund the documentary, writing: “Wayne Static and Tera Wray requested me to create this about their life. I’m an award profitable director with a whole lot of music movies to my title in addition to two documentaries. Some individuals I’ve labored with previously are Zakk Wylde, John 5, DMC and lots of extra.
“My hope is that this challenge will current Wayne and Tera‘s relationship in a means that they needed the world to see them. The funds will likely be used to offer filming and enhancing prices. The aim is to finish the challenge inside a 12 months’s time. There are some nice perks and you can be immediately answerable for serving to Wayne and Tera‘s imaginative and prescient change into a actuality.”
The households of Static and Wray launched a joint assertion initially, saying they disapprove of the challenge and name it an “exploitation of this darkish and tragic chapter of their lives.” Static died on November 1, 2014 after a a number of prescription drug toxicity involving oxycodone, hydromorphone, Xanax, and alcohol; Wray died by suicide at her house in Joshua Tree, CA, on January 13, 2016.
The households assertion reads: “A message from the households of Wayne Static & Tera Wray. We’re sharing this with the world to make sure that our emotions are crystal clear on this matter.
“We aren’t within the additional growth of any unauthorized biography or documentary centered on our deceased son, daughter, and siblings, Wayne Wells (‘Wayne Static‘) and Tera Lents (‘Tera Wray‘). This contains however just isn’t restricted to: any behind-the-scenes footage from music movies, grownup movie units, concert events, home events, developmental initiatives, actuality TV pilots, personal photographs, or some other portrayals of Wayne Wells Static, Tera Lents Wray Static, or both of their likenesses. Any try to use their unauthorized likeness will likely be met with the suitable authorized response.
“We strenuously object to any additional exploration or exploitation of this darkish and tragic chapter of their lives. Moreover, we really feel that the music video for the Wayne Static track ‘Assassins Of Youth’, directed by Matt Zane and launched in 2013, and the Static-X ‘Keep Alive’ music video launched in 2023, totally depict the harmful life-style that Wayne and Tera had been embracing previous to their subsequent deaths.
“Additional, Static-X is nearing completion of the official Static-X documentary titled ‘Evil Disco – The Rise, Fall, And Regeneration Of Static-X’. The official documentary dives deep into the whole life’s work of Wayne Static and Static-X. The movie is predicted to be round 80 minutes in size and devotes the suitable period of time to exploring the life-style adjustments and supreme tragedies that adopted.
“If Mr. Zane is in possession of any extra uncommon or unseen footage that would contribute to the celebration of Wayne‘s life and legacy, we kindly ask him to share the footage with our households in order that we will overview and contemplate it for potential inclusion within the official ‘Evil Disco’ documentary. Moreover, any unreleased music that includes the voice of Wayne Static or his musical compositions would require the approval of the property earlier than any publication or launch.
“We additional problem Mr. Zane to share any musical works that he claims may comprise the precise voice of Wayne Static in order that we will decide their authenticity and high quality for consideration. We aren’t concerned about Wayne Static‘s voice showing inside any Al-generated music. In closing, we want to thank the Static-X followers around the globe for his or her continued love and assist for Wayne and the band. We’re so pleased with the band and what they’ve achieved collectively.
“Static-X‘s music is as widespread as ever, and Wayne‘s vitality and legacy have been celebrated and regenerated by way of the band’s unbelievable return to the stage. We totally assist the present workforce and lineup of Static-X and their continued respect and love for Wayne‘s reminiscence and our household. We’re delighted that the world is constant to rejoice the highly effective music that Wayne and the band created collectively and the unbelievable vitality that he and the band have at all times carried onto the stage.
“Sincerely, The household and property of Wayne Wells Static & Tera Lents Static.”
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