(May 1, 2014): Contrary to urban legend, rock stars are not simply sent down from the heavens above, appearing as full-grown gods/goddesses on stage. They all began on this earth as mere mortals, and were brought into this world by a woman called…Mom, mum, mother, mommy, momma. Simply ask any musician how their moms played a part in their lives/careers and the most hardened of rockers turn into instant marshmallows – because if there is one person that rock stars love…it’s their moms!
These women’s voices were undoubtedly the first music to their ears in the form of softly-sung lullabies. Growing up, many attribute their mom’s taste in music (blues, funk, rock n’ roll, country, classical) to molding the way they write the music that we hear today. These moms more than likely bought them their first instrument, drove them to and fro music lessons, gave them the wings to fly creatively and were there to pick them up when they fell.
Ask any rockstar’s mom about her son/daughter and you will more than likely be having a lengthy conversation indeed! Very rarely do these moms of greatness get asked about what it was like to raise one of these exceptionally talented and aristic people.
So, it was an honor to talk to Mrs. Darlene Wells via phone from Wayne’s childhood home in Michigan, about what it’s like to be that special person called MOM by the man we all know as…Wayne Static (Wayne Richard Wells).
Hi Mrs. Wells! Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me for Mother’s Day as a true rock star mom!
Oh please call me Darlene and I could talk about my son all day! Ask me anything!
Ok then! Well, Wayne is known as a hard-driving individual who is a WILD MAN on stage! What was he like as a kid? Was he quite the handful?
Oh gosh no! I have to tell you that out of all the kids, he was probably the one that was the most mild-mannered and easy-going. He really was just a great kid! He did well in school, pretty much kept his room clean, never complained about anything. He was, and still is, the best son a mother could ask for.
That’s so sweet! He expressed the same about you as a mom and credited you for bringing music into his life from a very early age, teaching him how to play, sing and a love for music all around.
Well he always loved music! I played the organ for the church and did side work playing for weddings, funerals and such. Wayne came along quite often and so he was always around music either outside of the house or in it. There was always music playing! All of us play some type of instrument and have even performed together as a family!
Now THAT I would love to have seen! Wayne was recognized musically as a seven-year-old when he won a school talent competition playing “Skip To My Lou” on an $10 guitar that you and his dad (Richard) bought for him. So you were there when he won?
Of course I was! The whole family was! And on top of that…because he won the talent competition he got to play that song at a Mother’s Day Brunch at the little club we belonged to, so I was the proudest mom in the room that Mother’s Day! He was so talented, even at a young age. I knew back then that he was going to do something with his music.
Well kudos to you and Richard for recognizing that and nurturing his talent!
We really didn’t have a choice in the matter. He was GOING TO PLAY something! He had a little toy guitar that he got for his birthday or Christmas when he was two or three-years-old that he called his “Botar” and he literally slept with it. We couldn’t pry it out of his little hands if we wanted to. He took that thing everywhere…and actually got kind of good at it! (laughs) so we bought him a real one when he wore that out.
Ok…let’s talk about the hair. Do you like it or as a mom does it drive you crazy?
I love his hair! I think it’s so cool! I asked him how he did it one time and next thing you know, he had mine and Richard’s hair standing straight up! I’ll send you a picture. (please see pic to the right – lol!) Now, as far as when he was younger…I probably did the mom-spit thing to hold it down for sure. Doesn’t every mom?
Yes! It’s in the “Mom Handbook.” So, what were the teenage years like with Wayne?
Oh you know…it was pretty normal. He played in the marching band and then he had his “BAND” that we let practice in the basement. It did get a bit LOUD at times, but we never said anything. We let them do their thing…jam and whatnot.
Well, the one thing that happened in high school was this: Richard and I were really into square-dancing. We’d go every Saturday night until after midnight or so and we came home one night to chaos! Wayne decided to have a party and there were kids everywhere…throwing-up in the front yard, upstairs, downstairs – everywhere! We weren’t too happy and decided right then and there that our square-dancing days were over for a while. We gave it up for like ten years until all the kids were gone. Now we’re back at it!
Well good for you! Wayne is a vegetarian. Was he a picky eater as a kid?
We are just working class people. We weren’t destitute, but we were far from rich. With four kids to feed, there was a lot of Hamburger Helper and such. He really just ate whatever I made. He was a good eater and always cleaned his plate. But growing up, he ate meat. I ate meat. We all ate meat! It was just the way it was and he didn’t complain. I don’t think that’s why he became a vegetarian though. I am a vegetarian now as well, so I think for both of us, it was something that just came to be as a choice later.
I met Wayne here in Atlanta and went into the “Static Mobile” – his RV filled with a menagerie of animals – dogs, cat and an iguana! He and his wife Tera (Wray) do a lot of rescue work while out on the road and even had a dog they’d saved from death along the way. Did you have a lot of animals in the house when Wayne was growing up?
Oh yes! We had just about one of everything I believe. The kids were always bringing home something that needed mending, fixing, loving…we had a zoo. I know that’s where he gets his love for animals and I’m proud of the rescue work they do. I’ll tell you something else…he gets his love for camping and that RV from his childhood as well because that’s how we took all our family vacations. Richard and I still have an RV and we just pack up and go see Wayne whenever he’s within a few states!
So you stalk him like groupies in your RV? That’s awesome! (laughing) What do you think of his music and the live shows?
(laughing back) Oh yes…we’re his biggest groupies! We love to see him play! It’s so exciting to watch him on stage. We love his music and we especially love to watch the crowds – his fans. Those kids really get into it with their moshing and stuff! We learned a long time ago to stand on the edge or in the back a little so we don’t get trampled!
It’s got to be great to see the accomplishments he’s made in music and the success he’s having as a solo artist outside of Static-X.
His dad and I are both so proud of Wayne. You know, to everyone else he’s WAYNE STATIC, but when I’m at one of his shows and there’s tons of people who came to see WAYNE STATIC – I still just see my little boy up there on that stage. He’ll always be my little boy.
From everyone at RockRevolt, we wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day and thank you for bringing us Wayne!
Well, thank you so much and a Happy Mother’s Day to you as well! This was fun!
Go see Darlene’s little boy on tour and connect with him at the links below! A very special thank you to Wayne’s mom for bestowing such a charismatic musician into this world and for sending us these personal family photos of awesomeness!
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
By: Valerie King, Editor in Chief/Co-Founder – RockRevolt™Magazine
Live Photograph by: Josh Rienecke, Photo Editor
Family Photographs: Wayne’s Mom
