Disk drive flex cable with ESD contact pad

A disk drive electrical interconnect includes one or more electrical contacts for providing a controlled discharge form a disk drive head in a manner that reduces the potential for damaging the head in preparation for testing or the like. In some embodiments the electrical interconnect includes a charge dissipation electrical contact that is interconnected with a read element of the head using an electrical trace. A resistor is disposed in series between the charge dissipation electrical contact and the read element. A probe may engage the charge dissipation electrical contact to remove the electrical charge from the read element at a desired rate because of the resistor. Once the electrical charge has been sufficiently dissipated, another probe may engage another contact of the electrical interconnect to provide a desired electrical signal to the head.