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m Ture was in 1985 run of fex. Not ended run at 84' and Dirk Reichardt joined probably at 85' because that's the exact time Michael left.
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{{Short description|German musical group}}
{{Short description|German new wave band}}
{{Under construction}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = FEX
| name = FEX
| image = FEXNoBackground.svg
| image = FEXNoBackground.svg
| caption = Logo, designed {{circa|1983}} by Hans-Reimer Sievers<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=MysteryDX7_Official |date=2024-11-11 |title=I am Michael Hädrich from FEX (keyboards, guitar, vocals). AMA |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMysteriousSong/comments/1gon5k1/i_am_michael_h%C3%A4drich_from_fex_keyboards_guitar/?share_id=0R3OSank7kcF_O23_epbt&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1&rdt=51690 |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=r/TheMysteriousSong}}</ref>
| origin = [[Kiel]], Germany
| genre = {{hlist|[[Post-punk]]|[[New wave music|New wave]]}}
| origin = [[Kiel]], [[West Germany]]
| genre = {{hlist|[[Post-punk]]|[[New wave music|new wave]]|[[Neue Deutsche Welle]]}}
| years_active = {{hlist|1983–1985|2024–present}}
| years_active = {{hlist|1983–1985|2024–present}}
| current_members = *Michael Hädrich
| current_members = *Michael Hädrich
*Ture Rückwardt
*Ture Rückwardt
*Hans Sievers
*Hans-Reimer Sievers
*Norbert Ziermann
*Norbert Ziermann
| past_members = *Ilona Rückwardt
*[[Dirk Reichardt]]
*Jörg Lemcke
}}
}}
[[File:The band members from the band FEX.jpg|alt=Fex circa 1984 left to right: Norbert Ziermann, Ture Rückwardt, Michael Hädrich, Hans-Reimer Sievers|thumb|FEX {{circa|1984}}. Left to right: Norbert Ziermann, Ture Rückwardt, Michael Hädrich, Hans-Reimer Sievers]]
⚫
'''Fex''' (stylized as '''FEX''') is a German [[New wave music|new wave]] band based and formed in [[Kiel]] in 1983. They are best known for the song "[[Subways of Your Mind]]," previously referred to as "The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet," unofficially, which became notable for being the subject of a 17-year-long internet search to identify the song title and original artist.<ref name = RollingStone>{{Cite magazine| url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/most-mysterious-song-internet-identified-subways-of-your-mind-1235153685/| title = Case Closed: One of the internet's biggest musical mysteries has likely been solved| last = Blistein| first = Jon| date = 2024-11-05| magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]| publisher = | access-date = 2024-11-06| quote = A "lost" New Wave track stumping listeners for over 15 years was identified as "Subways of Your Mind" by the German band FEX| archive-date = 2024-11-05| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241105195851/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/most-mysterious-song-internet-identified-subways-of-your-mind-1235153685/| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name = TheVerge>{{Cite web| url = https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/5/24288782/unidentified-song-mystery-reddit-fex-subways-of-the-mind| title = Reddit sleuths track down the band behind the internet's most mysterious song| last = Davis| first = Wes| date = 2024-11-05| website = [[The Verge]]| publisher = | access-date = 2024-11-06| quote = Now we know that the song is called "Subways Of the Mind" by a band named FEX. Here's a recording provided by Michael Hädrich, a 68-year-old former band member.| archive-date = 2024-11-08| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241108214940/https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/5/24288782/unidentified-song-mystery-reddit-fex-subways-of-the-mind| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name = DerSpiegel>{{Cite web| url = https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/the-most-mysterious-song-on-the-internet-netzraetsel-nach-jahren-geloest-a-458f113c-64a0-468d-a1bc-5cba9e22b4ad| title = Netzrätsel nach Jahren gelöst: Hinter dem »geheimnisvollsten Lied des Internets« steckt eine deutsche Band| trans-title = Internet mystery solved after years: A German band is behind the "most mysterious song on the Internet".| last1 = Böhm| first1 = Markus| last2 = Kleinz| first2 = Torsten| date = 2024-11-05| website = [[Der Spiegel]]| language = de| access-date = 2024-11-06| quote = Es ist ein historischer Tag. Nicht etwa wegen der US-Wahl. Sondern, weil etwas anderes geschehen ist, das sich für einige Menschen offenbar ähnlich weltbewegend anfühlt: Das Geheimnis um den »most mysterious Song on the Internet«, und damit eines der bekanntesten Netzrätsel überhaupt, ist gelüftet worden. Nach 17 Jahren. [It's a historic day. Not because of the US election. But because something else happened that apparently felt equally earth-shattering to some people: The secret of the "most mysterious song on the Internet," and thus one of the most famous online mysteries of all time, has been revealed. After 17 years.]}}</ref><ref name = SüddeutscheZeitung>{{Cite web| url = https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/band-fex-war-s-aus-kiel-raetsel-um-mysterioesen-internet-song-aus-den-80ern-geloest-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-241107-930-282218| title = Band Fex war's - aus Kiel. Rätsel um mysteriösen Internet-Song aus den 80ern gelöst| trans-title = It was the band Fex - from Kiel. Mystery of mysterious internet song from the 80s solved| date = 2024-11-07| website = [[Süddeutsche_Zeitung]]| language = de| access-date = 2024-11-07| quote = In den 80ern läuft in einer jungen Radiosendung ein Synthie-Pop-Song mit coolem Sound und markanter tiefer Stimme. Jahrzehnte später sucht eine Frau im Internet die Macher – und löst einen Hype aus. [In the 80s, a young radio show played a synth-pop song with a cool sound and distinctive deep voice. Decades later, a woman searched the internet for the makers – and triggered a hype.]| archive-date = 2024-11-08| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241108220749/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/band-fex-war-s-aus-kiel-raetsel-um-mysterioesen-internet-song-aus-den-80ern-geloest-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-241107-930-282218| url-status = live}}</ref>


During a [[Reddit]] "''Ask Me Anything''" thread, band member Michael Hädrich said that "we had songs for a full 2 set concert", but only 6 songs were recorded by Fex during their initial run in the 1980s. The discovery of "Subways of Your Mind" also unveiled two other songs on the same demo tape, "Heart in Danger" and "Talking Hands". The song "Jenny" was found in a song compilation released by Zeus. Fex eventually put the B-side of the demo tape, "Goldrush", on YouTube, while the possible sixth, "Right and Wrong", is still to be revealed.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9l33-md--A |title=Goldrush |date=2024-11-21 |last=FEX band |access-date=2024-11-22 |via=YouTube |archive-date=2024-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241122103650/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9l33-md--A |url-status=live }}</ref>
⚫
'''Fex''' (stylized as '''FEX''') is a German [[Rock music|rock]] band based in [[Kiel]], formed in 1983 by singer and lead guitarist Ture Rückwardt, keyboardist Michael Hädrich, bassist Norbert Ziermann, and drummer Hans Sievers. They produced the song titled "[[Subways of Your Mind]]", previously unofficially referred to as "The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet", which became notable for being the subject of a 17-year-long internet search to identify the original artist.<ref name = RollingStone>{{Cite magazine| url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/most-mysterious-song-internet-identified-subways-of-your-mind-1235153685/| title = Case Closed: One of the internet's biggest musical mysteries has likely been solved| last = Blistein| first = Jon| date = November 5, 2024| magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]| publisher = | access-date = November 6, 2024| quote = A "lost" New Wave track stumping listeners for over 15 years was identified as "Subways of Your Mind" by the German band FEX}}</ref><ref name = TheVerge>{{Cite web| url = https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/5/24288782/unidentified-song-mystery-reddit-fex-subways-of-the-mind| title = Reddit sleuths track down the band behind the internet's most mysterious song| last = Davis| first = Wes| date = November 5, 2024 | website = [[The Verge]]| publisher = | access-date = November 6, 2024| quote = Now we know that the song is called “Subways Of the Mind” by a band named FEX. Here’s a recording provided by Michael Hädrich, a 68-year-old former band member.}}</ref><ref name = DerSpiegel>{{Cite web| url = https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/the-most-mysterious-song-on-the-internet-netzraetsel-nach-jahren-geloest-a-458f113c-64a0-468d-a1bc-5cba9e22b4ad| title = Netzrätsel nach Jahren gelöst: Hinter dem »geheimnisvollsten Lied des Internets« steckt eine deutsche Band| trans-title = Internet mystery solved after years: A German band is behind the "most mysterious song on the Internet".| last1 = Böhm| first1 = Markus| last2 = Kleinz| first2 = Torsten| date = November 5, 2024| website = [[Der Spiegel]]| language = de| access-date = November 6, 2024| quote = Es ist ein historischer Tag. Nicht etwa wegen der US-Wahl. Sondern, weil etwas anderes geschehen ist, das sich für einige Menschen offenbar ähnlich weltbewegend anfühlt: Das Geheimnis um den »most mysterious Song on the Internet«, und damit eines der bekanntesten Netzrätsel überhaupt, ist gelüftet worden. Nach 17 Jahren. [It's a historic day. Not because of the US election. But because something else happened that apparently felt equally earth-shattering to some people: The secret of the "most mysterious song on the Internet," and thus one of the most famous online mysteries of all time, has been revealed. After 17 years.]}}</ref><ref name = SüddeutscheZeitung>{{Cite web| url = https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/band-fex-war-s-aus-kiel-raetsel-um-mysterioesen-internet-song-aus-den-80ern-geloest-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-241107-930-282218| title = Band Fex war's - aus Kiel. Rätsel um mysteriösen Internet-Song aus den 80ern gelöst| trans-title = It was the band Fex - from Kiel. Mystery of mysterious internet song from the 80s solved| date = November 7, 2024| website = [[Süddeutsche_Zeitung]]| language = de| access-date = November 7, 2024| quote = In den 80ern läuft in einer jungen Radiosendung ein Synthie-Pop-Song mit coolem Sound und markanter tiefer Stimme. Jahrzehnte später sucht eine Frau im Internet die Macher - und löst einen Hype aus. [In the 80s, a young radio show played a synth-pop song with a cool sound and distinctive deep voice. Decades later, a woman searched the internet for the makers - and triggered a hype]}}</ref> Three more songs were found after the rediscovery, being titled "Heart in Danger", "Talking Hands" and "Jenny".

==History==
According to guitarist Ture Rückwardt, Fex started in a rehearsal room in the [[Heikendorf]] industrial area. His wife Ilona was the lead vocalist before she went on maternity leave, prompting him to become the singer. The name of the band derives from a [[Southern Germany|Southern German]] slang word, akin to "zealot" or "[[nerd]]", regarding someone passionately enthusiastic about something.<ref name=kn>{{cite web|url=https://www.kn-online.de/lokales/kiel/geloest-von-wem-ist-the-most-mysterious-song-on-the-internet-wirklich-JZBXQUNFPJH63CSBJWYQRT4RAU.html|work=[[Kieler Nachrichten]]|title=Kommt aus Kiel: „The most mysterious song on the Internet“|date=2024-11-06|access-date=2024-11-12|archive-date=2024-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112214542/https://www.kn-online.de/lokales/kiel/geloest-von-wem-ist-the-most-mysterious-song-on-the-internet-wirklich-JZBXQUNFPJH63CSBJWYQRT4RAU.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By 1984, the band's lineup consisted of Rückwardt, keyboardist Michael Hädrich, drummer Hans-Reimer Sievers and bassist Norbert Ziermann.<ref name=":3" />

Fex started to gain more exposure outside Kiel with their participation in the ''Newcomer Show'' music competition, which was hosted in 1984 by radio and television personality [[Manfred Sexauer]] and organized by [[Hamburg]]-based [[insurance broker]] Zeus. The competition was held at the [[Die Glocke (Bremen)|Die Glocke]] concert hall in [[Bremen]], where the band beat out seven other finalists. One of the rewards was the contribution of a track, "Jenny", to the ''Top-Hits'' compilation album that was later released in 1985.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1984-09-21 |title=Das Konventionelle dominierte |work=Weser-Kurier |language=German}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1984-02-26 |title=Zeus-Show nach bewährtem Muster |url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/zeus-show-nach-bewaehrtem-muster-a-3469c285-0002-0001-0000-000013509970 |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=2024-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241118224344/https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/zeus-show-nach-bewaehrtem-muster-a-3469c285-0002-0001-0000-000013509970 |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 1985, they announced a tour of [[Northern Germany]] scheduled for that March.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=1985-01-19 |title=Rock mit Wave und vielen Elementen des Pop |work=Nordwest-Zeitung |language=German }}</ref><ref name=":1">Casiello, Pete; Hädrich, Michael. (2024-11-11). [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iF6AoU06sK8 After Hours Café]. ''WRDV-FM.'' Retrieved 2024-11-12 - via SgtStevePH on YouTube.</ref> Later that year, the band performed at the {{interlanguage link|Bruchhausen-Festival|de}}.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The band had recorded only six songs before their dissolution as Hädrich decided to relocate to Munich.<ref name="kn" />


==Reunion==
==Reunion==
On November 7, 2024, Rückwardt, Hädrich and Ziermann reunited to perform a live acoustic version of “Subways of Your Mind” on German radio station [[NDR 1 Welle Nord]]. This was the band’s first performance since dissolving in the mid-1980s.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Jw-xSg6o0 |title=FEX - Subways Of Your Mind (Live @ NDR 1) |date=2024-11-07 |last=x0jony |access-date=2024-11-07 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Synowski |first=Lisa |date=November 7, 2024 |title=“The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet” von Kieler Band im Radio |url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/The-Most-Mysterious-Song-on-the-Internet-von-Kieler-Band-im-Radio,mostmysterioussong100.html |access-date=November 7, 2024 |work=NDR |language=German}}</ref> On November 8, Sievers contacted NDR 1 for an interview after reading about the band’s reunion in a local newspaper, and was subsequently put in contact with the other band members.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jänisch |first=Julia |date=November 8, 2024 |title=“The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet”: Band FEX nach 40 Jahren wieder komplett |url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/Most-Mysterious-Song-on-the-Internet-Band-FEX-nach-40-Jahren-wieder-komplett,mostmysterioussong104.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 8, 2024 |work=NDR |language=German}}</ref>
On November 7, 2024, Rückwardt, Hädrich and Ziermann reunited to perform a live acoustic version of "[[Subways of Your Mind]]" on German radio station [[NDR 1 Welle Nord]]. This was the band's first performance since dissolving in the mid-1980s.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Jw-xSg6o0 |title=FEX – Subways Of Your Mind (Live @ NDR 1) |date=2024-11-07 |last=x0jony |access-date=2024-11-07 |via=YouTube |archive-date=2024-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107193518/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Jw-xSg6o0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Synowski |first=Lisa |date=2024-11-07 |title="The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet" von Kieler Band im Radio |url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/The-Most-Mysterious-Song-on-the-Internet-von-Kieler-Band-im-Radio,mostmysterioussong100.html |access-date=2024-11-07 |work=NDR |language=German |archive-date=2024-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107194815/https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/The-Most-Mysterious-Song-on-the-Internet-von-Kieler-Band-im-Radio,mostmysterioussong100.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 8, Sievers contacted NDR 1 for an interview after reading about the band's reunion in a local newspaper, and was subsequently put in contact with the other band members.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Jänisch |first=Julia |date=2024-11-08 |title="The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet": Band FEX nach 40 Jahren wieder komplett |url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/Most-Mysterious-Song-on-the-Internet-Band-FEX-nach-40-Jahren-wieder-komplett,mostmysterioussong104.html |url-status=live |access-date=2024-11-08 |work=NDR |language=German |archive-date=2024-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108200252/https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/Most-Mysterious-Song-on-the-Internet-Band-FEX-nach-40-Jahren-wieder-komplett,mostmysterioussong104.html }}</ref> The four musicians eventually got together in a Hamburg studio in December, with the recording sessions including a new version of "Subways of Your Mind".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aR5dVaWlmY|publisher=[[ZDF]]|title=FEX - "Subways of your mind" ZDF interview and new version recording!|accessdate=2024-12-07}}</ref>

On December 9, Berlin-based label The Outer Edge announced a 7" vinyl release of the original demo version of "Subways of Your Mind" as a single, with "Heart in Danger" on the B-side, for a January 2025 release. It was put up for [[pre-order]] on the label's [[Bandcamp]] page on December 12.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Subways Of Your Mind (Like The Wind) [Official], by FEX |url=https://theouteredge.bandcamp.com/album/subways-of-your-mind-like-the-wind-official |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The Outer Edge |language=en}}</ref> The digital version of the single was released on the 20th.

==Members==
'''Current members'''
* Michael Hädrich – keyboard, vocals, guitar (1983–1985; 2024–present)
* Ture Rückwardt – composer, vocals, guitar (1983–1985; 2024–present)
* Hans-Reimer Sievers – drums (1983–1985; 2024–present)
* Norbert Ziermann – bass (1984–1985; 2024–present)
'''Former members'''
* Ilona Rückwardt – vocals (1983–1984)
* [[Dirk Reichardt]] – keyboard (1985)
* Jörg Lemcke – bass (1983–1984)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Safe-Escape-6050 |date=2024-12-10 |title=Never heard before: the practice room version of Subways of Your Mind |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMysteriousSong/comments/1hb2tbd/never_heard_before_the_practice_room_version_of/?rdt=34021 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=r/TheMysteriousSong}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE-YwmW2tsA |title=FEX Subways of Your Mind Heikendorf |date=2024-12-10 |last=ComLog Werbung. PR. Visuelle Kommunikation |access-date=2024-12-10 |via=YouTube}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
* ''FEX'' (demo tape, c. 1983/4)
;Songs
*# "Subways of Your Mind"
⚫
*# "Heart in Danger"
⚫
*# "Talking Hands"
*# "Jenny"
*# "I Got My Eyes on You"
*# "Goldrush"
* "Subways of Your Mind" b/w "Heart in Danger" (2024; remastered versions of the first two songs from the aforementioned demo)

=== Songs ===
* "[[Subways of Your Mind]]" (c. 1983)
* "[[Subways of Your Mind]]" (c. 1983)
* "Heart in Danger" (c. 1983)<ref name="xd">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMysteriousSong/comments/1gjbrs6/comment/lvc3b9o/?rdt=41127|title=https://preview.redd…|date=November 4, 2024}}</ref>
⚫
* "Heart In Danger" (c. 1983)
* "Talking Hands" (c. 1983)<ref name="xd" /><ref name="XP">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMysteriousSong/comments/1gl1wf5/comment/lwpyi7s/?rdt=51768|title=We played "Jenny", w…|date=November 12, 2024}}</ref>
⚫
* "Talking Hands" (c. 1983)
* "Goldrush" (c. 1980s)<ref name="XP" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9l33-md--A|title=FEX - Goldrush|date=November 22, 2024|via=YouTube|access-date=November 22, 2024|archive-date=November 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241122103650/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9l33-md--A|url-status=live}}</ref>
* "Jenny" (1985) (on compilation album ''ZEUS Top-Hits'')
* "Jenny" (1985) (on compilation album ''ZEUS Top-Hits'')<ref name="XP" />
* "Skyscraper"<ref name="XP" />
* "Right and Wrong"<ref name="XP" />
* "It's Good to Know"<ref name="XP" />
* "Hard Ride"<ref name="XP" />
* "Second Hand Love"<ref name="XP" />
* "Persecution Mania"<ref name="XP" />
* "Influence"<ref name="XP" />
* "Talk About"<ref name="XP" />
* "Killing Joke"<ref name="XP" />
* "Dead End"<ref name="XP" />
* "Promise"<ref name="XP" />
* "Epcot"<ref name="XP" />
* "We Don't Want It No More" <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=njva96R0CISgtjFQ&v=GG5EIlrW35g&feature=youtu.be |title=FEX - We Don't Want It No More (1983) |date=2024-12-07 |last=Novrix |access-date=2024-12-15 |via=YouTube}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Musical groups established in 1983]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1983]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kiel]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kiel]]


{{Germany-stub}}
{{Band-stub}}

Latest revision as of 14:05, 5 January 2025

FEX
Logo, designed c. 1983 by Hans-Reimer Sievers[1]
Logo, designed c. 1983 by Hans-Reimer Sievers[1]
Background information
OriginKiel, West Germany
Genres
Years active
  • 1983–1985
  • 2024–present
Members
  • Michael Hädrich
  • Ture Rückwardt
  • Hans-Reimer Sievers
  • Norbert Ziermann
Past members
Fex circa 1984 left to right: Norbert Ziermann, Ture Rückwardt, Michael Hädrich, Hans-Reimer Sievers
FEX c. 1984. Left to right: Norbert Ziermann, Ture Rückwardt, Michael Hädrich, Hans-Reimer Sievers

Fex (stylized as FEX) is a German new wave band based and formed in Kiel in 1983. They are best known for the song "Subways of Your Mind," previously referred to as "The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet," unofficially, which became notable for being the subject of a 17-year-long internet search to identify the song title and original artist.[2][3][4][5]

During a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" thread, band member Michael Hädrich said that "we had songs for a full 2 set concert", but only 6 songs were recorded by Fex during their initial run in the 1980s. The discovery of "Subways of Your Mind" also unveiled two other songs on the same demo tape, "Heart in Danger" and "Talking Hands". The song "Jenny" was found in a song compilation released by Zeus. Fex eventually put the B-side of the demo tape, "Goldrush", on YouTube, while the possible sixth, "Right and Wrong", is still to be revealed.[1][6]

History

[edit]

According to guitarist Ture Rückwardt, Fex started in a rehearsal room in the Heikendorf industrial area. His wife Ilona was the lead vocalist before she went on maternity leave, prompting him to become the singer. The name of the band derives from a Southern German slang word, akin to "zealot" or "nerd", regarding someone passionately enthusiastic about something.[7] By 1984, the band's lineup consisted of Rückwardt, keyboardist Michael Hädrich, drummer Hans-Reimer Sievers and bassist Norbert Ziermann.[8]

Fex started to gain more exposure outside Kiel with their participation in the Newcomer Show music competition, which was hosted in 1984 by radio and television personality Manfred Sexauer and organized by Hamburg-based insurance broker Zeus. The competition was held at the Die Glocke concert hall in Bremen, where the band beat out seven other finalists. One of the rewards was the contribution of a track, "Jenny", to the Top-Hits compilation album that was later released in 1985.[9][10] In January 1985, they announced a tour of Northern Germany scheduled for that March.[8][11] Later that year, the band performed at the Bruchhausen-Festival [de].[12][11] The band had recorded only six songs before their dissolution as Hädrich decided to relocate to Munich.[7]

Reunion

[edit]

On November 7, 2024, Rückwardt, Hädrich and Ziermann reunited to perform a live acoustic version of "Subways of Your Mind" on German radio station NDR 1 Welle Nord. This was the band's first performance since dissolving in the mid-1980s.[13][14] On November 8, Sievers contacted NDR 1 for an interview after reading about the band's reunion in a local newspaper, and was subsequently put in contact with the other band members.[12] The four musicians eventually got together in a Hamburg studio in December, with the recording sessions including a new version of "Subways of Your Mind".[15]

On December 9, Berlin-based label The Outer Edge announced a 7" vinyl release of the original demo version of "Subways of Your Mind" as a single, with "Heart in Danger" on the B-side, for a January 2025 release. It was put up for pre-order on the label's Bandcamp page on December 12.[16] The digital version of the single was released on the 20th.

Members

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Current members

  • Michael Hädrich – keyboard, vocals, guitar (1983–1985; 2024–present)
  • Ture Rückwardt – composer, vocals, guitar (1983–1985; 2024–present)
  • Hans-Reimer Sievers – drums (1983–1985; 2024–present)
  • Norbert Ziermann – bass (1984–1985; 2024–present)

Former members

  • Ilona Rückwardt – vocals (1983–1984)
  • Dirk Reichardt – keyboard (1985)
  • Jörg Lemcke – bass (1983–1984)[17][18]

Discography

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  • FEX (demo tape, c. 1983/4)
    1. "Subways of Your Mind"
    2. "Heart in Danger"
    3. "Talking Hands"
    4. "Jenny"
    5. "I Got My Eyes on You"
    6. "Goldrush"
  • "Subways of Your Mind" b/w "Heart in Danger" (2024; remastered versions of the first two songs from the aforementioned demo)

Songs

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ a b MysteryDX7_Official (2024-11-11). "I am Michael Hädrich from FEX (keyboards, guitar, vocals). AMA". r/TheMysteriousSong. Retrieved 2024-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Blistein, Jon (2024-11-05). "Case Closed: One of the internet's biggest musical mysteries has likely been solved". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2024-11-05. Retrieved 2024-11-06. A "lost" New Wave track stumping listeners for over 15 years was identified as "Subways of Your Mind" by the German band FEX
  3. ^ Davis, Wes (2024-11-05). "Reddit sleuths track down the band behind the internet's most mysterious song". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-06. Now we know that the song is called "Subways Of the Mind" by a band named FEX. Here's a recording provided by Michael Hädrich, a 68-year-old former band member.
  4. ^ Böhm, Markus; Kleinz, Torsten (2024-11-05). "Netzrätsel nach Jahren gelöst: Hinter dem »geheimnisvollsten Lied des Internets« steckt eine deutsche Band" [Internet mystery solved after years: A German band is behind the "most mysterious song on the Internet".]. Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 2024-11-06. Es ist ein historischer Tag. Nicht etwa wegen der US-Wahl. Sondern, weil etwas anderes geschehen ist, das sich für einige Menschen offenbar ähnlich weltbewegend anfühlt: Das Geheimnis um den »most mysterious Song on the Internet«, und damit eines der bekanntesten Netzrätsel überhaupt, ist gelüftet worden. Nach 17 Jahren. [It's a historic day. Not because of the US election. But because something else happened that apparently felt equally earth-shattering to some people: The secret of the "most mysterious song on the Internet," and thus one of the most famous online mysteries of all time, has been revealed. After 17 years.]
  5. ^ "Band Fex war's - aus Kiel. Rätsel um mysteriösen Internet-Song aus den 80ern gelöst" [It was the band Fex - from Kiel. Mystery of mysterious internet song from the 80s solved]. Süddeutsche_Zeitung (in German). 2024-11-07. Archived from the original on 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-07. In den 80ern läuft in einer jungen Radiosendung ein Synthie-Pop-Song mit coolem Sound und markanter tiefer Stimme. Jahrzehnte später sucht eine Frau im Internet die Macher – und löst einen Hype aus. [In the 80s, a young radio show played a synth-pop song with a cool sound and distinctive deep voice. Decades later, a woman searched the internet for the makers – and triggered a hype.]
  6. ^ FEX band (2024-11-21). Goldrush. Archived from the original on 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2024-11-22 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ a b "Kommt aus Kiel: „The most mysterious song on the Internet"". Kieler Nachrichten. 2024-11-06. Archived from the original on 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  8. ^ a b "Rock mit Wave und vielen Elementen des Pop". Nordwest-Zeitung (in German). 1985-01-19.
  9. ^ "Das Konventionelle dominierte". Weser-Kurier (in German). 1984-09-21.
  10. ^ "Zeus-Show nach bewährtem Muster". Der Spiegel (in German). 1984-02-26. ISSN 2195-1349. Archived from the original on 2024-11-18. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  11. ^ a b Casiello, Pete; Hädrich, Michael. (2024-11-11). After Hours Café. WRDV-FM. Retrieved 2024-11-12 - via SgtStevePH on YouTube.
  12. ^ a b Jänisch, Julia (2024-11-08). ""The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet": Band FEX nach 40 Jahren wieder komplett". NDR (in German). Archived from the original on 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  13. ^ x0jony (2024-11-07). FEX – Subways Of Your Mind (Live @ NDR 1). Archived from the original on 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2024-11-07 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Synowski, Lisa (2024-11-07). ""The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet" von Kieler Band im Radio". NDR (in German). Archived from the original on 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  15. ^ "FEX - "Subways of your mind" ZDF interview and new version recording!". ZDF. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  16. ^ "Subways Of Your Mind (Like The Wind) [Official], by FEX". The Outer Edge. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  17. ^ Safe-Escape-6050 (2024-12-10). "Never heard before: the practice room version of Subways of Your Mind". r/TheMysteriousSong. Retrieved 2024-12-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ ComLog Werbung. PR. Visuelle Kommunikation (2024-12-10). FEX Subways of Your Mind Heikendorf. Retrieved 2024-12-10 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ a b "https://preview.redd…". November 4, 2024. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "We played "Jenny", w…". November 12, 2024.
  21. ^ "FEX - Goldrush". November 22, 2024. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ Novrix (2024-12-07). FEX - We Don't Want It No More (1983). Retrieved 2024-12-15 – via YouTube.
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