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 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.[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
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
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
Current members
Michael Hädrich – keyboard, vocals, guitar (1983–1985; 2024–present)
^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.]
^"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.]
^FEX band (2024-11-21). Goldrush. Archived from the original on 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2024-11-22 – via YouTube.
![Logo, designed c. 1983 by Hans-Reimer Sievers[1]](File:FEXNoBackground.svg)