Never had to be in your body
For what you got to say
I am not a failure
Your transformation dreams are offloaded
Frankie Rex, the talented vocalist and guitarist of the NYC alt-punk duo The FMs, met a tragic end in 2022 due to a fentanyl overdose at just 37 years old. Initially, this loss appeared to mark the end of the band’s journey; however, this week The FMs have poised themselves to regenerate into a deeply moving and significant new phase – a transformation, if you will.
Frankie Rex, a trans masc artist, was a significant presence in the city’s alt-punk scene since the late 2000s. Their musical path included time with the queer-punk trio BOYS and later, The Violent Orange. In 2017, Frankie and longtime friend Matte Namer joined forces to create The FMs, a moniker that not only stands for the initials of their names but also references “femme/masc” and “female/male,” capturing the duo’s exploration of gender expressions and identities in their music.
The FMs quickly gained notoriety for their pervasive street promotions across New York City’s five boroughs. Their stickers and graffiti stencils seemed to appear on every other block, for a time making their logo a familiar part of the cityscape. Rex and Namer’s rise to prominence was fueled by their unforgettable underground live performances and BDSM-themed parties, in collaboration with the Sub/vert collective, aboard an old barge in Brooklyn. Their music, known for its passionate punk anthems, celebrated diversity, tackled themes of gender and sexuality, and sparked vital discussions on issues like gun violence, toxic masculinity, selfie culture, and AI. Frankie Rex’s approachable and positive attitude fostered many collaborations and celebrated queer life: openly discussing gender fluidity and fostering a sense of community among their followers. Their loss left a massive hole in the NYC scene, one that Namer is determined to fill with good memories of their friend.
The FMs had recorded at least two albums’ worth of material before Rex’s death. Recently, Namer made an announcement on the band’s social media:
Collaborating with trans artists Dylan Mars Greenberg and 2D animator Rachael DeVore, the video for Transformation Dreams becomes particularly meaningful, exploring the nuanced relationship between the spirit and its physical embodiment. Frankie’s inimitable voice is thankfully preserved and moulded into the guise of a hologram. Frankie may be resting, but he’s certainly doing it in power.
The video, enriched with appearances from underground artists such as Miss Cherry Delight, Ann-Marie Antonucci, Jazmyn Hanks, Kate Grattan, Danyal, K.D. Griffiths, and Athena Kali, unfolds as a poignant short film delving into themes of consciousness, mortality, and the essence of Self.
This creative alliance offers a unique perspective on gender, reflecting the lived experiences of trans individuals. While the video and acerbic lyrics certainly make a bold political statement in these dangerously unsettled times, it also delves into a deeper spiritual conversation, bridging the gap between our mortal existence and the unknown beyond. It raises the intriguing question: Does gender extend beyond the confines of our worldly dimensions?
Watch “Transformation Dreams” below:
“A lot of our songs are about our journey to free ourselves from the shame of being different,” Namer said in the band’s bio. “We hope our music can celebrate marginalized people who don’t fit into the gender binary, heteronormative culture, and…traditional monogamous relationships.”
The song comes off the FMs’ upcoming album PINK + BLACK, out 10 May.
Recorded throughout 2017-2019 on an old ferry docked in the middle of Bushwick, Brooklyn, PINK + BLACK was produced by bandleader Matte Namer, with Brian Forbes acting as co-producer and mix engineer. The material highlights Namer’s love of analogUE synthesizers combined with etherial guitars and takes a more psychedelic and emotionally dynamic turn as compared to their debut album spanning themes from sexual irreverence, the nature of dreams and human connection, to hope for the future of gender freedom.
“The concept for PINK + BLACK began seven years ago and includes over a thousand hours of blood, sweat and tears put into the recording process,” says Namer. “This is Frankie’s legacy and the world deserves to hear it.”
PINK + BLACK is out on May 10, 2024.
Pre-order the album here
The first-ever Frankie Fest, an annual queer rock festival honoring the legacy of the late Frankie Rex, will take place on May 11th at Coney Island. The event, which will also serve as the record release party for Pink & Black, will feature the first performance from The FMs in over four years, and the first-ever without Frankie. Frankie Fest will highlight a range of cutting-edge NYC-based queer performers showcasing indie rock, goth, riot grrrl, punk, metal and more and will include appearances by Pink Velvet Witch, Jordan Fiction, Villins, Llynks, Frida Kill, and Miss Cherry Delight.
Frankie Fest is a benefit for CFLC (Chosen Family Law Center). Proceeds benefiting CFLC’s new Frankie Maddox Rex Memorial Fund will support low-income TNBGNC New Yorkers with free legal services to support the dignity and safety they deserve, including name changes, support with identity documents, asylee green card applications and medical advance directives.
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