BME: Body Modification Ezine

A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Tattoo, Piercing, and Body Modification News, Events, and Culture

Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine

Written by

Nef

Dear BME Community,

We’ve been gone far too long, but BME is back to give people a voice, a space, a community. With time everything evolves, and BME may be different than you remember. Our goal is to stay true to Shannon and Rachel’s values while changing with the times. We will be starting small with news, events, and a social page. Since we are currently based in NYC, there will be plenty of events happening in the city, but in time we will expand across the country. The site has always been built by the community’s collective contribution so we urge you to submit your creations, recommend people for us to interview, or volunteer as a writer yourself! We also have merch available on BMEShop.com with all of the proceeds going towards BME Projects.

BME exists for you and thanks to you.

I am excited to see how BME evolves and honored to further my parents legacy. They are icons to live up to, which is inspiring yet humbling. I am certain that if can make a fraction of the impact they did, they will be proud, as will I. They’ve taught me that community and knowledge are the most important things to hold close, and I think that is especially important with the world right now. We will foster this with BME, and as a community we will restore BME back to the force it was.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of Jon and Erik, who have dedicated the past year to this relaunch. Their combined strength on both the business and technical fronts have been essential. I’m deeply grateful they chose to join me in taking on the responsibility and future of BME.

-Nefarious Larratt

Comments

34 responses to “Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine”

  1. Rex Canis Avatar
    Rex Canis

    Nef, your parents were proud of you every day since you were born. They would be proud of everything you have done so far and are striving to continue in their legacy.

    I never got to meet your parents in person but they helped forge some great friendships.

    I’m wearing my Experience Review Team 5000 shirt in honor of the relaunch today.
    I look forward to hopefully attending the first BME Florida event in the future, and seeing the site rebuild!

    I used to have a full copy of the BME/Hard story section downloaded (circa 2008ish) on an external drive, I can see if that’s still accessible and send it in.

  2. IAM: Midian2000 Avatar
    IAM: Midian2000

    Yay! So happy to see this!

  3. Cris B. Avatar
    Cris B.

    Your parents, through BME and the community it spawned, affected such a huge positive impact on my life that it would be hard to put into just a few words.

    I look forward to seeing what BME becomes in this new era through you and the team.

  4. Vex Hecubus Avatar
    Vex Hecubus

    Waking up to see this come across my feeds, brings a smile to my face. 🥹

    Thank you Nef. Your decision to put your parents legacy on your back and carry it. Is a testament to you and them. Thank you to Jon and Erik as well for providing much needed support.

    Many of us owe an eternal debt to Shannon & Rachel. My hope is that we all see this and do everything we can to support you in this endeavour.

    I know I have pictures stored in a bunch of digital locations. I will try to gather them all up and email them in. I believe I’ve found some, but not all of them. I will do my best. ❤️

  5. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    Wonderful to see BME back! But where do we join? I was a “hard” member way back with the handle “Pat” and would love to get back on board to see if any of my friends from that time are still around.

  6. Bmeangel Avatar
    Bmeangel

    BME wasn’t just a site. It was a lifeline, a revolution, a safe haven, and a home for people who lived boldly and unapologetically. It gave voice to a community that the world often misunderstood—and in doing so, helped many of us find ourselves and each other.

    To see it return is emotional. It reminds us of the connections we made, the stories we shared, and the strength we found in a shared love of body modification, self-expression, and raw honesty.

    —thank you. The community is the heart of BME, and it always has been.

  7. Jonathon Avatar
    Jonathon

    Pat, you will have to stay tuned. We only have a small team and a limited amount of things we can work on. We will do our best.

  8. The Fog (Ryan) Avatar
    The Fog (Ryan)

    I’m here for it. Excited to watch it grow again.

  9. Phoenixxx Avatar
    Phoenixxx

    So glad to see this and there is no one better to helm this.

  10. Brian W Skellie Avatar
    Brian W Skellie

    Welcome back!🕊️

  11. Nativos Colombia Avatar
    Nativos Colombia

    Quen genial volver a ver este contenido saludos desde Colombia 😁

  12. Jose Gut Avatar
    Jose Gut

    Best Sunday News Ever 🖤

  13. Mason S Avatar
    Mason S

    Thanks for picking this all up Nef. I wouldn’t be where or who I am without BME. Thrilled to see how BME grows. <3

  14. Pixi Avatar
    Pixi

    Squeee!!!! I was too late to the last party. Sure hoping to be a part of this one!!! I knew your parents through industry events. But that time was cut way too short, as we all know. It brings tears to my eyes reading all this today!!! Maybe the soul of modification can be returned from all these predators that have tarnished us so badly!!!

  15. Roskow Avatar
    Roskow

    Thank you for all of your work in bringing back such an important site and community!

  16. Jersey Avatar
    Jersey

    So happy to see this! BME was a lifeline and I met some of my best friends through it.

  17. MissMeg Avatar
    MissMeg

    This is really wonderful!! So proud of you Nef!!

  18. iam: skyelass Avatar
    iam: skyelass

    Long live BME. Welcome back.

  19. Luis Garcia Avatar
    Luis Garcia

    So glad to see this!

  20. RainDrops Avatar
    RainDrops

    Makes my heart so happy to see this. You’re the raddest Nef!

  21. Pretend I’m Human Avatar
    Pretend I’m Human

    IAM.BME changed my life starting at age 16 and did not stop changing my life over and over again until 2009 when I met the man who would become my husband! All the people I consider the bigger impacts on my life path are people I met through IAM. I knew your dad and watched him raise you from the beginning! To say it’s surreal to see you revive BME is an understatement! Thank you for taking the helm of bring it back to life. Excited to see what will come of it all.

  22. Hanna Brittain Avatar
    Hanna Brittain

    I’m so glad BME is back (I still miss IAM)! This was such a massive part of my life back in the day. Thanks Nef and I’m sure your parents are proud of you.

  23. IAM: Sweetcheeks Avatar
    IAM: Sweetcheeks

    This is amazing news!!!
    I can’t wait to see what’s next!

  24. Kel Avatar
    Kel

    IAM: Kel
    BME changed my life. To see it making a return brings me so much happiness. I never had the pleasure of meeting your dad in person but I did get to meet your mom. They were both so proud of everything you accomplished. I can only imagine how proud they are of how you’re grown up.
    I’ve made so many good friends from this community. It gave me such confidence when I didn’t have any. BME was pivotal to me becoming the person I am today.
    I can’t wait to see what you have in store for the site & community.

  25. Erica Lee Avatar
    Erica Lee

    IAM: VenusPink

    Super excited to see a revival for a community that shaped the trajectory of my life and also my values as a human living in this strange, magickal world.

    And thank you Nef, for continuing the life’s work of your parents. It truly speaks of their impact to have the next generation carry on the community they built and the lives they’ve shaped. (Your socials are proof that you have a savvy mind for this exact thing too, good job!)

    💕

  26. Bucket of Bunnies Avatar
    Bucket of Bunnies

    I cannot imagine the amount of work and heart that has gone into this. BME and the IAM community was my first home and a key part of my survival.

    Wonderful to see you thrive!

  27. Jaz Arbelo Avatar
    Jaz Arbelo

    This is amazing news for the community, and I am so grateful for the work it took to keep BME alive.

  28. Norm Avatar
    Norm

    Like so many others, BME was instrumental in shaping who I have become. I’m thrilled to see it resurrected and can’t wait to contribute to / digest future content.
    Great work folks!!

  29. Sinsect Avatar
    Sinsect

    So glad to see this! Shannon helped me so much when this was just a usenet group. If you have the previous content, I’m all over it!

  30. I AM: notjustmoreidlechatter Avatar
    I AM: notjustmoreidlechatter

    Such an integral part of my life for such a long time. Very ready to welcome it back.

  31. Shoe Avatar
    Shoe

    So stoked to see this! Bme changed my life. Excited to see what’s in store. Much love to everyone! -Iam: Shoe

  32. iam:narcissist Avatar
    iam:narcissist

    This is absolutely fantastic! I’m super excited to see the next generation of our community grow the new bme into the cultural juggernaut the old one was. Every time I think about Shannon and Rachel, I keep hoping to see you start a new beginning for all of us. (Even though we’re all pretty old now. Hahaha)
    ❤️

  33. Iam: SatanTheCat Avatar
    Iam: SatanTheCat

    BME was my safe space for a long time. I found my people – life long friendships.

    Can’t wait to see this grow.

  34. RHYYNO Avatar
    RHYYNO

    Welcome Back 🙂

Leave a Reply

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