Lee Jennings of The Funeral Portrait Talks Touring, Buc-ee’s Love, and Zesty AF with Meltdown
I talked with Lee Jennings, lead vocalist of The Funeral Portrait, about the band’s year, their success, touring with some of rock’s biggest names to finding inspiration in Buc-ee’s gas stations, Lee shared the highs, challenges, and even some humor that’s shaped his journey so far.
A Big Year for The Funeral Portrait
It’s been a huge year for The Funeral Portrait. Supporting Five Finger Death Punch and Marilyn Manson, it’s been a crazy year, “We’ve been grinding for 10 years,” Lee explains. “Last year, we played this same festival as an opener, and now we’re the direct support act. Our lives have changed so much in just a year.”
Their single reached the Billboard charts, and they are booked for major festivals like Sonic Temple in 2025.“We’re playing the day Linkin Park is performing. I never thought we’d be on the same bill as a band like that. It’s surreal.”
From Buc-ee’s Stops to Viral Merch
“I’m a huge fan of Buc-ee’s because when you’re on tour, clean bathrooms are hard to come by,” Lee laughs. “I posted about it a few times, and our fans started turning me into Bucky (the mascot). We even made shirts with me as Bucky, and they sell out every time!”
But what started as fun nearly backfired when an April Fool’s joke about selling their merch at Buc-ee’s led to a temporary ban on Instagram. “We posted using their logo, and I guess it’s copyrighted, so we got banned for two weeks,” Lee said.
The Zesty AF Moment
One of the more viral moments for the band this year came from an unexpected Facebook comment during their tour with Five Finger Death Punch. A fan described Lee’s performance as “zesty AF,” a comment that sparked a wave of online engagement and led to the band creating a limited-edition shirt.
“I posted the comment everywhere with the caption, ‘The reviews are in, we’re zesty AF. Come see us live,’ and it went viral within our fanbase,” Lee says. “We ended up making a charity shirt with that comment and raised over $13,000 for hurricane relief.”
Meltdown, who has seen plenty of quirky fan comments during his time in radio, admitted that in his 35 years in the business, he’d never heard a band referred to as “zesty.” But Lee embraces the term. “We’re a little wild on stage, we wear makeup, we dye our hair. I think rock music needs a little zest, and we’re happy to bring that.”
A Long Road to Suffocate City
The Funeral Portrait’s latest album, Suffocate City, dropped on September 13th, marking a major milestone for the band. The songs had been in the works for years, and finally releasing them to the world was a moment Lee won’t forget—though the circumstances were far from glamorous.
“When the album dropped, we were at a bar outside of Boston,” Lee shares with a laugh. “We had just flown off the Five Finger Death Punch tour to play an acoustic set at Silver Scream Con. There was a mix-up with the hotel, so we were exhausted, waiting in a bar, when my alarm went off at midnight, and I was like, ‘Yay, the record’s out.’ It was a funny, disappointing moment, but one we’ll always remember.”
Watch the interview with Lee below
Staying Humble Amid Success
Despite their growing success, Lee remains humble and grounded. He credits the years of grinding on the road for keeping the band connected to their fans. “We’ve always done free meet-and-greets, and I still go to merch every night to talk to people. I’m here because of them,” Lee says. “I don’t want to act like I’m so important. I’m just a human who happens to carry a microphone.”
It’s this connection with fans that Lee feels is critical, especially in the world of rock music. He talks about the importance of “passing the torch” to younger bands and helping each other rise, something Five Finger Death Punch did for them by taking them on tour. “They didn’t need us to sell tickets, but they gave us a shot. It’s a lesson I won’t forget.”
The Paranormal Connection
Meltdown couldn’t let them leave without talking about their experience at Eloise earlier this year.
“I thought someone was messing with us, but there was no explanation.” Click here to see the story about that night.
Lee agreed saying, “There’s no way that wasn’t real. Everyone was accounted for. It’s one of those moments you can’t explain, but it sticks with you.”
It’s exciting to see that Lee Jennings and The Funeral Portrait are poised for significant success. They have a dedicated fanbase, a distinctive stage presence, and a deep appreciation for the journey they’ve undertaken. With major festivals and new music on the way, the band’s future looks promising—and, interestingly enough, a bit zesty as well.
This will be posted on my Talkin’ Rock with Meltdown podcast on Friday. Give that a follow!
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