Municipalities of Mexico and Rammstein: Difference between pages
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{{Infobox musical artist
| Name = [[Image:rammsteinlogo.png|rammsteinlogo.png]]
| Img = Rammstein in concerto a Milano il 24 Febbraio 2005.jpg
| Img_capt = Rammstein performing with [[Apocalyptica]]
| Background = group_or_band
| Origin = {{flagicon|GER}} [[Germany]]
| Genre = [[Neue Deutsche Härte|Tanz-Metall]]<br />[[Industrial metal]]<br />[[Neue Deutsche Härte]]
| Years_active = 1994 – present
| Label = [[Motor Music Records|Motor Music]]<br />[[Republic Records]]<br />[[Slash Records]]<br />[[Universal Music Group]]
| Associated_acts = [[Emigrate]]
| URL = [http://rammstein.com rammstein.com], [http://rammstein.de rammstein.de]
| Current_members = [[Till Lindemann]]<br />[[Richard Z. Kruspe|Richard Zven "Scholle" Kruspe]]<br />[[Paul Landers|Paul H. Landers]]<br />[[Oliver Riedel|Oliver "Ollie" Riedel]]<br />[[Christoph Schneider|Christoph "Doom" Schneider]]<br />[[Christian Lorenz|Christian "Flake" Lorenz]]<br />
}}
'''Rammstein''' (pronounced Ram-Shtine, [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]: [ˈʁam.ʃta͡ɪn])is a [[Germany|German]] band that incorporates elements of [[hard rock]], [[industrial metal]], and [[electronic music]]. The band is also widely accepted as part of the [[Neue Deutsche Härte]]-scene, alongside bands such as [[Oomph!]] and [[Die Krupps]]. Critics have also dubbed their sound as ''Tanz-Metall'' (lit. "Dance metal").<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.unk.be/what_is_dance_metal_detailed.htm
| title = What is Dance Metal?
| accessdate = 2006-12-03
| publisher = UNK!
}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/bands/band/?searchstring=Rammstein&filtersectionname=all&filtersubsectionname=all&articleid=42878
| title = Rammstein
| accessdate = 2006-12-03
| publisher = Metal Hammer
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.artistopia.com/rammstein/fans
| title = Rammstein Fan Sites
| accessdate = 2006-12-03
| publisher = Artistopia
}}</ref> Their songs are performed almost exclusively in [[German language|German]]. Formed in 1994, they have sold over 12 million records worldwide.<ref name="Rammstein.com-Rosenrot-T2005">{{cite web
| title = Rammstein timeline
| publisher = Rammstein
| date = [[2005-12-16]]
| url = http://www.rammstein.com/_Rosenrot/Band/Timeline/T2005/ }}</ref>
Rammstein's entire catalogue is published by [[Universal Music Group]].
Although most songs are written in [[German language|German]], the band has had overwhelming success outside German-speaking nations in Europe as well as in the [[United States|USA]], [[Canada]], [[Latin America]], [[Russia]], [[Japan]], [[India]], [[Israel]] and [[Australia]]. With the release of the album ''[[Reise, Reise]]'' (2004), they became the most successful German-language band of all time.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.rammstein.com/_Voelkerball/Band/Timeline/T2004/
| title = Rammstein Timeline
| accessdate = 2006-04-08
| publisher = Rammstein
}}
</ref>
It has been confirmed that the band has reunited from their vacation and has begun writing their sixth studio album, which will be released sometime in 2008.[http://herzeleid.com/en/news/*/id/587]
==Members==
[[Image:Rammstein-flamethrowers.jpg|thumb|Rammstein brings on the flamethrowers during ''[[Feuer frei!]]'' - [[Stockholm Globe Arena|Globe Arena]], [[Stockholm]], [[18 November]] [[2004]].]]
The Band members are all from Germany. They are:
*[[Till Lindemann]] – [[Singer|lead vocals]]
*[[Richard Z. Kruspe|Richard Zven "Scholle" Kruspe]] – [[Lead guitar|lead-guitar]]
*[[Paul Landers|Paul H. Landers]] – [[Rhythm guitar|rhythm-guitar]]
*[[Oliver Riedel|Oliver "Ollie" Riedel]] – [[Bass guitar|bass-guitar]]
*[[Christoph Schneider|Christoph "Doom" Schneider]] – [[Percussion|drums]]
*[[Christian Lorenz|Christian "Flake" Lorenz]] – [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
Riedel, Schneider and Kruspe originally founded Rammstein, following an attempt by the Kruspe to compose American-influenced music with a [[West Berlin]] band called ''Orgasm Death Gimmicks''. As Kruspe put it, "I realized it's really important to make music and make it fit with your language, which I didn't do in the past. I came back [to Germany] and said, 'It's time to make music that's really authentic.' I was starting a project called Rammstein to really try to make German music." He invited Till Lindemann, a former Olympic swimmer and drummer for the band ''[[First Arsch]]'', to join the project as a vocalist. The four entered a contest for new bands and won, attracting the interest of Paul H. Landers, who knew them all and decided to join the band. Christian "Flake" Lorenz was the last member to join; he had played with Landers before in the band ''[[Feeling B]]'' and was initially reluctant to come on board, but was eventually persuaded to join. Their first album was released a year later.
They have been nominated for two Best Metal Performance [[Grammy Awards]]: in 1998 with the song "[[Du hast]]" and in 2005 with the song "[[Mein Teil (single)|Mein Teil]]".
==
Rammstein takes its name indirectly from the western German town of [[Ramstein-Miesenbach]], site of an [[Ramstein airshow disaster|airshow disaster]] in [[1988]]. The band's signature song, the eponymous "[[Rammstein (song)|Rammstein]]", is a commemoration of the tragedy that took place at the [[Ramstein Air Base]]. At the show, three Italian air force jets collided on August 28, 1988 at an air show at the US airbase. About 40 spectators died in the first minutes and several hundred were injured. In the next two months, the death toll rose to 72. The extra "m" in the band's name allows the word to mean "[[battering ram]]" (literally "ramming stone"), reinforcing the image of the band's music as fierce and relentless.
The minor planet [[110393 Rammstein]] is [[Meanings of asteroid names|named in the band's honour]].
== Style ==
<div id="section_SoundSamples" class="infobox noprint">
[[Image:Sound-icon.png|26px|Rammstein audio samples]]
'''Rammstein audio samples'''
* "[[media:Rammstein - Bestrafe mich (sample).ogg|Bestrafe mich]]" <small>([[:Image:Rammstein - Bestrafe mich (sample).ogg|info]])</small>
* "[[media:Rammstein - Ohne dich (sample).ogg|Ohne dich]]" <small>([[:Image:Rammstein - Ohne dich (sample).ogg|info]])</small>
* "[[media:Rammstein - Zwitter (sample).ogg|Zwitter]]" <small>([[:Image:Rammstein - Zwitter (sample).ogg|info]])</small>
</div>
Although Rammstein is often generalized as [[Industrial metal]], its music spans a variety of related styles, including [[hard rock]], [[electronic]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[Gothic metal |gothic]], and '''German Industrial Cat''' in C Minor, due to their use of keyboards to emulate strings, choirs or pianos. The band was strongly influenced by [[Laibach (band)|Laibach]], a [[Slovenia]]n [[Neoclassical music|neo-classical]] and [[Industrial music|industrial]] group. Other influences include [[Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft|DAF]] (Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft), [[Oomph!]], and [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]], but the contrast between individual songs such as "[[Bestrafe mich]]", "[[Ohne dich]]", "[[Te quiero puta]]!" and "[[Du riechst so gut]]" makes the band difficult to classify.
[[Image:Richard-show.jpg|thumb|300px|Richard Zven Kruspe, guitarist and founder.]]
Rammstein's style has tended to divide critics, some of whom have responded with memorable comments. ''Jam Showbiz'' (April 2001) described ''[[Mutter]]'' as "music to invade [[Poland]] to." [[New Zealand]]'s ''Southland Times'' (Dec. 17, 1999) suggested that Till Lindemann's "booming, sub-sonic voice" would send "the peasants fleeing into their barns and bolting their doors." The ''[[New York Times]]'' (Jan. 9, 2005) commented that on the stage, "Mr. Lindemann gave off an air of such brute masculinity and barely contained violence that it seemed that he could have reached into the crowd, snatched up a fan, and bitten off his head." Other critics have been more positive. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of ''[[All Music Guide]]'' commented that "their blend of industrial noise, grinding metal guitars, and operatic vocals is staggeringly powerful".<ref name="Allmusic.com-sehnsucht">{{cite web
| title = Sehnsucht review
| author = Stephen Thomas Erlewine
| publisher = All Music Guide
| url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=A6s27gjyr16ix
| accessdate = 2006-07-10 }}</ref> "We just push boundaries," said Till Lindemann in an interview with rock magazine ''[[Kerrang!]]''. "We can't help it if people don't like those boundaries being pushed."
Despite Rammstein's brutalist image, many of its songs lyrics demonstrate a certain sense of humour. "Zwitter", for example, is a bizarre take on [[narcissism]] (and [[bisexuality]]) through the eyes of a [[hermaphrodite]]:
:Wenn die anderen Mädchen suchten <small>(When the others were looking out for girls)</small>
:Konnt ich mich schon selbst befruchten <small>(I could already fertilize myself)</small>
Similarly, the song "[[Amerika (single)|Amerika]]" features a [[tongue-in-cheek]] adaptation of the normal chorus:
:We're all living in Amerika
:[[Coca-Cola]], [[Wonderbra]]! <small> Usually "Amerika ist wunderbar" ("America is wonderful"), in one chorus is sung as "Coca-Cola, Sometimes War"</small>
:We're all living in Amerika
:Amerika, Amerika!
Some of their songs show unexpected influences, usually from poems and German folk tales. "[[Dalai Lama (song)|Dalai Lama]]" is an adaptation of the famous poem "[[Der Erlkönig]]" by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://herzeleid.com/en/lyrics/reise_reise/dalai_lama
| title = Herzeleid.com (Dalai Llama)
| accessdate = 2006-04-10
| publisher = Herzeleid.com
}}</ref>. "Hilf mir" was inspired by the short story "[[Die gar traurige Geschichte mit dem Feuerzeug]]" (from ''[[Struwwelpeter|Der Struwwelpeter]]'') by [[Heinrich Hoffmann (author)|Heinrich Hoffmann]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://herzeleid.com/en/lyrics/rosenrot/hilf_mir
| title = Herzeleid.com (Hilf Mir)
| accessdate = 2006-04-10
| publisher = Herzeleid.com
}}</ref>. "Spieluhr" borrows the line "Hoppe hoppe Reiter" from a [[Kinderreim]] of the same name<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://herzeleid.com/en/lyrics/mutter#spieluhr
| title = Herzeleid.com (Spieluhr)
| accessdate = 2006-04-10
| publisher = Herzeleid.com
}}</ref>. "Rosenrot" is inspired by the poem "[[Heidenröslein]]" by [[Goethe]] and the story [[Snow-White and Rose-Red|"Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot"]] by the [[Brothers Grimm]]<ref>{{cite web
| url =http://herzeleid.com/en/lyrics/rosenrot/rosenrot
| title = Herzeleid.com (Rosenrot)
| accessdate = 2006-04-10
| publisher = Herzeleid.com
}}</ref>.
== Lyrics ==
Nearly all of Rammstein's songs are in German. However, the band did record English versions of "[[Engel (song)|Engel]]" , "[[Du Hast]]" and "[[Amerika (song)|Amerika]]", as well as covers of the songs "[[Stripped (song)|Stripped]]" (Depeche Mode) and "Pet Sematary" (The [[Ramones]]). In addition, the songs "Amerika" (German version), "Stirb nicht vor mir//Don't die before I do" and "[[Moskau (Rammstein song)|Moskau]]" contain not only German verses, but also English and [[Russian language|Russian]] choruses, respectively; "[[Te quiero puta]]!" is entirely in Spanish and "[[Schtiel]]" is entirely in Russian. "Ollie" Riedel commented that, "German language suits heavy metal music. French might be the language of love, but German is the language of anger." <ref>{{cite news
| title =''Sunday Herald Sun'', Melbourne, Australia
| accessdate = 2006-10-24
| publisher = Sunday Herald-Sun
}}
</ref>.
Wordplay is a fundamental component of Rammstein's lyrics. In many instances, the lyrics are phrased such that they can be interpreted in several ways. The song "[[Du hast]]", for example, is a play on German [[marriage]] vows (''Willst du, bis der Tod euch scheidet, treu ihr sein für alle Tage?'' - Will you, until death separates you, be faithful to her for the rest of your days?). In the song, the traditional affirmative response, ''ja'' (yes), is replaced by its negation ''nein'' (no). The final repetition of this line further perverts the meaning of the original vows through a minor change in the wording: ''Willst du, bis zum Tod der Scheide,(...)'' (Will you, until the death of the vagina...) (where 'vagina' can also refer to the woman), but it could also be interpreted as: ''Willst du bis zum Tod, der scheide, (...)'', which would have the meaning of: "Will you, until death separates, ...". The song starts, in fact, with a play on words: ''Du... Du hast... Du hast mich...'' meaning, "You have me". This line is often mistaken for "You hate me", because in German, there is no clear distinction between the pronunciation of ''du hasst'' (double s) which means "you hate" and ''du hast'' (single s) which means you have. The verbs are hassen (hate) and haben (have). The wordgame is later resolved as the line is completed: ''Du hast mich gefragt'' (You [have] asked me).
Rammstein often uses rhyming to create similar effects. For example, from the song "Los":
:Es ist hoffnungslos <small>(It is hopeless)</small>
:Sinnlos <small>(Senseless)</small>
:Hilflos <small>(Helpless)</small>
:Sie sind Gottlos <small>(They are Godless)</small>
The last two lines above can be interpreted in three ways. "Sie sind Gott. / Los!" can mean "They are God. / Go!"; "Sie sind Gott los" can be translated as "They got rid of God;" while "Sie sind gottlos" means "they are godless". However, in the context of the rest of the lyrics, the most likely meaning is the third one.
==Shows==
[[Image:Rammstein inferno.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Rammstein are known for their frequent pyrotechnic use]]
[[Image:Till 1998 São paulo.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Till Lindemann]] performing ''[[Bestrafe Mich|Bestrafe mich]]''.]]
Rammstein has achieved particular fame (not to mention notoriety) for its hugely over-the-top stage show, using so many [[pyrotechnics]] that fans eventually coined the motto "Other bands play, Rammstein burns!" (a quip at [[Manowar (band)|Manowar]]'s song "Kings of Metal", which states, "other bands play, Manowar kills").
The heat is so intense that on occasion, people have been carried out of Rammstein concerts suffering from heat exhaustion, and lighting gantries have been seen glowing red-hot from repeated fireball hits. The variety of the pyrotechnics can be seen in a recent concert playlist, which includes such items as "[[Lycopodium]] Masks", "Glitterburst Truss", "Pyrostrobes", "Comets", "Flash Trays" and "Mortar Hits". The band's on-stage antics have included:
* Band members using head-mounted flamethrowers ("Lycopodium Masks", also called "Dragon Masks") while singing/playing (example: "Feuer frei!" video);
* Till Lindemann singing an entire song while on fire (example: "Rammstein" video); he now uses twin flamethrowers strapped to his arms;
* Till Lindemann singing into a prop telephone that bursts into confetti (during the song "[[Du Hast]]", but only during the Sehnsucht and Mutter tours)
* Christian "Flake" Lorenz in full bondage gear being led by Till Lindemann during stage performances of "Bück dich".
* Exploding drumsticks, drums, microphones and boots;
* Till Lindemann removing a large [[firecracker]] from his pants - which explodes, emitting sparks (during the song "Das alte Leid")
* Rockets fired along cables strung above the audience;
* Spark-shooting [[longbow]]s, [[drumsticks]], boots and guns;
* Christian "Flake" Lorenz [[Auto-destructive art|destroying a keyboard]] in the style of [[Nine Inch Nails]] and [[The Who]];
* Microphones, guitars and keyboards on fire;
* Band members surfing the crowd in a rubber boat<ref>http://herzeleid.com/en/press/2005-11_flake_chat_english</ref>
* Christian "Flake" Lorenz driving around on a [[Segway HT]] during "Amerika".<sup>[1]</sup>
* Till Lindemann doing a jig with fireworks in the front of his shoes, shooting sparks in front of him (Weißes Fleisch).
*Christian "Flake" Lorenz sitting in a large cooking pot, which Till Lindemann blasts with a flamethrower when Lorenz ducks. In the same sequence Lindemann chases Lorenz around the stage with a microphone built into a carving knife.
Rammstein's shows have become increasingly elaborate since the first ones over ten years ago, when their effects were confined to pouring [[kerosene]] around the stage and setting it alight. After an accident in the Arena in Berlin where some burning decoration parts fell on the the audience (September 27th 1996 <ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://rammstein-europe.com/main.php?sekce=till-lindemann&l=en
| title= Till Lindemann Biography
| accessdate = 2007-05-10
| publisher = Rammstein-Europe.com
}}
</ref>) the band took to employing professionals to handle the [[pyrotechnics]]; Lindemann himself is now a licensed pyrotechnician who spends entire songs engulfed head-to-toe in flames. He has suffered multiple burns on his ears, his hair and his arms. Since the band frequently incorporates fake accidents into their shows, it’s unclear how often Lindemann actually gets burned. Of Lindemann, bandmate Christoph Schneider says, “Till gets burned all the time, but he likes the pain.”<ref>{{cite news | first= David | last= Peisner | title=
Rock Stars Who've Caught Fire Onstage! | date= February 2007 | publisher= Blender Magazine Online | url= http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=2534&src=blender_ed | accessdate= 2007-02-27 | language= English }}</ref>
The band's costumes are equally outlandish. During the ''[[Reise, Reise]]'' tour they were wearing [[Lederhosen]], [[corset]]s and vague military uniforms with steel helmets, while during the ''Mutter'' tour the group kept to the themes of the album artwork and descended onto the stage from a giant [[uterus]] while wearing [[Diaper|nappies]].
According to Kruspe, the on-stage wackiness is entirely deliberate (Rammstein's motto according to Schneider is: "Do your own thing. And overdo it!"). The aim is to get people's attention and have fun at the same time: "You have to understand that 99 percent of the people don't understand the lyrics, so you have to come up with something to keep the drama in the show. We have to do something. We like to have a show; we like to play with fire. We do have a sense of humor. We do laugh about it; we have fun... but we're not [[Spinal Tap (band)|Spinal Tap]]. We take the music and the lyrics seriously. It's a combination of humor, theater and our [[East German]] culture, you know?"<ref>{{cite news
| title=''The Grand Rapids Press'
| accessdate = 1999-07-22
| publisher = Grand Rapids Press
}}
</ref>.
At the [[Metaltown Festival]] in [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]] on [[July 30]], [[2005]], Till suffered a knee injury when Flake accidentally ran into him with the Segway.
==Discography==
{{main|Rammstein discography}}
===Albums===
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:herzeleid.jpg|<center>'''[[Herzeleid]]'''<br> ([[1995]])
Image:sehnsucht.gif|<center>'''[[Sehnsucht (album)|Sehnsucht]]'''<br> ([[1997]])
Image:Mutter.jpg|<center>'''[[Mutter]]'''<br> ([[2001]])
Image:reise-reise.jpg|<center>'''[[Reise, Reise]]'''<br> ([[2004]])
Image:Rosenrot.jpg|<center>'''[[Rosenrot]]'''<br> ([[2005]])
</gallery>
Rammstein has released five full-length studio albums: ''[[Herzeleid]]'' ([[1995]]), ''[[Sehnsucht (album)|Sehnsucht]]'' ([[1997]]), ''[[Mutter]]'' ([[2001]]), ''[[Reise, Reise]]'' ([[2004]]), ''[[Rosenrot]]'' ([[2005]]), two live albums ''[[Live aus Berlin]]'' ([[1999]]) and ''[[Völkerball]]'' ([[2006]]) and one compilation DVD ''[[Lichtspielhaus]]'' ([[2003]]). While ''Herzeleid'' was well-received, ''Sehnsucht'' is widely regarded as Rammstein's breakthrough album. In 1999, between their second and third album, they published a live album called "Live Aus Berlin". The production of the follow-up album ''Mutter'' was an experience fraught with difficulty for the band.
The band's album ''Rosenrot'', released on [[October 28]], [[2005]], consists mostly of songs that were left out of the album ''Reise, Reise'' for dramaturgical reasons. The band performed "[[Benzin]]", the first single from the album, at four shows in Wuhlheide Park on June 23-26, 2005, and four shows in the United Kingdom ([[Metro Radio Arena Newcastle|Newcastle]], [[National Exhibition Centre|Birmingham]], [[Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre|Glasgow]] and [[Cardiff International Arena|Cardiff]]) in July 2005.
The band took a time out in 2006, and are going to begin work again this year. In an interview with German rapper Bushido, who contributed to the Electro Ghetto Remix of Amerika, on January 21, 2007, Bushido reported recording a song with Rammstein called "Vergiss uns Nicht" (Don't Forget Us). In this interview Bushido also mentioned that he was unsure of whether it would be on their "Best Of" album or not. This was the first mention of a "Best Of" album, or the new album all together. <ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.rammstein-austria.com/news.php
| title= Rammstein News
| accessdate = 2007-04-10
| publisher = Rammstein-Austria.com
}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=http://rammstein-interviews.com/interviews/2006/march/gauntlet_en.htm
| title= Bushido Interview
| accessdate = 2007-04-10
| publisher = Rammstein-interviews.com
}}
</ref> In addition, keyboardist Flake confirmed this in an interview with Metal Hammer Germany in November, stating that they would most likely release the new album in 2008. According to a newsletter from the band's management, Pilgrim Management, the band will not be touring during 2007 due to current album production.
A new live Rammstein DVD, named ''[[Völkerball]]'', was released on November 17th 2006 in Germany (and other parts of Europe), with concert footage from France, England, Japan, and Russia, alongside a CD as well. There are three versions of the set, one, including a 190 page tour book. Due to unforeseen popularity of the package, the limited edition sold out - forcing a second pressing run.
===Covers and adaptations===
[[Image:Rammstein_and_Apocalyptica.jpg|280px|thumb|right|Apocalyptica performing with Rammstein.]]
Rammstein's songs have been covered by a number of other artists, including the group ''[[Gregorian (band)|Gregorian]]'' who reworked "Engel" as a [[Gregorian chant]] for their album ''[[The Dark Side (album)|The Dark Side]]''. The same song has been covered by [[Belgium|Belgian]] girls choir ''[[Scala & Kolacny Brothers]]'', resulting in a very quiet, brooding version, contrary to the original. Also, the German composer ''[[Torsten Rasch]]'' has produced a classical symphonic song-cycle entitled "Mein Herz brennt", based on the music of Rammstein.
The cover of "[[Seemann (single)|Seemann]]" by [[Nina Hagen]] and ''[[Apocalyptica]]'' impressed Rammstein so much, that they took ''Apocalyptica'' as co-headliner on tour with them in Spring 2005, and invited the band on stage to perform "Ohne dich" and "Mein Herz Brennt" together. The "[[Benzin]]" single also featured a remix of the song, called "[[Kerosiini]]" by ''Apocalyptica''.
More recently, the industrial band [[Laibach (band)|Laibach]] covered the song "Ohne dich".
Also, the German [[Death Metal]] band [[Debauchery (band) | Debauchery]], covered the song 'Weisses Fleisch' for their 'Back In Blood' album.
Rammstein has also done several covers themselves, including "Das Modell" by ''[[Kraftwerk]]'', "Stripped" by ''[[Depeche Mode]]'', "Pet Sematary" by ''[[The Ramones]]'' (sung by keyboardist [[Christian "Flake" Lorenz]]) and "Schtiel" by ''[[Aria (Russian band)|Aria]]''. However "[[Schtiel]]" isn't an official Rammstein track, since it was only played by vocalist [[Till Lindemann]] and guitarist [[Richard Kruspe]].
==Controversies==
===Imagery===
[[Image:Herzeleid.jpg|thumb|150px|The original ''[[Herzeleid]]'' album cover.]][[Image:RammsteinHerzeleid.jpg|thumb|150px|The alternate ''[[Herzeleid]]'' album cover.]]
Described by the New York Times as a "powerful strain of brutally intense rock" who "bring gale-force music and spectacular theatrics together," Rammstein has been a band with a highly controversy-prone nature<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=184439
| title= NYTimes Movies
| accessdate = 2007-04-10
| publisher = New York Times Corporation
}}
</ref>. Rammstein have not been shy about courting this controversy and have periodically attracted condemnation from [[morality]] campaigners. Their stage act earned them a night in jail in June 1999 after a liquid-ejecting dildo was used in a concert in [[Worcester, Massachusetts]]. Back home in Germany, the band has faced repeated accusations of [[fascist]] sympathies due to the dark and sometimes [[militarism|militaristic]] imagery of their videos and concerts, including the use of excerpts from the film ''[[Olympia (film)|Olympia]]'' by [[Leni Riefenstahl]] in the video for "Stripped".
Their debut album ''Herzeleid'', released in Germany in 1995, originally had a cover featuring the bandmembers' upper bodies without clothing; critics accused the band of trying to sell themselves as "poster boys for the [[Master race|Master Race]]" <ref>{{cite web
| url=http://herzeleid.com/en/faq/band
| title= Herzeleid.com (FAQ)
| accessdate = 2007-04-10
| publisher = Herzeleid.com
}}
</ref>. Rammstein have vigorously denied this and said that they want nothing to do with politics or supremacy of any kind. Flake, the keyboardist, annoyed by the claim has remarked that its just a photo, and should be understood as such. Herzeleid has since been given an alternate cover in some countries, depicting the band members' faces.
The song "[[Links 2 3 4|Links 2, 3, 4]]"--''links'' being German for ''left''--was written as a riposte to these claims. According to Kruspe, it means, "'my heart beats on the left, two, three, four.' It's simple. If you want to put us in a political category, we're on the left side, and that's the reason we made the song." <ref>{{cite news
| title= ''The Grand Rapids Press''
| accessdate = 2001-07-22
| publisher = Grand Rapids Press
}}
</ref>. On the other hand, this is also an allusion to a military marching cadence since "Links, 2, 3, 4" is typically heard during marching practice in the German army with "links" referring to the left foot. "Flake" recently stated on an on-line chat that the song was created in order to show that the band could write a harsh, "evil", military-sounding song that was not about [[Nazism|Nazi]] ideals<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://herzeleid.com/en/press/2005-11_flake_chat_english
| title= Herzeleid.com (Press)
| accessdate = 2007-04-10
| publisher = Herzeleid.com
}}
</ref>.
===Relation to violent events===
In April [[1999]], it emerged that [[Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold]], the two boys who perpetrated the [[Columbine High School massacre]], were fans of Rammstein and had declared it to be one of their favorite bands. Rammstein came under heavy criticism from some conservative and [[Christian]] groups in the United States who claimed (among other things) that the members of the band were "demonically influenced"<ref name="700-michaelsen-19991028">{{cite web
| title = 700 club interview (Archived at The Internet Archive on 2000-01-22)
| author = Johanna Michaelsen
| publisher = Christian Broadcast Network
| date = 1999-10-28
| url = http://web.archive.org/web/20000122101421/http://www.cbn.org/the700club/johannamichaelsen.asp
| accessdate = 2006-07-10 }}</ref> and by the German media that Till Lindemann's rolling [[Teutonic]] r's were an imitation of [[Adolf Hitler]]'s diction.<ref name="RT-columbine">{{cite web
| title = WHY DID THE COLUMBINE SHOOTING HAPPEN? COMMENTS FROM RELIGIOUS SOURCES
| publisher = Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
| url = http://www.religioustolerance.org/sch_vio6.htm
| accessdate = 2006-07-10 }}</ref> In response, the band issued a statement:
:''The members of Rammstein express their condolences and sympathy to all affected by the recent tragic events in Denver. They wish to make it clear that they have no lyrical content or political beliefs that could have possibly influenced such behavior. Additionally, members of Rammstein have children of their own, in whom they continually strive to instill healthy and non-violent values.''
Coincidentally, on September 10th 2001 the single and video clip of ''Ich will'' was released which portrays the band as terrorists who want to get a message across and receiving a kind of ''terrorist award'' for their "actions". The video clip was broadcasted only late at night after the attacks of September 11th 2001 although many media officials and politicians requested the video to be removed from the program completely.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.rammstein.com/_Rosenrot/Band/Timeline/T2001/
| title= Rammstein.com (Timeline)
| accessdate = 2007-04-10
| publisher = Rammstein
}}
</ref>
Following the tragic conclusion of the Beslan school hostage crisis in Russia in September 2004, the Russian authorities claimed that the hostage-takers had "listened to German hard rock group Rammstein on personal stereos during the siege to keep themselves edgy and fired up." <ref>{{cite web
| url=http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article28987.ece
| title= Beslan Hostage Situation
| accessdate = 2007-04-10
| publisher = The Independent
}}
</ref>. The claim has not been independently confirmed.
Band members said about this issue<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.rammsteinuk.com/index.php?act=kerrang_oct
| title= October Interviews
| accessdate = 2007-04-10
| publisher = Rammstein in the UK
}}
</ref>:
:''There's been a lot of talk about that, but if there are radical feelings in people anything can wake them – a painting, a picture, whatever. It's just a coincidence that it happened to be our music. It's important to think about what caused them to make their decisions, how they became animals, not their taste in music. Whenever something like this happens it's like ‘Okay, let's blame the artist.’ Such bullshit.'' ([[Till Lindemann]])
:''Our music is made to release aggression, and people listening to it are also needed to do that, but it's not our fault. Should we stop making hard music because bad people might like it?'' ([[Christoph Schneider]])
===Videos===
In October 2004, the video for "Mein Teil" caused considerable controversy in Germany when it was released. It takes a darkly comic view of the [[Armin Meiwes]] cannibalism case, showing a [[cross dressing|cross dressed]] [[Christoph Schneider|Schneider]] holding the other 5 band members on a leash and rolling around in mud. The controversy did nothing to stop (and may even have helped) the single rising to No. 2 in the German charts. Meiwes (who was convicted of manslaughter in 2004, then retried in 2006 and found guilty of murder<ref name="UPI-miewes-20060509">{{cite web
| title = 'Rotenburg cannibal' sentenced to life
| publisher = United Press International
| date = 2006-05-09
| url = http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060509-120534-3022r
| accessdate = 2006-07-10 }}</ref>) brought suit in January 2006 against the band for infringement of rights to the story. The outcome of the civil case is not reported.
The band's own views of its image are sanguine: "We like being on the fringes of bad taste," according to Paul H. Landers, while Christian "Flake" Lorenz comments, "The controversy is fun, like stealing forbidden fruit. But it serves a purpose. We like audiences to grapple with our music, and people have become more receptive." <ref>{{cite news
| title= The Times
| accessdate = 2005-01-29
| publisher = London Times
}}
</ref>.
The video for "[[Mann gegen Mann]]" ("Man against man") from their latest album "[[Rosenrot]]" may have caused some controversy, as most of the bandmembers are naked in the video, apart from lead singer Till Lindemann, who is wearing what can best be described as a "[[latex]] [[diaper]]" - most likely because he does not have an instrument with which to cover his genitalia. In addition, there are multiple naked men in the video, with [[buttocks]] clearly visible, though no [[genitalia]] can be seen. The video has been played uncensored on MTV. The video has been rated [[Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft|FSK]] 16 in Germany and therefore can be played on television only after 10 PM.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons|Rammstein}}
*[http://www.rammstein.de Rammstein.de] {{de icon}} - official bandpage
*[http://www.rammstein.com Rammstein.com] - official english page
* {{myspace|id=Rammstein}}
* {{imdb name|1339792|Rammstein}}
* [http://herzeleid.com/en/lyrics Herzeleid.com] - Award winning fan page featuring Rammstein lyrics and equivalent English translations
{{Rammstein}}
{{Link FA|de}}
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