First Rammstein concert in Munich after allegations against Lindemann – Kultur

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The first of four concerts in Munich was on Wednesday for the rock band Rammstein and their frontman Till Lindemann. At 8.30 p.m. the musicians came onto the stage of the Olympic Stadium – Till Lindemann with a blackened face, a blond mohawk and a black coat.

During the first three songs “Rammlied”, “Links 2-3-4” and “Bestrafe mich” – no address to the audience. At the beginning of the concert, the only thing that came out of a loudspeaker was: “Rammstein asks you not to make any video recordings.” Everyone please put their cell phones in.

After about 50 minutes of concert there was the first, short interruption. Till Lindemann left the stage for a few minutes. The district administration department in Munich (KVR) is said to have come to the concert with twelve people who monitored that there were no fans in the security area directly in front of the stage. This so-called “Row Zero” plays a role in the allegations of abuse of power. In the past, many of the women who are said to have been recruited for meetings with Lindemann had apparently stayed in the zone. Now only individuals should be there, for example employees of the security service or the record label.

The set list in Munich included titles like “Deutschland” and “Ohne dich”. The order of the songs was largely the same as in Helsinki. But Rammstein didn’t play their piece “Pussy” at their first concert in Germany in the heated situation.

At 10:45 p.m. it was over. The band knelt on stage – a recurring motif at Rammstein concerts, as a bow to the fans. Then a short but direct speech: “Thank you, Munich”.

The conclusion of SZ editor Michael Zirnstein at the end of the more than two-hour concert: the band routinely overwhelmed, the audience routinely surrendered. Hardly anyone noticed anything. Because it’s “sausage,” one fan, expressing his own personal take, said “it’s all about the music.”

Demonstration near the stadium

It got loud even before the concert. “Violence in the industry is not an isolated case, fighting sexism: everywhere,” chanted a group of about 30 activists between the entrance to the Olympic Hall and the bridge to the subway. “Till offender” was on their cardboard signs. Or “Solidarity with all victims, even if idols have to fall for it.” But also “Down with Rammstein.”

Till Lindemann: Demonstration against the Rammstein concert.

Demonstration against the Rammstein concert.

(Photo: Robert Haas/Robert Haas)

The demonstration was not explicitly directed against the concert, said Jenny Schröder, who spontaneously registered the rally. “As a private individual.” She herself experienced violence, she says. She registered the demo with the KVR Munich “to get police protection”. The discussion on the Internet after the serious allegations against Rammstein singer Till Lindemann moved her to do so. “They say that women are to blame for the way they dress. That shows what a social problem we have. It’s frightening.”

Till Lindemann: A demonstrator holds a sign that reads: "No show for perpetrators".

A demonstrator holds a sign that reads: “No show for perpetrators”.

(Photo: Robert Haas/Robert Haas)

Organizations such as the women’s rights activists of the “Slutwalk” group, but also Antifa, would have joined your call on Twitter. Rammstein fans, on the other hand, stood up for the band against the demonstrators. Aggression didn’t surprise Jenny Schröder: “They insulted me on Twitter: too ugly for a groupie! That reveals the power structures.”

The opinion of some fans before the concert was clear: “We are here because of the music. It remains to be seen what the singer is supposed to have done or not.” According to their own statements, all concert visitors with whom the SZ spoke on site did not think about selling their tickets. “The tickets were hard fought.”

“There have always been groupies. It seems that the German media have only now recognized this. The scandal is much bigger in Germany than anywhere else,” explained fans from Sweden.

allegations of abuse of power

The Southgerman newspaper and the NDR had reported serious allegations that Lindemann made several women. It is about allegations of abuse of power and allegations of sexual assault.

In a statement by Rammstein, it was said that the allegations were taken extremely seriously. “We say to our fans: It is important to us that you feel comfortable and safe at our shows – in front of and behind the stage.”

The band is investigating allegations related to their singer’s dealings with women. The group says it has hired a law firm to do this. The aim is therefore to clarify the situation.

In July the band also plays several concerts in Berlin. The state government got involved there and banned after-show parties on properties for which they are responsible. The newspaper quotes this BZ Berlin’s Senator for the Interior, Iris Spranger (SPD): “We have to wait for the investigations, but the allegations are so serious that the protection and safety of women have absolute priority here.”



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