Rammstein

Rammstein is a German band formed in 1993. Their musical style, which they have dubbed Tanz-Metal, or "Dance Metal", incorporates elements of metal, industrial and electronic music. Their songs are performed almost exclusively in German.

Shows

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's song Kings of Metal, which states: "other bands play, Manowar kills").

Related Topics:
Pyrotechnics - Manowar

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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:

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• 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;
• Simulated sodomy and a liquor-squirting dildo;
• Exploding drumsticks, drums, microphones and boots;
• Flake Lorenz being roasted in a giant cauldron by a flamethrower-wielding Lindemann;
• Rockets fired along cables strung above the audience;
• Spark-shooting longbows, drumsticks, boots and guns;
• Flake Lorenz destroying a keyboard in the style of The Who;
• Microphones, guitars and keyboards on fire;
• Band members surfing the crowd in a rubber boat;
• Flake Lorenz driving around on a Segway HT during Amerika. (Most probably due to George W. Bush falling off one at his family estate in Kennebunkport, Maine in 2003, even though it is meant to be nearly impossible, reportedly because he forgot to turn it on. BBC News )

Rammstein's shows have become increasingly elaborate since the first ones 10 years ago, when their effects were confined to pouring kerosene around the stage and setting it alight. After some unfortunate early accidents the band took to employing professionals to handle the pyrotechnics; Lindemann himself is now a licensed pyrotechnician.

Related Topics:
Kerosene - Pyrotechnician

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The band's costumes are equally outlandish. During the current "Reise, Reise" tour they have worn lederhosen, corsets and vague military uniforms with steel helmets, while during "Mutter" (german for 'mother') the group kept to the themes of the album artwork and descended onto the stage from a giant uterus wearing nappys.

Related Topics:
Reise, Reise - Lederhosen - Corset - Uterus - Nappy

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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. We take the music and the lyrics seriously. It's a combination of humor, theater and our East German culture, you know?" (The Grand Rapids Press, Jul 22, 1999).

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Ironically, 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. This caused concerts scheduled in Asia to be canceled.

Related Topics:
Metaltown Festival - Gothenburg - Sweden - July - 30 - 2005 - Asia

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