It’s hard to overlook the way that the tumult and horror prompted by recent charges of sexual misconduct against German band Rammstein reflects the wild scenes that play out at its live performances. For nearly 30 years, the six-man industrial group hailing from East Germany has growled dark and ribald lyrics during stage shows of extravagant pyrotechnics, violent play-acting, and ear-splitting instrumentals. In light of the accusations, the giant dildos that launch fireballs and standards of its repertoire such as “Pussy” are finally being examined in a much more exacting light.
Over the past month, several women spoke up about the band’s practiced system of coercing young women into post-show sex with frontman Till Lindemann. The routine, apparently as well-rehearsed as the group’s finely choreographed shows, included plenty of booze at pre- and post-gig parties, and drugs, too—maybe even in the form of a knock-out drug—and then coerced sex with Lindemann. Apparently, the hookups were orchestrated by Lindemann’s underlings in the road crew, not unlike the way that, on stage, the other five band members play-act dispassionately cruel foot soldiers under Lindemann’s command.