The first concert in Germany as part of the Rammstein tour comes at a time when serious allegations are being made against frontman Till Lindemann. The now notorious “Row Zero” in Munich will not be abolished, but there should no longer be young, female fans there.
The band Rammstein is currently on a major European tour. After the starting signal on May 22 in Vilnius, Lithuania, the part of the tour in Germany begins this Wednesday evening. The four concerts in the Munich Olympic Stadium (June 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th) are sold out. However, many fans are currently trying to get rid of their cards, sometimes significantly below their value.
This is certainly related to the allegations that have been circulating since the start of the tour in Vilnius. Several young women report that they were specifically selected during Rammstein concerts and asked if they wanted to go to the after-show party. According to the descriptions, there were also sexual acts with frontman Till Lindemann. However, there are doubts as to whether all those affected wanted it that way. After all, the most serious allegation so far is that female fans are said to have been secretly drugged.
The 24-year-old Irishwoman Shelby Lynn got the ball rolling. After attending the Rammstein concert in Vilnius, she wrote on Twitter that she was apparently drugged and met Lindemann in a backstage area, who then expected sex with her. After her “no”, he is said to have become verbally aggressive, but moved away. Since the publication of her statements, Lynn has received death threats, reports “Welt”. Investigative journalist Tim Röhn wrote on Twitter that a bounty had even been put on her head.
Band is said to be in “shock state”.
The YouTuber and influencer Kayla Shyx, whose real name is Kaya Loska, also sharply criticizes the conditions at Rammstein concerts. In a 37-minute video, the 21-year-old reports how she and a friend from “Row Zero” – the security area immediately in front of the stage – were led to an after-show party by a “casting director” named Alena Makeeva. According to her, the actual party wasn’t going at all, but to a separate area where she was supposed to meet Lindemann and possibly have sex with him. Ultimately, however, she fled from this situation.
After the first allegations made by Shelby Lynn, the band members initially reacted with a brief reassurance. “They are not aware of any investigations”. A little later, after other women had spoken, a much longer statement followed. It said that the allegations had hit Rammstein very hard and that they were being 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 letter went on to say: “We condemn any kind of transgression and ask you: do not participate in public prejudice of any kind against those who have made allegations. They have a right to their point of view.” But the band also has a right – namely not to be prejudiced either. The band’s surroundings reported a depressed mood, thoughtfulness, even “shock stiffness”.
“Row Zero” without female fans
Shortly thereafter, the first consequences were announced for the Munich concerts. Guest groups should no longer be permitted in Row Zero. In the past, mostly young and conspicuously dressed women could be seen at the edges of the stage. However, this area will probably not be completely abolished. As the Munich “AZ” writes, according to information from those around the band, there is a need for a “Row Zero” for security reasons. Crew or family members of the band should still be allowed to stay there. In addition, the “AZ” continues to report, the waiver of fans in “Row Zero” goes back to a decision that was made after the concert in Vilnius.
The concept for the after-show parties has also been changed, according to those close to the band. There should no longer be two separate parties – a large one for fans and band, a small one for Lindemann and women. In the future, if at all, only one celebration for everyone is planned after the concerts. For Munich, however, there are still different information on the party regulation. The “AZ” writes that the local promoter stated that there would be no party at all after the concert. This also affects Rammstein fans, who like to take selfies with the musicians on such occasions. That is now “stupid for everyone”, Lindemann is again quoted as saying.
For the band’s performances in the capital on July 15, 16 and 18, there is a clear announcement of celebrations after the concert. According to the Berlin Senator for the Interior, Iris Spranger, there will be no after-show parties in Berlin. It is important to await the investigations, “but the allegations are so serious that the protection and safety of women have absolute priority here”.
Lindemann is said to have been in Munich since the day before
The Rammstein singer has been in Munich since Tuesday afternoon, reports the “Bild” newspaper. Accordingly, the 60-year-old arrived in a black minibus with darkened windows, with which he disappeared directly into the underground car park and into the hotel. According to the newspaper, 240,000 people are expected to attend the four concerts in Munich. Referring to the police headquarters in Munich, it is said that around 100 officers are assigned to each concert. “Above all, the officials ensure traffic safety before and after the concert when visitors arrive and depart,” said police spokesman Werner Kraus in an interview with the newspaper. But security in and around the stadium is also taken care of.
The Munich district administration department (KVR), in turn, wants to ensure that the event requirements are met. In a written statement, the KVR writes, in addition to the fire department, employees of the KVR would also closely accompany the concerts on site in cooperation with the police. The KVR is in contact with the organizer of the concerts to plan further measures, such as “awareness areas” or “safe spaces”.
The band is said to have commissioned an awareness concept for the concerts themselves. Six employees are supposed to be on the lookout for abnormalities in the stadium in connection with security. In addition, there should be a safe space area where those affected who feel harassed during the concert can withdraw, they say. Since the start of the tour in Vilnius, there have also been investigations into the band’s environment, reports the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. There should already be testimonies for this. Women who may be affected will also be questioned. It is not yet clear when this will be made public.
Fans want to sell tickets, but there is also talk of a gesture of solidarity
The tickets for Rammstein concerts are personalized. Therefore, if you want to sell them, they must be offered through official resale platforms. Over Fansale, Eventim’s official platform for such resales, many tickets are on sale for the concerts from June 8th. It can only be assumed that this has to do with the current allegations against Lindemann. In any case, a user on Twitter writes: “We returned our Rammstein tickets, not only because we don’t want to give support, but also because we would all feel weird knowing that ‘Row Zero’ is down there.”
But not all fans distance themselves from the band. On the contrary: in various online fan groups there is the idea of showing a gesture of solidarity at the concerts. For example, the “Berliner Morgenpost” reports that some fans plan to get on their knees at the end of the performance – just like the band always does. “When they kneel, we kneel with them and sing ‘Ohne dich’,” it says in an appeal. “Let them know how much we love them, love is for everyone, including Rammstein.” Activist, author and comedian Jasmina Kuhnke was very shocked by this gesture. She referred to the origin of the gesture in the Black Lives Matter movement. “I just want to scream,” she commented on Twitter.
2023-06-07 18:42:41
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