Rammstein

Maybe it's just me (I hope it is) - but after watching the 'Live Aus Berlin' concert taping (from 1998) and then a section of the Voelkerball DVD (London), I noticed how much Till Lindemann has bulked up and I wonder if he might be on steroids. I hope he isn't, because steroids are dangerous and unhealthy; but maybe it's just me, because I know he quit smoking and so maybe his bulk-up is natural.

If an African American listens to music from Africa, everyone thinks that is good. If a Japanese-American is into a group from Japan (Dir En Grey, for example), people can accept that with no problem. Hispanic-Americans listen to Spanish/Portuguese music all the time, and it is barely noticed anymore.

Rammstein has been called a whole host of outrageous things; among the best things they've been called are 'Nazis', 'Satanists' and 'amateur flamethrowers'. None of these things are true. What they are are paid entertainers - it's really as simple as that. If people who get all upset by their material do not understand this simple point, then they shouldn't be paying attention.

So what is Rammstein doing on their new project/album? Who knows; it's better if it's kept as a surprise! I don't want to know the details; I just want them to take as much time as they need to put together something they are happy with and release it whenever it is ready.

As an individual who has not always had a healthy lifestyle, I want to express in this entry how important this band has become in terms of my health. I often use their music for aerobic exercise sessions, and when the weather is good I like to take it with me on walks.

Sometimes I will read things here and there, "Rammstein is anti-American". Again, like a lot of things that are printed about this group, this is complete and utter nonsense. They did a song called "Amerika" on one of their earlier albums... and rather than take some time to really understand what it means, people rushed to judgment about it and labelled them anti-American.

It should be a fairly well-known fact by now, that the members of Rammstein grew up in the former GDR. When I was in high school, the world map was out every day and Germany was divided at that time. The map had Germany, and it also had 'E. Germany'. And I often found myself wondering, what was going on on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

I am from the United States, and I've never seen this group do a live show. It seems like every country wants them to come and play for them("Come to Bulgaria/Finland/Australia, etc.") The reality of life on the road is, that it's very difficult. I think fans need to remember that they cannot be everywhere at once! So this is what I think they should do...

I have been following Rammstein for about 7 years. I love all their music, even though I don't know all that much German (not the easiest language to learn). I check the group's blog listings frequently' because I am looking for articles pertaining to their supposed ties to Nazism. What a bunch of nonsense!