Rammstein - a German "dance metal" band

Ramstein is a town in the Rheinland-Pfalz, south-west Germany.

It is home to a US airforce base. Around 34 thousand American forces are stationed here.

Ramstein is also a NATO base. This means that the population also includes many Canadians, British, French, Belgian, Polish, Czech, Norwegian, Danish, and Dutch forces.

See their website: www.ramstein.af.mil

Note that Ramstein, the town and airforce base, is spelt with one "m".

Rammstein, spelt with two M's, 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.

Rammstein takes its name indirectly from the western German town of Ramstein, site of an airshow disaster in 1988. The band's signature song, the eponymous "Rammstein", is a commemoration of the tragedy that took place at the Ramstein Air Base. The extra "m" in the band's name means that it translates literally as "ramming stone", or "battering ram", an appropriate name given the in-your-face nature of the band's music.

The above text is from Wikipedia - Rammstein. Click that link for lots more info.

The pics below are from the video to their current chart hit "Keine Lust" (listen MP3) which, quite honestly, is a monster of a tune. It single-handedly demonstrates that German music ain't 'alf bad.

Rammstein are fantastic. It's not normally the type of music I listen to at all but I really dig their stuff. Saw them live when they came to NZ several years ago and they went off. They put on a wicked pyrotechnics display over the heads of the crowd too.

If you know the brilliant David Lynch movie Lost Highway you might recognise a couple of their tracks from there.

Or their most famous single 'Du Hast', from the Matrix soundtrack.

That "America" is a top tune.

Geez. Are they really all so fat-arsed or are they padded for the effect?

Has anyone seen any sign of them touring Germany at all? Would love to check them out again. That's some mean music.

They did a recent tour which didn't come to Munich but will be playing the Southside and Hurricane festivals in June (along with Die Ärzte, Nine Inch Nails, New Order...)
Which reminds me that I still haven't ordered my tickets.
There's a fantastic Pet Shop Boys remix of "Mein Teil" called "Du bist was Du isst" (which is funny as the song is about cannibalism).

My kids love "Reise Reise" and "Amerika". Should I be worried ?

Nah, America is a top tune, unless maybe you're a US patriot.

Fat suits. Totally. Riot.

They also appeared in that shitty Vin Diesel movie. Triplex.

Wouldn't kick em out of bed for eating crisps either!

That Amerika song is hilarious. I really like the new one as fatties, Ich habe kein Lust, or something like that.

When I hear them I just think 'NEO-NAZI MUSIC'

Can you quantify that?

worm, you couldn't be more wrong if you tried.

They sound very similar to Ministry circa Psalm '69 ... in fact the guitar riff in one of their songs (not sure, maybe "Du Hast") is so similar to "Just One Fix" as to border on plagiarism.

I am fully aware that they are strongly anti nazi, both in their lyrics and interviews. Its just whenever I hear one of their songs, I think it sounds like the kind of music I would listen to if I were a neo nazi. I actually have no idea what music real neo nazis listen to. Kylie probably.

I think neo nazi's prefer J-Lo, Mariah Carey.. stuff like that. Exotic.

I saw Rammstein in Augsburg in February. It was stupendous. Very quick to get there on the train too. Wish I'd driven when I came out though as the snow was very deep and getting a taxi to the station was a total nightmare.

Lots of "interesting" characters at the show too including the head of Munch Hells Angels!

Their live act is quite astonishing.

The Horst Wessel Song

The new Rammstein video.

Watched it yesterday and was surprised at how seemingly mature both the song and video were on the topic of gay love and peoples' reactions to it... although as a straight young man all those pert man-bottoms were a bit strange, only because they were so perfect and round and smooth... ahem...

The song is "Mann Gegen Mann" which is the best track off "Rosenrot".
Lyrics & translation (although the translation misses quite a few references)
Jonas Akerlund directed it, he also did 'Smack My Bitch Up'.
I don't know why you are surprised, Rammstein have tons more depth and intelligence than most realise.
To have a track on this topic is a nod to their gay fans (they have a big pink fanbase) and they did do quite a few test releases of it before it went on the album (from the interviews I've read).
Oooo Vince Clarke remix on the single too.

Just surprised because I like them but had always seen them as a novelty band having only listened to them before i was exposed to any German. Must say I am impressed. And yes I am familiar with the work of Jonas, comes a close third behind jonze and cunnigham in my books...

Rammstein get a load of bad press, folk think that they are Neo-Nazis or it is all just severe noise. I think they are heavy theatre, the stage show is a must.
And their videos are pretty smart ("Amerika" with the moon mission in a studio? Nice).

I don't think they are Neo-Nazis at all. I just think the music is a load of bollocks. It is 95% show and 5% musical talent. Reminds me of the Spice Girls when they were around although Rammstein can sing better

I kindof realise they're the opposite, now...

Is usually the way, the most civilised (before and after) gigs ive been to have been metal ones...and the flaming lips, another msut-see-before-you-die (the space-ball crowd surfing was genius!).

I agree with both of you. I love Rammstein but Crawlie's right they aren't much more talented than the spice girls. Honestly though there aren't many artists that are. These days music is written for the performance, the emphasis put on the effect it has on the listener rather than whether the particular piece is harmonically innovative or challenging. More often than not the simpler melodies are the most popular and what Rammstein does very well is mix lyrical and catching melody with hardcore angst.

Personally, nothing beats the intensity of being in the middle of a mob at a Rammstein concert.

they are far more "artist" than the spice girls though, from what i've heard their live shows could constitute some kind of post-modern operatic performance art...

and hey, i like the music, they don't pretend to be talented, they do the best they can, simply, which i like...

let me just clarify, I loath the spice girls.

I disagree, there are many great bands out there. You just won't find them on MTV or radios. These outlets only market to a demographic or 14-18 year old girls, under forty black or wannabe black or Germans.

The statement was a generalisation, of course there are excellent bands out there.

I know...I just wanted to point out that there are really great bands.

to be a great band is a load of things though, don't necesarily have to be great musically...although u can be...

Hence the track "Links 2 3 4" on one of their later albums.

To refute the Neo-Nazi claims, dear Spud.

There is nothing "smart" about that!

Bloody funny though!

all this chat and nobody has posted an online link to the video...
has nobody got one?

Personally, I think that most Germans would prefer this:

http://www.worksafevideos.com/movies/david...elhoff/hoff.php

Yep, it could be playing on a radio or tv near you soon!

Even my "Koblenz" wife purchased one if his singles!!!

Rammstein are great and the concerts more so. I think a number of their albums have hit the Nr 1 i n Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republik and have a big following in America and Australia. Think they are the biggest German band ever to make it outside Germany going on record sales abroad and most concerts are sold out even in the UK and elsewhere!

Moskau ( With Tatu), Reise, Reise, Ich Will, keine Lust Rosenrot are all good songs