Rammstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rammstein
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Rammstein performing in August 2013; upper level (left to right): Oliver Riedel, Christoph Schneider, and Christian Lorenz; lower level (left to right): Paul Landers, Till Lindemann, and Richard Kruspe
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Berlin, Germany |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
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Rammstein is a famous German band known for its powerful rock music and amazing live shows. The band formed in Berlin in 1994. Their style is often called Neue Deutsche Härte, which means "New German Hardness," and also industrial metal.
The band has six members: lead singer Till Lindemann, guitarists Richard Kruspe and Paul Landers, bassist Oliver Riedel, drummer Christoph Schneider, and keyboardist Christian "Flake" Lorenz. This lineup has never changed. Lindemann writes the lyrics, and the rest of the band creates the music first.
Rammstein became famous for their exciting concerts, which often include huge fire effects and pyrotechnics. They have sold millions of albums around the world and have won many awards. Their music is usually in German, which they feel best expresses the emotion of their songs.
Contents
The Story of Rammstein
How the Band Began (1989–1996)
In 1989, after the Berlin Wall fell, guitarist Richard Kruspe wanted to create a new kind of German music. He started working with drummer Christoph Schneider and bassist Oliver Riedel. Kruspe then asked Till Lindemann to join as the singer.
In 1994, the group won a contest for new bands in Berlin. This prize allowed them to record their first professional songs. Soon after, guitarist Paul Landers and keyboardist Christian "Flake" Lorenz joined, completing the band.
The band's name, Rammstein, comes from the German word Rammstein, which is a type of large stone used as a doorstop on old gates. The extra "m" makes the name translate to "ramming stone."
They signed with the record label Motor Music and released their first album, Herzeleid, in 1995. Their live shows helped them gain fans, and they toured across Europe. Their music even appeared in the 1997 movie Lost Highway, which helped them become known in the United States.
Gaining Worldwide Fame (1996–2000)
Rammstein's second album, Sehnsucht, came out in 1997. It went straight to number one in Germany. The singles "Engel" and "Du hast" became huge hits. "Du hast" was even featured in the movie The Matrix.
The band toured all over the world, including with the Family Values Tour in the United States. In 1998, they played a massive concert in Berlin for over 17,000 fans. This show was filmed and released as the live album and DVD Live aus Berlin. By this time, Rammstein was one of the most successful German-language bands ever.
The Mutter Album (2000–2002)
In 2001, Rammstein released their third album, Mutter. It was a huge success and had many hit singles, including "Sonne" and "Ich will". The band toured across Europe, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The band also made a movie appearance in 2002. They were shown performing their song "Feuer frei!" in the opening scene of the action film XXX. This helped introduce their music to an even wider audience.
More Successful Albums (2003–2006)
The band's next album, Reise, Reise, was released in 2004. It reached the top 10 in charts across Europe. The single "Amerika" was a critique of American culture and became a big hit.
Just one year later, in 2005, they released another album called Rosenrot. The single "Benzin" (German for "gasoline") was very popular. In 2006, they released a live DVD called Völkerball, which featured performances from their world tour.
A Decade of Touring and New Music (2007–2017)
After a short break, the band released Liebe ist für alle da in 2009. The album was very successful and led to a massive world tour. They played sold-out shows across Europe and North America, including a famous concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In 2011, Rammstein released a greatest hits album called Made in Germany 1995–2011. They continued to tour the world, playing at major festivals like Download Festival and Wacken Open Air.
The band also released two concert films during this time. Rammstein in Amerika (2015) included their Madison Square Garden show and a documentary about their career. Rammstein: Paris (2017) was a recording of a concert in Paris, known for its amazing visuals.
Recent Albums and Stadium Tours (2017–present)
After a ten-year break from studio albums, Rammstein returned in 2019 with an untitled album. The first single, "Deutschland", became a number-one hit in Germany. The album was a massive success, reaching number one in 14 countries.
To support the album, the band began a huge Stadium Tour, playing in the biggest arenas across Europe and North America.
During the 2020 lockdowns, the band decided to write and record new music. This led to their eighth album, Zeit, which was released in 2022. The title track was the first single. The band has continued their successful stadium tour, which is planned to run through 2025.
Music and Lyrics
Rammstein is considered a pioneer of the Neue Deutsche Härte genre. Their music mixes heavy metal guitar riffs with electronic music sounds and deep, powerful vocals. They were inspired by bands like the Slovenian group Laibach but wanted to create a sound that was uniquely German.
Almost all of Rammstein's songs are in German. The band believes their native language is the best way to express their feelings. Keyboardist Flake Lorenz once said, "If you really want to tell your emotions, you have to speak in your mother tongue."
The band's lyrics often explore dark and complex themes from stories, real-life events, and German literature. For example, their song "Rosenrot" was inspired by a poem from the famous German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Amazing Live Shows
Rammstein is world-famous for their incredible live performances. Their shows are known for their extensive use of pyrotechnics, including giant flamethrowers. Fans often say, "Other bands play, Rammstein burns!"
Lead singer Till Lindemann is a licensed pyrotechnician, which means he is trained to handle explosives and fire safely. During shows, he often wears costumes that shoot flames.
The band's stage sets are also very elaborate. They have used multi-level stages, giant industrial fans, and complex lighting systems to create a spectacular experience for the audience. The costumes are also a big part of the show, with the band members wearing everything from military-style uniforms to astronaut suits.
Band Members
Since they started in 1994, Rammstein has always had the same six members.
- Till Lindemann – lead vocals
- Richard Kruspe – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Paul Landers – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Oliver Riedel – bass guitar
- Christoph Schneider – drums, percussion
- Christian "Flake" Lorenz – keyboards, synthesizers
- Gallery
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Till Lindemann
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Richard Kruspe
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Paul Landers
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Oliver Riedel
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Christoph Schneider
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Christian "Flake" Lorenz
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Discography
Studio albums
- Herzeleid (1995)
- Sehnsucht (1997)
- Mutter (2001)
- Reise, Reise (2004)
- Rosenrot (2005)
- Liebe ist für alle da (2009)
- Untitled album (2019)
- Zeit (2022)
Tours
- Club Tour (1994–1995)
- Herzeleid Tour (1995–1997)
- Sehnsucht Tour (1997–2001)
- Family Values Tour 1998 (1998)
- Mutter Tour (2001–2002)
- Pledge of Allegiance Tour (2001)
- Ahoi Tour (Reise, Reise Tour) (2004–2005)
- Liebe ist für alle da Tour (2009–2011)
- Made in Germany 1995–2011 Tour (2011–2013)
- Rammstein Tour 2016 (2016)
- Festival Tour (2017)
- Rammstein Stadium Tour (2019–2025)
Awards and Honours
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "Du hast" | Best Metal Performance | Nominated |
| 2006 | "Mein Teil" | Nominated |
Images for kids
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Rammstein playing "Engel" in Madison Square Garden in New York City, December 2010
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Rammstein performing in 2012
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Till Lindemann performing the song "Rammstein" while wearing arm-mounted flamethrowers
See also
In Spanish: Rammstein para niños
