After the first statements from Rammstein, the band is silent for a long time about the events surrounding singer Lindemann. Now drummer Schneider is making a statement to the public.
Rammstein drummer Christoph Schneider has made a comprehensive statement about the events surrounding the band and singer Till Lindemann. “The allegations of the last few weeks have shocked us as a band and me as a person,” wrote the 57-year-old on his Instagram account.
According to dpa information, the statement comes directly from Schneider. There were initially no reactions from the other Rammstein musicians or the band as a whole.
He feels “shocked” by things that have been shared and reported. “This is a ebb and flow of emotions for us band members and crew,” Schneider wrote.
Several women had – partly anonymously – raised allegations against Lindemann. They described situations that they sometimes found frightening. Young women were selected during concerts and asked if they wanted to come to the after show party. According to some women, sexual acts are said to have occurred.
Lindemann rejects allegations
Lindemann had rejected allegations against him. He has his interests represented by a lawyer. “Serious allegations against our client were made by various women on social networks, especially on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube,” it said in a statement. “It has been repeatedly claimed that women at Rammstein concerts were sedated with knock-out drops or alcohol to enable our client to perform sexual acts on them. These allegations are untrue without exception.”
After reports of allegations against Lindemann, the public prosecutor’s office in Berlin has initiated investigations against him. If the public prosecutor’s office becomes aware of a suspicion of a crime, they must investigate. Media reports can be the trigger for this. The presumption of innocence applies until the investigation is completed. The record label Universal Music Entertainment has temporarily suspended its marketing and promotional activities for Rammstein.
Drummer Schneider wrote: “No, I don’t think anything criminally relevant (such as the use of knockout drops) happened. No, I don’t think anything illegal was going on, I’ve never observed anything like that not heard from anyone in our crew of 100.”
Various parties
Everything he heard from Lindemann’s parties was “adults celebrating together.” Schneider continues: “And yet things seem to have happened that – albeit legally ok – I personally don’t think are okay.” The drummer writes of mature structures “that went beyond the limits and values of the other band members”. “It is therefore also important to us that Till’s parties are not confused with our official after-show parties.”
Schneider describes his view of developments in the band. “Till has moved away from us in recent years and created his own bubble. With his own people, his own parties, his own projects. That made me sad, definitely.”
He believes Lindemann when he says that he always wants to give his private guests a good time. “How exactly these guests had imagined it seems to differ in some cases from his own ideas,” says Schneider. “The wishes and expectations of the women who have now come forward have probably not been met. According to their statements, they felt uncomfortable, on the edge of a situation that they could no longer control.” Schneider: “I’m sorry for you and I feel compassion.”
Every guest in the backstage area is free to leave, emphasized Schneider. All bottles are sealed and freshly opened in front of the guests or by themselves.
Schneider wishes for a calm and reflected processing, also in the band. “All together, six of us. We stand together.”
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
