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Messer Review - Yam! Magazine 17-Nov-02

Rammstein singer Till Lindemann has published a book of poetry: Is it art or just sick?
“... mummy’s ovaries and also the bugs under the bed enjoyed a smutty celebration boozing themselves on testicle fat…”
(from „Zum Sein von schlechtern Eltern“ / “To his bad parents“)
What can we say?
Till Lindemann loves to provoke.

A book of poetry with lyrics by Rammstein-Boss Till Lindemann (39) - is not for weak nerves. Those who know him and Rammstein, can imagine that his work “Messer” does not concern flowers and butterflies.
That’s quite right – in the preface it says: “Lindemann’s poems are verbal executions, poetic suicide; they are like a guillotine in word form”. And that’s merely a harmless definition…most of the verses Yam! would not even like to quote here - too severe, too sexual! After reading the book psychologist Hannes Niggenaber reached a harsh judgement: “His poems come across like the pubescent outpourings of a scatterbrained person or written under the influence of drugs. The texts express unbelievable aggression, are full of bitterness. “Messer” reads like a horror novel.”

The question remains, what made or makes Tills world so negative. His Oedipus complex, as attested to by an American German Philosophy student? Seven tough years as a father raising a child alone? Or is “Messer” just a different reflection of the Rammstein texts?
Yam! would have gladly spoken with Till about his book, but unfortunately the interview request remains unanswered. Yam! believes frankly after Rammsteins “First Arsch”**: Not power, instead crap...
(**Till’s first band in 1986)

© 2005 Sue Lindemann