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Knac.com - March 06

Pullin' up the Bootstraps: Brian Davis Speaks with Rammstein Leader Richard

Love them or hate them, Rammstein command respect. More than any other International music act, Rammstein have stuck to their guns and achieved something no other band in the world has-they've become one of the most recognizable and identifiable bands across the globe without even singing in English. Also worth note is the climate the band grew up in and the challenges they faced and continue to face just to be able to create their music. Every band pays their dues, but surely Rammstein have been taxed more than most. But they continue to endure and they continue to entertain, all the while maintaining their heritage and their passion for visual as well as aural entertainment. Rammstein brainchild and guitarist Richard gives KNAC.COM the low-down on the difficulties of growing up a metal fan in the musically restrictive East Germany of yore, the passion that drives the band, and their unfaltering loyalty to both their music and their heritage.

**This interview is dedicated to my dear friend Christiane-her extensive knowledge of the band, the language, the country and its heritage was absolutely invaluable, and without her insight this could never have happened. Danke Schön!!**Note by Brian Davis.

RICHARD: Hey, How are you doing, man?

KNAC.COM: Alright, how are you doing Richard?

RICHARD: Alright. I just came back from Europe a couple of days ago and I had to fucking stay 2 1/2 days at the airport because of this big fucking storm.

KNAC.COM: Oh wow.

RICHARD: It was so fucking difficult. We were in Stockholm and were actually trying to go to New York via Frankfurt; it was such a bitch! That was the worst time I've ever had at an airport; it was a big deal. But finally I made it.

KNAC.COM: That's good! (laughs) I really appreciate this opportunity. I have a friend I work with-she was born and raised in Bavaria and is and obsessive Rammstein fan, so she helped me out with these questions. Hopefully we'll get some good ones in here.

RICHARD: Alright, cool. When was the first time you heard about our band?

KNAC.COM: First time…uhh boy…a friend of mine played "Sehnsucht" for me when it first came out; I've been listening ever since.

RICHARD: Alright, cool.

KNAC.COM: The first thing we want to know is-growing up in East Berlin, it had to have been extremely difficult to get access to music and to play music. Wasn't it a very oppressive atmosphere as far as music goes?

RICHARD: I mean…we weren't really oppressed, because if you don't know things, you don't appreciate [them], you know what I mean? We knew there were things out there, but not so much you can have, but sometimes the less you have the more things you appreciate. I remember-because I had a difficult childhood anyway, I spent a lot of time in my room because I was always in trouble-but I was listening to one live record from AC/DC for years because I didn't have any kind of different music! (laughs) I know that there were times, which was a little before I started [in music], there were people on the radio-they were playing these cover bands because at this time they hadn't any record player and they had to be on the radio with like four musicians. The first musician had to listen to the first verse, and the second musician had to listen to the first chorus, and that's how they came up with their kind of cover version. They would be on the radio a couple of times because there was no tape machine going on.

And the other possibility we had was to actually go to Hungaria, and in Hungaria you could buy records. I remember the first record I bought was like 200 [Deutsch Marks], which was a lot of money. A normal person would make like 500-600 East German Marks a month, and a record cost you 200. The first thing I bought was actually The Dead Kennedys-"Plastic Surgery Disasters"; that was cool. I was so happy when I had this record! (laughs)

KNAC.COM: I bet! Even if it cost that much money, at least you had it.

RICHARD: Yeah, I had it. And I think those moments…you don't really have them anymore; you know, to just like…I remember that feeling when you buy something, you save something and you have it and you appreciated it SO much. Right now you just don't have that feeling anymore like appreciating something. Making music was a little more difficult because there was a law in East Germany that you had to have a job, and after work you could do music in your free time, but you had to show the Government that you had a real job; and that was a bitch because obviously after working for like nine hours you just want to relax. So that's why [making music was difficult]. But there was an underground scene in East Germany, it started with a lot of Punk music and there were a lot of politics bands at this time; they were trying to organize their own festivals and their own shows and obviously the politicals were catching up with those, and that would become really complicated because you would lose your…you needed a "Play License", actually, and when you had a band you had to play in front of a jury and the jury would decide if you could go out and play; there was no other way around. So it was kind of difficult; but at this time, if you really, really wanted the music there's no question about it-it doesn't matter what hell you go through, you just have to do it because of the way it's been.

KNAC.COM: Yeah, I mean it may be positive because it makes you want it that much more and you just earned it and worked that much harder to make it happen.

RICHARD: Yeah, it's the same a little bit like in America. I mean, that's why a lot of Americans are so much better-I'm just talking about better skills-because they really have to play so much better than everyone else. There is so much out there and you have to make a living. It's not really a socially secure environment like we have in Germany. You know, it doesn't really matter-if you make music, you make music, but you also get your money from the Government. Here in America you have to be good; there is no other way.

KNAC.COM: Up until "Rosenrot" you guys had never recorded in Germany; you've gone to Spain and other places.

RICHARD: Yeah, somewhere it's always warm. We're from East Germany-we could never travel for like the first decade of our lives, so obviously we travel a lot, and personally I like to have it really sunny and warm when we're recording. This time [we recorded in Germany] because the first six songs were already ready from the previous record; there were the six songs so we just said, "Look, we'll stay in Berlin." Which wasn't a good idea, by the way; I would never do it again. I mean, you go into the studio and then have to deal with your daily fucking business everyday and everyone is so involved. You know, you fucking play, record, and afterwards the first thing you have to do is go to your tax lawyer.

KNAC.COM: Yeah, you need that separation and isolation.

RICHARD: You need separation into it, you know, you have to be free of thought and business and whatever, and something bumps you and we have to do whatever it takes to make it work. For some reason…I mean, I like the record really much…at the beginning there were doubts about it because there are six songs from the other record-and I like those songs, I never thought it would be B side tracks or something-but when we started to record new songs it was definitely a different kind of way, and I thought, "Wow, this could be off the record, this could stay by itself."

KNAC.COM: Do you think it would have turned out any different had you not recorded in Berlin? Did that have any kind of affect on the atmosphere while you were recording?

RICHARD: It always affects things, sure. I mean, I don't know if it would be better or worse-that I can't tell you. But definitely the environment is the most important; that's why I think my decision…before I started Rammstein I played some fucking funky metal stuff, which really was kind of imitating American music, and I do believe that from there until today you have to be in this kind of environment to make this kind of music or it's fake. Environments are really important.

KNAC.COM: Agreed. Recently, in the last few albums, you've had a lot of involvement from other musicians. You've been releasing a lot of singles and you have this huge variety of people that have been contributing their interpretations-Beastie Boys, Meshuggah, Apocalyptica, Nina Hagen…

RICHARD: Pet Shop Boys-don't forget Pet Shop Boys! (laughs)

KNAC.COM: (laughs)

RICHARD: (still laughing) Just kidding.

KNAC.COM: So what brought that about? How did that happen? Were people just coming to you and saying, "Hey, I want to be part of this" or were you…

RICHARD: Yeah, for some reason Rammstein creates definitely interest for a lot of artists because it is a unique band and a lot of people like us because we're definitely not one of those bands…Rammstein has really become one of those bands that is polarized, which I really like. I mean, you hate or love them. And a lot of people…I think Rammstein is very different; it is very different and we get a lot of great compliments. One that really, really, really honors me [is that] one day I had Jimmy Page and Tony Iommi listening to the show and they came up and they said, "Wow, the fucking guitars on that!" You know, that's cool, that's really, really cool.

KNAC.COM: That's a great compliment, yeah.

RICHARD: Yeah, I liked it because we don't really get those compliments in our country; we have much more difficulties in our country than everywhere else in the world.

KNAC.COM: I know over here, for me and certainly for a lot of other people that I know listen to you guys, is the fact that you create this very distinct sound. It's very catchy, it's very…you know, it sticks with you, but you are also very loyal to your native language and you don't compromise to conform with the American metal scene. I mean, you have Sweden and a lot of other bands in Germany and any other countries-they're singing in English in order to appeal, and you guys have achieved this without compromising who you are and where you've come from.

RICHARD: I think one part of the success we have was that we chose to sing in our native language. And again it comes back to where you are, where you're located, where is your environment, where you live. For example, right now I live in New York and I'm actually just finishing up my first record with a new project, and I'm singing in English. It really makes a difference if you talk the language and think the language; if I would do it in Germany it wouldn't work. And then the other thing is that Till has such an amazing way of writing lyrics; he's one of the best writers in German lyrics, I mean he is really poetic and really dark and we love it. But he couldn't do it in English; he couldn't. So it was good that we followed our instincts, and that's what we have to do and we always stick to it. And obviously sometimes…on this record we sing in Spanish, we're definitely open, you know-it's not like we have to [sing in German] all the time; this song ["Te Quiero, Puta"] in this case is actually funny and I like it. Our main language will be German and it's related to when I was telling you about sitting in my little room listening to AC/DC and I couldn't understand any fucking word. (laughs) No; but it was about the energy and I totally got it. And that's the same thing about Rammstein.

KNAC.COM: Absolutely. Ironically, I was listening to "Herzeleid" yesterday and I was telling my friend [Christiane from Bavaria] that helped me with these questions that you guys are kind of like the AC/DC of Germany.

RICHARD: (laughs) Yeah, thank you!

KNAC.COM: (laughs) That is definitely a compliment-at least from my perspective-but that's how you strike me. Just real quick-you mentioned you have a side project; what's that called?

RICHARD: Emigrate. Immigration is when you go into a country; Emigrate is when you go out of a country.

KNAC.COM: Ok; I will definitely be watching for that. And again, like you mentioned briefly Nina Hagen-I know back in her day she was quite the notorious, high profile, anti-social type person. I know Rammstein-you guys have been somewhat controversial, at least in the past, as far as your stage performances and some of your lyrical content. Do you think there is some similarity between the way you guys approach the social things and the way she was back in her day?

RICHARD: No, it's definitely different. First of all, she sought a career in East Germany, and then obviously she kind of left the country, and it's a different story. We grew up in Socialism; and first of all, we're not a political band at all, and we never really made political statements because…it doesn't mean that I'm not a political person, but I think-and it's my attitude-there is nothing that would be good or better. There is always sides that are good and bad and there is a lot of things that we liked about growing up with Socialism. I'm really proud and I'm really happy that I had the opportunity to live through two systems, but the way we went through the East and to West-it's a different story to her. And the problem we had-and it's not true for her-I think one of the reasons Germany had a problem about their kind of…I mean, Germany generally has a problem with their own identity, you know? We got brought up with all the guilt about the second World War and for some reason I think it turned out that Rammstein has those German qualities-which I think is not bad at all-but for some reason I think some people get reminded of something I don't think they want to get reminded of.

KNAC.COM: They do, they do. A good example is on Tool's "AEnima" album, they do "Die Eier Von Satan"…

RICHARD: Yep.

KNAC.COM: You know, it's intentionally geared to sound like a Führeristic…just so very "SS" sounding, and yet it's actually a baking recipe.

RICHARD: Exactly.

KNAC.COM: People will automatically make these associations without actually making any real connection.

RICHARD: But that's also a little bit the problem of America, because every time you see fucking Hollywood…I mean, right now we've got to be horrified, like right now Hollywood writes this real life about America, and every time you see a German he is a Nazi or a bad guy; and that's what the people know about Germans, and I think…I mean, it's definitely in the language-there is something which is really straight forward and maybe scary, but the only thing I could say is we didn't really…we never tended to be political and we definitely are not right winged, for sure! (laughs)

KNAC.COM: Right. Ok, these are a couple of the things my friend was telling me-she was listening to some songs on "Rosenrot"; namely, the title song is based on a well known folk tale, correct?

RICHARD: Yeah.

KNAC.COM: And being that Germany is very rich in folklore and history and what-not, what made you choose that particular story?

RICHARD: That is a question actually for our friend Till because he is the one that writes the lyrics and he comes up with this, and we discuss those things, but it's a question for him; I can't really answer this question.

KNAC.COM: So this would be the same-she was wondering…can you at least tell me if "Hilf Mir"…Christiane said it reminded her of a tale from [the German fairy tale book] "Struwwelpeter".

RICHARD: (laughs hard)

KNAC.COM: Is that correct?

RICHARD: You know, the funny thing was that some of those songs…we had an idea a couple of years ago to take old German fairy tales and turn it into music, and "Struwwelpeter" was definitely a part of it, and I think the inspiration came from it; you're right. By the way-have you seen this book?

KNAC.COM: No, I haven't-she was just telling me about it today.

RICHARD: It is really fucking scary! (laughs)

KNAC.COM: That's what she said-very dark, very morbid…

RICHARD: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You have to look at this guy [Struwwelpeter]-I remember when I was a child, I always looked at this guy as a little child and aaaahhhh-that was scary! (laughs)

KNAC.COM: (laughs) Yes, I'm very interested. I'm going to be looking it up so I can read some of that.

RICHARD: Yeah.

KNAC.COM: Alright-In the past you always seemed to write from a…certainly Till writes from experience or perspective, and I get the impression that from the differences between like "Herzeleid" and "Sehnsucht" up to "Rosenrot" and the newer albums that there's been a bit of a shift. Back then you guys were almost without fail…you know, heavy song, heavy, heavy, very catchy, and now you're getting a bit more elaborate, more the melodic type of songs. Does that tie into your personal lives or growth as musicians? What would you attribute that to?

RICHARD: I think so-I mean, obviously age is definitely a matter, because when you're really young you just fucking want to have loud music 24 hours, you know? I think as you get older you definitely appreciate more the melodic side. Although I must say I always liked melodies; I always tried to put melodies into our music. There are changes, obviously, and I think that everyone in the band agrees that with the next record we want to go back to the more rough side that we have. I mean, there is always a side in our sound that we always have to bring out, and I think we did it and I think right now is a time for waking up.

KNAC.COM: Excellent; what led to the change from Motor Musik to Universal?

RICHARD: It's a decision that…you know, Motor Musik is a part of Universal, and then two people got fired from Motor Musik, and they're starting their own label right now-"Two Point Music"-and our current contract is with Universal, so we had to stay with them.

KNAC.COM: Your videos-they are always a huge part of who the band is-you have always been very visual, and especially lately you've had the opportunity to really go full out and fully express yourselves sufficiently with tons of imagery and metaphors; what is it about the videos that allow you to express yourselves so much?

RICHARD: Because at first we're like…the very nice thing is that you can turn out a song in a very different way, and that would be video. Sometimes with a song it's ok, but if you make the right video it turns out exactly and people get it. Because when we write music it has to be as visual as possible. I have to have some kind of movie in my head-it doesn't matter if it turns out the same as the video or whatever-and if you create some visual effects of the music it can help the song go in a different direction or it helps some to understand; it comes across as we want it to. It's a great opportunity, and the other thing is that we love to act. (laughs) We love to do this, and it's always fun to play and slip in something else. On stage you have just one role to play, you know? And we can change it.

KNAC.COM: And it's another extension-I mean, you have Rammstein's music and then you have the videos, which is music, but it's also so much more. As you say, it's you guys acting, delivering a visual story almost like a short movie.

RICHARD: Exactly, and it's one of the strengths Rammstein has because we're getting a lot of interests to Rammstein being used in movies, you know? We have definitely a visual effect, and I love it.

KNAC.COM: Definitely that's one of my favorite aspects of the band.

RICHARD: Have you seen the band live?

KNAC.COM: No, and that's actually one of my questions-are you guys coming to the US?

RICHARD: You know what, we're taking a break right now. We decided that we needed some distance, especially after all the work we have done the last years, and it was really important that we just need a break and start again in 2007. We definitely will come back for sure, but I don't know when.

KNAC.COM: Ok; I've seen the "Live Aus Berlin" DVD more times than I can count, so…

RICHARD: Yeah, the new DVD is coming out; it'll be really, really great.

KNAC.COM: Great-and do you have any idea when that will be released?

RICHARD: I hope in four to eight weeks; I only know it will definitely be soon.

KNAC.COM: Is that live footage and videos, or…

RICHARD: Yes, it's live playing of our tours in Europe; it especially features an outdoor show in France a lot of different footage from Japan and from England. Good stuff.

KNAC.COM: Lastly, what would you say to the people that are wanting another "Herzeleid" or "Sehnsucht"?

RICHARD: Buy "Herzeleid" or "Sehnsucht". (laughs)

© 2006 Brian Davies