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Valhalla mgazine (Brazil) - Interview with Paul - December 2005

Rammstein guys don’t joke when working. Just one year after the release of the successful “Reise, Reise”, they now have a new album in the market. “Rosenrot” is the new release of the six Germans and, as always, brings us more polemic lyrics – this time they even discuss areas such as homosexuality – and a heavy sound. We talked with Paul Landers who told us all the details about the new CD and explains why the band cancelled the concerts scheduled to Brazil this year.

By Marcos Franke

It began in 1994 but Rammstein started to be known in Brazil only in 1999, when the band played with Kiss in Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre. In that occasion they were invited by Gene Simmons, a great fan of the band. Later the song “Du Hast”, included in “Matrix” soundtrack gave them more fame. But it was with the release of their third album “Mutter” in 2001, that the band had recognition worldwide as one of the most important in its genre.

Always singing in German, last year they released “Reise,Reise”, an album that was widely criticized by the North American people. See the single “Amerika” that stayed on top for many weeks in many countries. With “Reise, Reise” Rammstein became the most famous band in the world singing in German. Inspired, in less than a year, the band started working in a new album. Recorded in Spain and Germany, “Rosenrot” was released last month and, as usual, brings a lyric content very strong and polemic. This time they talk about homosexuality and they bring a song in Spanish, called “Te Quiero Puta”. It is considered a band with difficult access but Valhalla had the privilege to be chosen by Rammstein management as one of the few South American media to interview them. We talked with Paul Landers who told us more about the new album and about the reasons why the tour that would come to Brazil was cancelled.

Why did you cancel the South American tour this year?

The tour was cancelled due to illness by one of our members, Flake. He had a serious problem of “mumps” (not sure if this is the correct translation), a children’s disease. We were very sad, as we really wanted to play there. It was frustrating.

How do you analyse the end of the “Reise, Reise” tour?

Going out touring is always like falling into cold water. We were surprised when we heard “Reise, Reise” songs live. They sounded like in the album, but much heavier, maybe because of the strong drum rhythms. In general, the tour was great. The shows had more people than the last tour and we hope the next one will be even better.

It’s only one year since the release of “Reise, Reise” and you are already releasing another album. Tell us about “Rosenrot”, the new album.

In fact, “Rosenrot” is an album like any other. There’s nothing special in it. The record company likes to write a lot of things about a new album, especially because the gap was short between “Reise, Reise”, but, to be honest, it’s a very normal, regular album. People who enjoyed “Reise, Reise” will also enjoy “Rosenrot”. Just like its predecessor, “Rosenrot” brings more direct songs. The lyrics are lighter but the music is more aggressive and from that you have an impact between music and lyrics. It’s interesting to notice the harmony between those two things.

Because of the short gap, “Rosenrot” can be considered a sequel of “Reise, Reise”?

No. “Rosenrot” is an independent album. All songs are new. We only used a few ideas that were left from the previous album but as a whole they have to be considered as new songs and not studio left-overs because those ideas were never transformed into songs.

About that. How is the creative process of Rammstein?

There is no secret. All members in the band contribute with ideas. We work together. When someone has an idea we sit, discuss and then put everything into practice until the song is complete. Our music is very complex even if it sounds simple. Most of times the songs are very hard to make.

“Reise, Reise” was almost all recorded in Spain. What about “Rosenrot”?

We recorded some parts of “Rosenrot” in Spain and others in Berlin. “Reise, Reise” was like a bridge for the recording of “Rosenrot”. A lot of ideas we had whilst recording “Reise, Reise” and we couldn’t use were now used for the new album.

About the lyrics. Which were the main themes explored this time? It looks to me that the song “Mann Gegen Mann” is about homosexuality…

We are a democratic band and all can contribute for the lyrics, but almost all the times is Till who writes the lyrics and he usually writes about the “bad” things in life, like in the new album. He explores dark subjects and that’s already his trademark. “Mann Gegen Mann” talks about homosexuality. I think it’s a subject that is not explored and that makes us want to explore it using it in Rammstein. Also, homosexuality is already a normal subject in our society but a lot of people seem to ignore it.

In your last album “Reise, Reise” you were tough in criticising the USA, especially in the song “Amerika”. Did the band have any problems because of that?

We had absolutely no problem. In fact Americans didn’t even understand that it was a critic. Our intention was, in fact, criticise them but they didn’t realise it.

The song “Moskau” is also a critic to the Russian city?

No. That song is like a hymn to the city. We love Moscow. Many Germans are afraid of it but not us. We learned Russian in school and feel at home when we play there. The opposite from when we play in Japan, when everything you see are symbols.

Going back to the new album. You invited Apocalyptica and Meshuggah to record a version of “Benzin”. Why those two bands?

That’s a strategy to make the single to interesting, as we release many. If it’s not interesting, the fans will not even think of buying it. I think this way people know the work of other bands and still listen to the band they like. We toured with Apocalyptica and it’s a band we really enjoy. So we asked them to make a version. With Meshuggah was different. We like to choose unexpected bands that can really put something in our music. Because they are very good bands I believe they made very different versions from our original songs.

Texas singer, Sharleen Spiteru, sings in the song “Stirb Nicht Vor Mir”. How did that happen?

We had several available female singers to do it but we ended up choosing her, as it sounded better with us. In our previous album for the song “Moscow” we wanted to invite the girls from “TATU” but it was not possible. We always look out for people to participate in our songs that will fit our style, music and concept.

You will make an English version for that song, right?

I think so. We are still talking about it. We already did that Depeche Mode version of “Stripped” so, it will not be the first time. We are also singing in Spanish now. From now on we should do more music in other languages but the main one will always be German, no doubt.

You do have a song in Spanish in “Rosenrot”, “Te Quiero Puta”. How did that happen?

Well…Till spends a lot of time in Costa Rica as we has a girlfriend there. So he started to write something in Spanish. This song final result is so good that we decided to include it in the album. It has a very strong impact.

You always show an extra special care with all art work of the covers. But “Rosenrot” cover is the same as the Japanese special edition of “Reise, Reise”. Why?

The record company in Japan always wants something different so we release “Reise, Reise” with a different cover. But we like it so much and we want that all fans have it so we decided to use it for the new album. I think it’s a very beautiful, well done cover. It might look the opposite, but the ship doesn’t have any special meaning. It’s just a ship.

Soon a DVD with the Nimes concert will be released. What can you tell us about that?


That was one of the best live shows we had from the last tour and we chose it because of the fans. It was the show were the fans really showed what they are able. It was also one of our best presentation and the audio recording was very good. It will also include the videos from “Reise, Reise” and a session from all from the last tour (I really don’t know what he means by this). There will not be any video from the new album. That will remain for the next DVD.

Videos are very important for the band. Rammstein was already rewarded with them. Tell us about your videos.

Yes, videos are very important for Rammstein. So much that only for the new album we will have four. “Benzin” video is out. We already filmed “Mann Gegen Mann” that will bring us playing naked and “Rosenrot” filming have just finished. There will be another video for our song “Stirb Nicht Vor Mir”. The ideas for the videos are sometimes ours, sometimes from the directors. But in most cases we participate in all process because we concern about the images of the video transmitting the message of the songs.

“Muter” is one of the most famous albums from Rammstein, here in Brazil. It is pointed as one of the best of the band. Do you agree?

Well, I like all our albums. There’s not one that I think it’s bad. But I have to say I think “Rosenrot” is our best album. This sounds odd as usually all artists tends to say their newest album is the best. But I also think “Mutter” is a very important album, like “Sensucht”, as it was after it that Rammstein became somehow famous.

Did you know that here in Brazil Rammstein is more famous with the gothic public? Do you feel emphaty with that style?

For us they are fans like the others. Regardless of what type of music the hear, they like our music. But if you say that there are gothic people that like Rammstein certainly we empathise with them somehow. In fact we are a little bit of everything. We don’t like to be stamped.

And when will those Brazilian fans see Rammstein playing live in Brazil?

Unfortunately I believe a South American tour will only be possible when we release a new album, and that will take some time. I think only in 2007 we will think of a new album. It will take time. By the way, I would like to apologise to the Brazilian fans for the cancelling of the tour. Flake is still not entirely well. For me South America is very special so you can be sure it was frustrating not to play there. But we will not forget you, you can be sure!!!

© 2005 Suzy