German nationalism today isn’t that of Rammstein’s performances, but Rammstein speaks to right-wingers who deeply resent Germany’s cultural boundaries and pursue their own violent strategies for expanding them. Although this Deutschtümelei (excessive display of Germanness) flies in the face of a liberal, modern Germany, the band has largely been given a free ride on it. It is the best-selling German-language band in history, with more than 20 million in album sales. Germany’s most successful contemporary cultural export is an act that flaunts Germanic symbolism, jack-booted goose-stepping, and Leni Riefenstahl aesthetics-to the adulation of sold-out stadiums worldwide. Rammstein’s schtick-all supposedly a spoof-is a take on/spins off of Teutonic misdeeds, insidious evil, and despotism. The band’s toxic masculinity is part of a right-wing chauvinism that finds ample political expression today in Germany in far-right populism-and it is currently on the rise. Images of the 60-year-old Lindemann in concert regalia-at times black-leather S&M combat vests, at others blood-red sci-fi uniforms-have been splashed all over the media, a sign that the German public is finally taking the band to task for the assaults that have been happening for years-and are all but bragged about in their oeuvre.īut Rammstein’s offensiveness extends beyond its aggressive misogyny to something that-surprisingly, given Germans’ sensitivity to such matters-has garnered even less scrutiny. Apparently, the hookups were orchestrated by Lindemann’s underlings in the road crew, not unlike the way that, on stage, the other five band members play-act dispassionately cruel foot soldiers under Lindemann’s command. The routine, apparently as well-rehearsed as the group’s finely choreographed shows, included plenty of booze at pre- and post-gig parties, and drugs, too-maybe even in the form of a knock-out drug-and then coerced sex with Lindemann. Over the past month, several women spoke up about the band’s practiced system of coercing young women into post-show sex with frontman Till Lindemann. In light of the accusations, the giant dildos that launch fireballs and standards of its repertoire such as “Pussy” are finally being examined in a much more exacting light. For nearly 30 years, the six-man industrial group hailing from East Germany has growled dark and ribald lyrics during stage shows of extravagant pyrotechnics, violent play-acting, and ear-splitting instrumentals. It’s hard to overlook the way that the tumult and horror prompted by recent charges of sexual misconduct against German band Rammstein reflects the wild scenes that play out at its live performances.

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