The accusations, that Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann coerced women into sex have so far remained unprosecuted. "The entire system in the music industry is to blame for covering up such transgressions,", claims an insider.
About a year ago, in early June 2023, German media first publicized allegations by women who accused the Rammstein frontman – Til Lindemann – in sexual violence and abuse of power. After that, the Berlin prosecutor's office started an investigation against Lindemann, but it ended quickly without him being charged, ARD recalls on the occasion of the group's new tour, including in Belgrade.
For many, this marked the end of public discussion of Lindemann's behavior. For others, however, and especially for those affected, the matter is far from over – they want society to pay due attention to the issue of violence against women.
Abuse of power and image
„If he is not convicted, then nothing happened? I find that very strange,” says Cynthia A.* She describes how before a Rammstein concert she had sex with Lindemann backstage. He subsequently characterized it as sexual harassment on his part. Cynthia A. spoke about the abuse of power and claimed that the singer took advantage of his image as a star.
Yasmin Stevens* also has such a painful experience from her youth. “In my eyes, a 17-year-old girl is still a child,”, she says today, adding: “I can't understand how grown men can ignore the fact that there is a child standing in front of them. It's time to break the myth of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll and ask ourselves what kind of reality have we created? What are we actually involved in? And do we want that?", she tells ARD.
People who know the music industry well now look more critically at what they experienced while being a part of it. Markus Kavka, for example, is a former host of VIVA who has known Rammstein and the music business since the mid-1990s. "I cannot accept as normal that a young girl of 18, 19 or 20 years old, who goes to such an event because she is a fan of music, will have to be careful to get out of the concert physically unharmed,”, says Kavka. "The people who are higher in the power structure are responsible for this.
The whole system is to blame
He criticizes the music industry as a whole. Many people in the industry act like they are living in the Stone Age. Elsewhere, such behavior has long been unacceptable, but in the music business, many things follow momentum, he claims. However, according to Kavka, it is not only the perpetrators who are to blame, but the entire system that covers up their transgressions. “There is simply too much money involved in the game, too many jobs are at stake”, says the man.
Many of the concerts in Rammstein's new tour in Germany and throughout Europe are already sold out, and the heated debate surrounding the accusations against Till Lindemann does not seem to have harmed the band and its frontman, writes ARD.
Where is the morality left?
In the new podcast "Rammstein - Row Zero" affected women detail their experiences with the rock star. "Once the court case is dismissed, many see it as proof that the accused did nothing wrong. And the question of morality is no longer discussed," says Simone Kaempfer, who worked as a prosecutor for many years.
Lindemann claims that sex with female fans around the band's concerts was always consensual. He denies that any crimes have been committed and is even suing some media outlets for publications on the subject. Most of the court decisions have not yet entered into force, specifies ARD.
* Names have been changed by the editor.