RAMMSTEIN drummer Christoph Schneider has issued a lengthy statement regarding recent allegations against band’s frontman Till Lindemann saying that “Till has moved away from us in recent years and created his own bubble.”
Schneider entire statement can be read below (as translated from German to English via Google Translate):
Dear people,
I would like to share my personal emotions and thoughts with you.
The accusations of the last few weeks have deeply shaken us as a band and me as a human being. You fans certainly do the same. I feel shocked by the things shared and printed on social media and the press about our singer. For us band members and the crew, this is a moment and on the emotions.
No, I don’t think anything criminally relevant (such as the use of KO drops) has happened. No. I don’t think anything forbidden was going on, I’ve never observed anything like this and I haven’t heard anything like it from anyone from our hundred-member crew. All I heard from Till’s parties were adult people who celebrated together. And yet apparently things have happened that – although legally ok – I personally don’t think are okay.
Certain structures have grown that went beyond the limits and values of the remaining band members. It is therefore also important to us that Till’s parties are not confused with our official aftershow parties.
Till has moved away from us in recent years and created his own bubble.
With your own people, your own parties, your own projects. That made me sad, definitely.
I believe Till when he tells us that he always wanted and wants to give his private guests a nice time. However, how these guests had imagined this exactly seems to differ from his own ideas in some cases. The wishes and expectations of the women who have now come forward were probably not fulfilled. According to their statements, they felt uncomfortable, on the sidelines of a situation that was no longer controllable for them. I’m sorry for her and I feel compassion.
Nevertheless, it is important to me to emphasize something objective: Every guest in the backstage area is free to leave again (he may have to wait a short time to be safely brought to the exit by a security). All bottles are sealed and are freshly opened in front of the guests or they open them themselves.
Water and snacks are just like security personnel and medical care
Available at any time.
We want all our guests to feel comfortable and safe with us!
This is our standard. That’s why I’m sorry to hear that some people didn’t feel that way.
We have the greatest fans in the world and they all deserve respectful treatment!
I’m sorry for everyone who didn’t treat us benevolently or feel insecure backstage. Also for Shelby, she would have deserved a great concert and a wonderful evening.
But I don’t want this whole public dispute about our band to feed the extremes:
Neither the beast social media, which has not been tamed by our society or not, nor paternalistic tendencies to deny women in their mid-20s the ability to decide self-determined about their sexuality and also by no means the victim blaming, so that people continue to dare to talk about it when something has happened to them.
I wish for a calm, prudent reflection and processing, also in our band. And all together, six.
We stand together.
Your Christoph Schneider
As previously reported, RAMMSTEIN frontman Till Lindemann is being investigated for sexual assault by Berlin prosecutors. The investigation was initiated after multiple women alleged that they were drugged and engaged in sexual activity at Rammstein’s after-show parties.
“Preliminary proceedings have been initiated against Till Lindemann, on allegations relating to sexual offences and the distribution of narcotics,” a spokeswoman for the Berlin public prosecution’s office said in a statement.
According to the AFP news agency, the investigation into Till Lindemann‘s alleged sexual assault is being carried out by Berlin prosecutors, who initiated it themselves and also based it on several criminal complaints filed by third parties who were not directly involved in the incidents.
The recent scandal involving RAMMSTEIN emerged when accusations of abuse were leveled against Till Lindemann. Young female fans claimed that they were handpicked by a Russian “casting director” named Alena Makeeva to attend exclusive parties with the band, particularly Lindemann. These women alleged that they were groomed and sexually assaulted by Lindemann at these events, with some also accusing him of drugging their drinks.
Following the allegations against Lindemann, the band’s four-night residency at Munich’s Olympic Stadium was marred by controversy. As a result, concert promoters canceled after-parties and a “row zero” experience, while RAMMSTEIN tightened security measures. German politicians demanded better protection for fans, particularly women, in the wake of the allegations.
According to a recent poll by Bild, most individuals demand that RAMMSTEIN’s remaining European tour performances be called off until the allegations of abuse against the band’s frontman are dealt with.
