LILT: Liese 1.2

Sunday out in Ammerwiese
Liese bravely minds the geese there
Then comes Jacob with long strides
Holding his sickle at his side

He nudges with this now and then
At Liese under bodice and hem
He wants to try her, with violence
And all the while he probes her he sings...

Lovely Liese, leave the geese here
I want to have a taste of your skin
My scythe will be blood-rusted I fear
If you are not welcoming

So Jacob yearns to lick young Liese
Her pear taste would be so pleasing
So many small hairs stand on end
They run to a wheat-filled glen

In the flood of gold, well veiled
Jacob bestrides the youthful maid
And holds her there until the evening
Then to the child he again sings...

Lovely Liese, leave the geese here
I want to have a taste of your skin
My scythe will be blood-rusted I fear
If you are not welcoming

Lovely Liese, leave the geese here
I want to have a taste of your skin
My scythe will be blood-rusted I fear
If you are not welcoming

[original lyrics & translation]

Vote For Rammstein - Best Live Act

Huge thanks for erikire for this link. Go and vote for Rammstein, now.

Liese Translation From a Real German

Rony has translated Liese properly for me:

Sunday on the Ammerwiese
Liese upright tends the geese.
Suddenly Jacob comes along
holding a sickle in his hand.

This one he moves from time to time
below Liese its skirt and bodice.
He wants to taste her, wants to force her
and the boy will be singing:

My dear Liese, don't care the geese
I want to taste your skin.
Bloody and rusty the scythe will be
if not friendly you are to me.

Jacob now may lick Liese
and like pears she will taste.
Small hairs stand up and
soon they rush to the wheat field.

In this golden flood* well hidden
he has ridden her.
Until evening he holds her dear
and sings to her...

My dear Liese, don't care the geese
I want to taste your skin.
Bloody and rusty the scythe will be
if not friendly you are to me.

My dear Liese, don't care the geese
I want to taste your skin.
Bloody and rusty the scythe will be
if not friendly you are to me.

*German poetic description for wheat field

This puts a new slant on parts of the song, so I will be making revisions of my own lyrics again soon.

Olli Says...

A new interview with Olli has a bit more information about the America scheme, amongst other things. Thanks to erikire for the heads up. Original Spanish here.

Update 2010.03.30: Thanks to SkeletonCrew for this new link (original Spanish here). It wasn't Olli at all. It was Paul.

LILT: Liese 1.1

Something else Rony pointed out is that I have used sickle and scythe interchangeably, which is ridiculous when you consider what they are. A scythe is a large curved blade, mounted perpendicularly on the end of a long, branched handle, meant to be wielded horizontally, using both hands and the entire upper body. A sickle is a smaller, crescent-shaped blade, with a shorter handle, held in one hand.

I've had to change the rhyming formula for the first verse to make the changes work:

Sunday out in Ammerwiese
Liese bravely minds the geese there
Then comes Jacob with long strides
Holding his sickle at his side

With this he pushes now and then
At Liese under bodice and hem
He wants to try her, with violence
And all the while he probes her he sings...

Lovely Liese, leave the geese here
I want to have a taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty where blood adheres
Are you friendly? Not to me

He really wants to lick young Liese
Her pear taste would be so pleasing
All her small hairs standing on end
They run to a wheat-filled glen

In the flood of gold, well veiled
Jacob infects the youthful maid
And holds her there until the evening
Then to the child he again sings...

Lovely Liese, leave the geese here
I want to have a taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty where blood adheres
Are you friendly? Not to me

Lovely Liese, leave the geese here
I want to have a taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty where blood adheres
Are you friendly? Not to me

[original lyrics & translation]

I'll keep working on it.

Liese Translation (mk II)

This comes after Rony had a look at my translation:

Sunday in the Ammerwiese
Brave Liese minds the geese
Then Jacob comes running
Holding a sickle in his hand

This he pushes now and then
At little Liese under her skirt and bodice
He wants to taste her, wants to force her
And the boy is singing...

Lovely Liese, leave the geese
I want to taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty with blood
Are you friendly? Not to me

Jacob wants to lick little Liese
And she will taste like pear
Her small hairs standing on end
They hasten to a wheatfield

In a flood of gold, well-hidden
He infects Liese
Holds her in an embrace until evening
And sings to the child

Lovely Liese, leave the geese
I want to taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty with blood
Are you friendly? Not to me

Lovely Liese, leave the geese
I want to taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty with blood
Are you friendly? Not to me

Rony tells me that Ammerwiese doesn't really need to be translated. There is a river called Ammer. I'm glad of this, as I don't think the bunting is a terribly well-known songbird, so 'bunting meadow' isn't going to make huge amounts of sense to most people.

Rony also let me know that Jacob is threatening to kill Liese with his scythe if she's not cooperative, with makes complete sense, given the ominous nature of the blooded blade. I may leave that implied from the words though, rather than trying to spell it out.

Next I will update the LILT for it. Thanks, Rony!

Donaukinder Translation

This translation comes courtesy of Rony L, and all rights to it are his. He has also very kindly given me some help with Liese, so I will be sorting out my mistakes there soon:

Danube source, your bleeding,
where solace and sorrow melt.
Nothing good lies hidden wet
in your humid meadows.

Nobody knows what has happened here.
the floods rusty red.
the fishes were breathless
and all swans dead.

At the riverside in the meadows
the animals became sick.
From the meadows into the river
drove hideous smell.

Where are the children?
Nobody knows what has happened here
Nobody has seen anything.
Where are the children?
Nobody has seen anything.

Mothers soon stood at the stream
and cried a flood.
Onto the fields, through the dikes
grew the sorrow in all ponds.

Black flags marking the town,
all rats fat and replete.
The wells poisoned everywhere
and the people moved away.

Where are the children?
Nobody knows what has happened here
Nobody has seen anything.
Where are the children?
Nobody has seen anything.

Danube source, your bleeding,
Where solace and sorrow melt.
Nothing good lies hidden wet
in your humid meadows

Where are the children?
Nobody knows what has happened here
Nobody has seen anything.
Where are the children?
Nobody has seen anything

LILT: Donaukinder 1.0

I'm awaiting permission of the author of the one translation I want to use at present, so I can't post the literal meaning of the lyrics in English. Here is my first attempt though:

Danube bleeds from headwaters
Where peace and suffering thaw
No good can now be supported
There in her marshy sward

No one knows what's happened here
The floods are rusty red
The fish there could not breath at all
And all the swans are dead

In the river's former verdure
The animals fell ill
To the stream from the pasture
Was driven an awful smell

Where are the children?
None knew what was happening
No one has seen anything
Where are the children?
No one has seen anything

Mothers stood there by the stream
And they wept out a flood
In the fields and through the wiers
Grew their sorrow in the mud

Black flags hanging through the town
Wells are poisoned all around
The rats grow fatter by the day
And the people moved away

Where are the children?
None knew what was happening
No one has seen anything
Where are the children?
No one has seen anything

Danube bleeds from headwaters
Where peace and suffering thaw
No good can now be supported
There in her marshy sward

Where are the children?
None knew what was happening
No one has seen anything
Where are the children?
No one has seen anything

[original lyrics & translation]

Donaukinder Lyrics

Rammstein's:

Donauquell, dein Aderlass
Wo Trost und Leid zerfließen
Nichts gutes liegt, verborgen nass
In deinen feuchten Wiesen

Keiner weiß was hier geschah
Die Fluten rostig rot
Die Fische waren atemlos
Und alle Schwäne tot

An den Ufern, in den Wiesen
Die Tiere wurden krank
Aus den Auen, in den Fluß
Trieb abscheulicher Gestank

Wo sind die Kinder?
Niemand weiß was hier geschehn
Keiner hat etwas gesehen.
Wo sind die Kinder?
Niemand hat etwas gesehen.

Mütter standen bald am Strom
Und weinten eine Flut
Auf die Felder, durch die Deiche
Stieg das Leid in alle Teiche

Schwarze Fahnen auf der Stadt
Alle Ratten fett und satt
Die Brunnen giftig, allerort
Und die Menschen zogen fort.

Wo sind die Kinder?
Niemand weiß was hier geschehn
Keiner hat etwas gesehen
Wo sind die Kinder?
Niemand hat etwas gesehen.

Donauquell, dein Aderlass, wo Trost
Und Leid zerfließen
Nichts gutes liegt, verborgen nass
In deinen feuchten Wiesen.

Wo sind die Kinder?
Niemand weiß was hier geschehn
Keiner hat etwas gesehen.
Wo sind die Kinder?
Niemand hat etwas gesehen.

LILT: Liese 1.0

It's a start:

Sunday out in the bunting Leas
Liese bravely watches the geese
Then comes Jacob with long strides
Holding in his hand a sharp scythe

With this he pushes now and then
At Liese under bodice and hem
He wants to try her, with violence
And all the while he probes her he sings...

Lovely Liese, leave the geese here
I want to have a taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty where blood adheres
Are you friendly? Not to me

He really wants to lick young Liese
Her pear taste would be so pleasing
All her small hairs standing on end
They run to a wheat-filled glen

In the flood of gold, well veiled
Jacob infects the youthful maid
And holds her there until the evening
Then to the child he again sings...

Lovely Liese, leave the geese here
I want to have a taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty where blood adheres
Are you friendly? Not to me

Lovely Liese, leave the geese here
I want to have a taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty where blood adheres
Are you friendly? Not to me

[original lyrics & translation]

Liese Lyrics

These are copyright to UMG, Pilgrim, Rammstein, and anyone else with a slice of the pie. I'm just posting them as a point of reference. I claim no rights.

Eh, enough foreplay. Here they are:

Sonntag auf der Ammerwiese
Hütet Gänse brav die Liese
Da kommt Jakob angerannt
Hält eine Sichel in der Hand

Diese schiebt er hin und wieder
Dem Lieschen unter Rock und Mieder
Er will sie kosten, will sie zwingen
Und der Bub wird dazu singen

Liebe Liese, lass die Gänse
Ich will von deiner Haut probieren
Vom Blute rostig, ist die Sense
Bist du freundlich nicht zu mir

Der Jakob darf vom Lieschen lecken
Und sie wird nach Birne schmecken
Sich kleine Härchen aufgestellt
Eilen sie zum Weizenfeld

In der Goldflut gut versteckt
Hat er die Liese angesteckt
Hält bis zum Abend sie eng umschlungen
Und hat in das Kind gesungen

Liebe Liese, lass die Gänse
Ich will von deiner Haut probieren
Vom Blute rostig, ist die Sense
Bist du freundlich nicht zu mir

Liebe Liese, lass die Gänse
Ich will von deiner Haut probieren
Vom Blute rostig, ist die Sense
Bist du freundlich nicht zu mir

Liese Translation

I'm hoping some native German-speakers will look this over and let me know if I've arsed anything up:

Sunday in the bunting meadow*
Brave Liese minds the geese
Then Jacob comes running
Holding a sickle in his hand

This he pushes now and then
At little Liese under her skirt and bodice
He wants to taste her, wants to force her
And the boy is singing...

Lovely Liese, leave the geese
I want to taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty with blood
Are you friendly? Not to me

Jacob wants to lick little Liese
And she will taste like pear
Her small hairs standing on end
They hasten to a wheatfield

In a flood of gold, well-hidden
He infects Liese
Holds her in an embrace until evening
And sings to the child

Lovely Liese, leave the geese
I want to taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty with blood
Are you friendly? Not to me

Lovely Liese, leave the geese
I want to taste of your skin
The scythe is rusty with blood
Are you friendly? Not to me

* 'Bunting' as in the songbird.

Now to LILT it...

Metal Hammer Golden Gods

I think it behoves every warm-bodied Rammstein fan to vote for Rammstein in the two categories in which they feature in Metal Hammer's Golden Gods thingie. Note that you have to go through every category to vote, but you don't have to make a choice on every page. Just hit the button to continue if you have no opinion about a particular one.

The Goose Girl

I'm thinking of taking on Liese next. Jeremy hasn't translated it yet, so I figure this is a chance to challenge myself a bit...a lot, and try working it out as far as I can myself. This might be a complete disaster, or it may work well. We shall see. In any case, there are a number of existing translations around and a few German friends I can fall back on if I fail.

LILT: Liebe ist für Alle da 3.0

It's a rash of promotions:

Warm, clear water
Bodies so fine
See how they gleam
In the sunshine
I creep near
Sweet words ready
He who'd fuck
Must be friendly

There is love for everyone
There is love for everyone
There is love for everyone

So when I close my eyes
It's her I see
I lock her away in my fantasy
So when I close my eyes
She doesn't flee
There is love for everyone
Not for me

Warm, clear water
Bodies so fine
Not for me
I'm defied
The perfect form
Lithe and slim
Pouting mouth
And such brown skin

There is love for everyone
There is love for everyone
This love is there for everyone
Even me

So when I close my eyes
It's her I see
I lock her away in my fantasy
So when I close my eyes
She doesn't flee
There is love for everyone
Not for me

So when I close my eyes
Just her and me
I hold her tight
And no one can see her weep
She too closes her eyes
She doesn't flee
There is love for everyone
Even me

There is love for everyone
This love is there for everyone
There is love for everyone
Even me

LILT: Wiener Blut 3.0

Promoted, in all its gritty glory:

Come with me
Into my keep
Fun awaits us beneath our feet
Softly, softly, it's our wish
To be outside time for a flash
Yeah, there's heaven under my house
The door is closed
The light goes out

Are you all set?
Are you prepared?

Then welcome
Into the darkness
Into the darkness

No one should disturb us, dear
No one, no one else must hear
No, none should find us down there
We can taste life without fear
If you feel yourself bereft
I'll plant you a sister to pet
Her skin so young
Her flesh so tight
Under my house my love's delight

Are you all set?
Are you prepared?

Then welcome
Into the darkness
Into the darkness
Into quietness
Into dolefulness
For an endlessness

And welcome
To my reality

Through the deepest vale you dance
Are you all set?
Your life is without light too
Are you prepared?
So fear no torment or mischance
Now get ready
I am here now and holding you

I'm holding you
Down in the darkness
Down in the darkness

LILT: Ich Tu' Dir Weh 3.0

Promoted without change:

It's for me alone you're living
I am making my mark on you
Everything for me you're giving
You love me, for I don't love you

You're bleeding for my salvation
One small cut you're turned on
Your body already twisted
While it feels good we risk it

I hurt you so
I'm not sorry
This does you good
Hear how it screams

With you I have choice in torture
Barbed wire in the urethra
Your flesh in salt and sepsis
Till you die, and yet you still live

Bites, and kicks, and such hard blows
Needles, forceps, and a blunt saw
Make a wish, I won't say no
I feed live rodents into you

I hurt you so
I'm not sorry
This does you good
Hear how it screams

I hurt you so
I'm not sorry
This does you good
Hear how it screams

You are the ship, I am the captain
So whence should I be travelling?
Reflected back is your face too
You love me, for I don't love you

I hurt you so
I'm not sorry
This does you good
Hear how it screams

I hurt you so
I'm not sorry
This does you good
Hear how it screams

I hurt you so
I'm not sorry
This does you good
Hear how it screams

[original lyrics & translation]

Next Single: Ignore Rumours

After sites have posted so-called confirmed release dates for the next Rammstein single the word has come down via The Gauntlet:

The single / video has no official date. But they are actually meeting with label peeps this week to hammer it all out. So all rumors you have heard on a date being confirmed are just speculation although April is the month from what I have been told. No asking anymore questions as I know whats next and I can't say, it is for the band to announce. The new single isn't indexed so the official site will be able to promote and post news when they are ready.

There you go. Never mind the bollocks.

Silvijo Selman's Photos

Silvijo has posted a link to his Zagreb concert photos on Facebook. These are rather beautiful black and white shots, which is a bit different!

More Zagreb Shots

Big thanks to Ivana for these links:

One
Two

Comet Award?

I'm finding a lot of Tokio Hotel fan sites saying that Rammstein (and TH) have been nominated for Best Live Act award for Comet 2010. Sounds good, but I can't verify it. If anyone has a link to an authoritative website for the awards please do let me know. I'd like to check up on this.

I Have Nix For You

I have got the kind permission of nix-pics to post these photos, taken in Zagreb, March 18:







Enjoy!

Zagreb Photos

Someone called Johnny has posted some shots. There only appear to be two at this time, but I'm hoping he'll post more:

One
Two

Belgrade

A blog called RockDock63 has posted photos, the set-list, and a video from the last show of this leg of the tour.

LILT: Hilf Mir 3.0

Done and done (no change):

I am alone in the house
Both of my parents have gone out
Then I hear calling out to me
The little box I hoped to see

So I say “What is this joy?
This is the very best of toys”
I only need one match alight
I ape my mother as she'd strike

Every time I am forlorn
To fire's light I'm ever drawn
Why can't I escape its spell
Oh why don't I get well

It grabs at me and I don't fight
It flies at my face with delight
It bites and hurts me a great deal
About the room I dance and reel

Oh dear, the fire licks my clothes
My jacket burns so hot it glows
My hand is burnt, and so's my hair
Now I am burning everywhere

Every time I am forlorn
To fire's light I'm ever drawn
Why can't I escape its spell
Oh why don't I get well

The fire loves me
Help me
The fire loves me not
The fire loves me

I have burned up entirely
There's nothing but ash left of me
To sunshine I now emerge
From the ash to which I burned
The fire loves me
The fire loves me not

Help me

[original lyrics & translation]

For Those in Frankfurt

Schneider will be at Musikmesse 2010 next Saturday at 3.00 PM.

Shark Attack!

Thanks to Magdalena for sharing the link.

QotM

Quote of the moment:

Jonas Akerlund (sic) directed the Gaga promo. He has form. At the saucy end of the scale, his videos for German metallers Rammstein make Telephone look like an episode of Andy Pandy.

- BBC on Lady Gaga's 'Telephone'

Hot Off the Press

Photos from Belgrade Budapest. These are damned nice.

Update: Oops, wrong show! I was fooled by the content at the top of the page.

Little Angel: Ich Will

I know it's not news, but I found this blog post this morning, and it was just too damned cute to pass over:

Best moment came before six months when she sang “ich will” giving a reminder she might turn out to be a metal freak.

LILT: Frühling in Paris 3.0

Promoted with a few changes:

She came before me clad in light
So clearly I recall
I was so young
and felt so gauche
But no regret at all

Throughout my head her voice roared
By her tongue lust was writ
I did not comprehend a word
But never felt regret

Oh non rien de rien
Oh non je ne regrète rien

When I abandoned her skin
Paris bled into blush of spring

I did not know my own physique
For me a sight of dread
She showed all to me in the light
I've never felt regret

Lips purchased once and again
Soft of touch and hold
When I left her mouth then
I began to feel cold

Throughout my head her voice roared
By her tongue lust was writ
I did not comprehend a word
But never felt regret

Oh non rien de rien
Oh non je ne regrète rien

When I abandoned her skin
Paris bled into blush of spring

A murmur dropped into my lap
And brought a wondrous sound
Many gentle words said nowt
And felt so good all round

Throughout my head her voice roared
As she would genuflect
I did not comprehend a word
But never felt regret

Oh non rien de rien
Oh non je ne regrète rien

When I abandoned her skin
Paris bled into blush of spring

In Paris

When I abandoned her skin
Paris bled into blush of spring

In Paris

When I abandoned her skin
Paris bled into blush of spring

[original lyrics & translation]

LILT: Haifisch 2.1

I think this is close to finished. Don't quote me on that though:

We hold with each other
We all take each other's crap
We hold to one another
None will hold us back

We're holding true to you all
We hold onto that vow
We will uphold all the rules
If our rule is allowed

And the shark weeps very real tears
And they're running down its face
But the shark lives in the water
So nobody sees a trace

We hold to the tempo
We hold true in good faith
When one does not keep up
We hold up right away

We hold all of our eyes open
We hold against the storm
Six hearts that are burning
Our fire holds such warmth

And the shark weeps very real tears
And they're running down its face
But the shark lives in the water
So nobody sees a trace

In the depths it is so lonesome
And so many tears run free
And that is how it has happened
That it's salty in the sea

They can think what they want
To think about us all
We hold each other sound
We never will hold still

And the shark weeps very real tears
And they're running down its face
But the shark lives in the water
So nobody sees a trace

In the depths it is so lonesome
And so many tears run free
And that is how it has happened
That it's salty in the sea

And the shark weeps very real tears
And they're running down its face
But the shark lives in the water
So nobody sees a trace

[original lyrics & translation]

Third Wuhlheide Show

The official site has news of a third Wuhlheide show, May 24. As of posting this there was no sign of this on the English version of the site. Original German here. Thanks to the ubiquitous Tempelhüter for the heads up.

Update 2010.03.23: Now also up on the English version of the Rammstein blog.

While Minsk Burns...

Here is a report and a series of videos from Rammstein's Minsk show. I haven't got around to watching the videos yet. I was distracted by a small detail in the report: it says that Alexander Kulinkovich attended the show with his family. I've done a little research, as I didn't know who he is, and it turns out his band, Neurodubel, has felt the sting of government interference as much as any band or artist in Belarus. Here is a link to a (PDF - Hidden Truths Music, Politics and Censorship in Lukashenko ́s Belarus) report about censorship in Belarus, in case you're interested. Kulinkovich is extensively cited, and sounds like a bit of a dude. I hope he and his family really enjoyed the show, and that his band is enjoying more freedom to perform since that report came out in 2006.

Hyper Doom

It turns out that Schneider's speedy stick-work also gives him mad autographing skills. At a Sabian signing session in Moscow he managed to autograph 750 posters in an hour and a half for the fans. Snappy!

In Ukraine Bra Takes Itself Off

Here is a lovely review of the Kiev show. There are some slight inaccuracies, but it's worth a look, and I love that some Ukrainian chick threw her bra at Flake.

Dance Baybee

Rammstein + Salsa = ???

I have no idea. This might be complete bollocks, of course, but if it isn't this could get interesting. Perhaps Lindemann will take Flake for a bit of the Hot'n'Spicy!

Moscow Pictures - WOW

Neo-Rammstein has posted links to the most incredible photos from the 1 March show in Moscow. They're on a Livejournal account called freeraser:

One
Two

These are exceptionally good. Go and check them out.

Julia Meets Rammstein

I don't know her, but she has some nice photos on her blog.

Happy Birthday LILT

Today this site is one year old. I haven't done many LILTs recently, but that is still the core function of this site, for me. A year on we have 47 LILTs in various states of completion, 564 posts, including this one, a petition, a Tweet account, a Facebook page, a very quiet forum, and around 60 visitors a day, many repeat offenders. I love running this site, and will continue to do so so long as I have a band to follow and Lindemann's work to adapt.

Thanks to everyone who keeps coming back, and to those who provide material, and most of all, thanks to Rammstein. You've filled a gap.

Bad Apples

See the corruption of the Belarusian people for yourself. Oh my, it's a terrible sight. This video is made up of clips from throughout the show in Minsk, 7 March, and it's good (and just over ten minutes long).

AutoFlake

I'm probably showing my terrible ignorance here, but I've just found out that Flake is a classic car buff (original German here). I like cars a lot. We have an old Mercedes coupe, which is our baby, and my brother-in-law has a similar business to Flake's here in NZ. This adds a whole new dimension to Flake in my mind. Thanks to Claudia for the link.

Happy Finish

There's a rather a nice, if not so new, review of the Riga show here. I'm sorry I'm posting it so late. It's been sitting open in a browser tab for days, and I kept missing it.

Update 2010.03.14: Um, my sarcasm missed the mark on this one. It's been one of those weeks. The only part of this review that is nice is the end, hence the title...which I typoed. My incompetence is astonishing.

ITDW Instrumental Cover

Jamie21 has been at it again. He's posted his instrumental cover of ITDW on YouTube:

See the rest of his videos for his other Rammstein covers. More arse-kicking guaranteed.

More Minsk Pics

Try saying 'more Minsk pics' fast several times...

Anyway, thanks to tower of black for the link!

More Rammstein Shows

I'm guessing you've probably already heard, but the Rammstein site has announced two new German dates, 21 & 22 May at Berlin’s Wuhlheide. Official community members get a ticket buying lead-in, as they did with the rehearsal shows.

Rammstein's Crimes

Our friend on the Belarusian Morality Council really had some kick:

In a video interview to BelaPAN agency Mikalai Charhinets said again that “Rammstein” group which is to put on a concert in Minsk on March 7, glorifies fascism and immorality. The head of the Public Council on Morality stated that terrorists who took hostage schoolchildren in Beslan a few years ago, confessed after they were arrested that Rammstein music inspired them for crimes.

There's video on the page linked above. This is of course all moot, since the show went ahead, and as there has not been news of rape, pillage, or rampant Nazism in Minsk, or Belarus as a whole, I take it his predictions of awful doomy doom never came about.

Rammstein's Own Album

Tempelhüter has found an album on the official Rammstein FB page with photos from the current leg of the tour. You don't seem to need a FB account to view it. It's a nice look at the back end of the tour.

Minsk Pictures

Minsk seems to have gone well. Someone called kolyunya has posted photos here. I guess the riot police and men in white coats stayed outside...

Serious Disappointment

Bloody whinging poms. They should be grateful for every match and every sparkler:

As the show went on, the group’s usual pyrotechnics were scaled down significantly. At the end of their famous song “ich werde lieber ein loch in mein Kopf haben”, guitarist Paul Landers put his guitar down, walked to the edge of the stage, and proceeded to light some Swan Vesta matches one after the other, placing them carefully on a saucer to ensure that the fire didn’t spread..

“At least they were extra large,” he told reporters afterwards. “Management wanted us to cut down from Swan Vesta matches to those really tiny ones that just fall apart the minute you strike them. I mean – it’s a far cry from the days where I wore exploding pants and had to have my groin operated on after every gig – but Health & Safety regulations count for something too, you know. So we’re being practical, we’re being safe, and we’re saving money.”

Weaving Images

Rammstein is inspiring. They inspire writers, photographers, musicians, and artists alike. I've just found a rather a lovely illustrative piece inspired by Mein Herz Brennt.

Set Twitch

At the Lithuanian show DRSG replaced LIFAD on the set-list, which seems odd. Apparently it got a great reception though.

Russian Pictures

One
Two
Three

I'm afraid I don't remember where I got those links, as they've been open in my browser for a couple of days.

Update: I've found where three came from - Herzeleid and the pictures are from Latvia, rather than Russia - D'OH! Thanks Tempelhüter.

Oh Oops!

Apparently there wasn't enough water pressure in the mains around the Riga venue to counter Rammstein's show, should an accident have occurred, and the organisers of the show are being fined. I'm not sure if the estimated 2000 L of diesel used in the show is accurate, but it's an eye-opening number.

Fire and Rescue Service officers had requested that the event be called off, but this advice was not heeded by the organizers of the event.


In the end, Fire and Rescue Service water tankers were on stand-by at the venue for the duration of the concert.

As it turns out nothing went wrong, and all is well.

So the Vilnius show is on shortly, and then *dun dun dun* Belarus...

Just the One Echo

Rammstein didn't get Best Album, but they took out the other, Rock/Alternative, award. w00t!

Lotsopics

I'm just going to put in basic descriptions and let you enjoy:

Russian Bar
Russian Show
Russian Meet & Greet

Thanks to erikire and Tempelhüter for the links.

Echo-cho

Tempelhüter has come through again, with the information that Rammstein are not only nominated for the Best Album Award, but also the Artist National - Rock/Alternative Award. YAY! Here's to two wins.

Is there an Echo in here?

I Missed This

It's a few weeks old, but this In The News review of the live show is yet another warm fuzzy for you to wrap yourselves up in. It makes me even more envious of those of you who can see them play live.

Lets Make a Porno

Hustler World has interviewed Paul, and I have to say it's complete crap. Face, meet palm.

That said, thanks to erikire for the link!

For the Love of the Sun

Donald Macleod from The Sun has posted a glowing report on the LIFAD show:

A slick, pulsating panzer tank of a group who delight in making mincemeat of your ear drums whilst providing a stage show which U2 could only cry for.

And what makes their success even more remarkable is that 95 per cent of their songs are sung in German - so the audience basically haven't a clue what they are on about!

It is definitely true that when the Germans decide to do something they don't do it by halves. They pour over every detail and spell it with a capital D. They leave nothing to chance.

Which is just as well given the amount of explosives used.

Aw, warm fuzzies. This goes down as one of my favourite warm fuzzies yet. Well put, that man!

Paul on Guitar Rig 3

This was posted a few hours ago, and is a subtitled video of Paul talking about how he uses Guitar Rig (and obvsiously has for a while), and how it's even influenced his hardware choices:

Version four of the software apparently came out October last year, so this isn't a new video, but I haven't seen it before (aside from the hair remark at the end), and it's interesting, probably even more so for guitarists than ignorant folk like me. AND it's Paul. Everyone loves Paul.

Update 2010.03.21: I find now that this is from June 2008.

Moskau & Moskau

I've got twp very different links about Rammstein in Moscow. The first (via GLT) has good photos, and is courtesy of Tempelhüter, from Herzeleid. The original Russian is here.

The second is an interesting observation on crowd conduct.

Moskau

It sounds like my boring interpretation of the story about Moscow's shows was the right one, and the show in general was unprecedented there. Ah well, the good news is that it sounds like Russia got the full Monty from the band, pyro-wise, despite recent events at a club there.

Greek Show Confirmed

The show in Athens has been confirmed on the band's site.

2010-06-28 Greece Athens Terra Vibe Park

Nice! No word on whether this is a proper tour date, amongst the festivals, or if it is another festival. I'm guessing the Athenians will be able to tell us...

Morality Head Demands Preview

I really thought this guy would have taken a chill-pill by now, but he apparently stands by his view that Rammstein propagates 'violence, cruelty and Nazi ideology', and wants the officials who approved the show to either revoke that approval or preview the show. Now, if I were in that position I would consider this as a perfect excuse to take a holiday and go to a great live show, with operatic scale, great music, and special effects from hell, but yeah, who knows.

The organiser of the show in Belarus has said that nobody has appealed the show going ahead yet. I assume this means there has been no formal objection. Why hasn't Charhinets done so? Ah, I reckon I have cracked it: He has NO POWER.

I notice that there are no reports that they have taken my advice and locked him up yet, so maybe he will attend. He really should, I think. The bass percussion might dislodge whatever has crawled up his arse and died.

Echo Award?

Tempelhüter has pointed out that Rammstein is up for an Echo Award for best album. She says the awards are based on sales figures. Here's to a win.