RZK on Rammfire

I'm not sure how I missed this at the time, but Native Instruments, with whom Richard developed the Rammfire tool, has a video up on their YouTube channel featuring Richard and Rammfire:

New RZK from ESP?

Apparently there's a new signature series RZK guitar coming from Richard and ESP. I don't see it on the ESP USA site yet, but given Richard's passion for the technology underlying his music it doesn't surprise me to hear that he's extending the RZK line.

Update 20111028: KJ from Facebook has contacted ESP and they deny this. I'm seeking further information.

ESP & RZK

I haven't had time to watch this, but it's an interview with Richard:



Thanks James!

The Gauntlet and Richard

TG has posted content from his interview with Richard last month. It's from here that we had the first intimation that Rammstein might be heading back to the US, and this, an interview conducted in the US during the last LIFAD tour leg.

Listen to The Gauntlet's RZK Interview

TG has posted last night's interview with Richard. You have to hear this stuff to believe it, so listen.

RZK Interview

There's a good interview with RZK from Jam Magazine Online. It skips the LIFAD era almost entirely, and delves into Richard's history, Germany's history, and Rammstein's...history. It's different and well worth a read...if you're interested in history.

TG & RZK

RZK Interview

Wat Kyk Jy has posted an interview with Richard, which is definitely worth a read. It's a bit different from the usual fare. Something that came up was the concepts that didn't make it onto LIFAD. These have been discussed in the various communities; whether we will have another Rosenrot-type follow-up. Richard's thoughts:

Well, at the moment I don't want to think about it. Something somebody told me is "if you wanna make God smile, tell him your plans", so haha, we don't need plans anymore. At the moment they're in the computer and they weren't strong enough to survive the record, so you know, there must be something wrong with that, you know? And everything belongs kind of to a time. That's my experience with music. You know, when you're in a special moment and a special time you write certain things and its kind of odd when like 5 years later you getting … unless it's strong otherwise its kind of dull because it wasn't on the record and when you listen to it you're moving yourself too… My guess is it will stay in the computer, haha.

David Farrier Interview (Embedded)

Note that this re-publishing of this interview is posted by a third party without the knowledge or permission of TV3 or their partners, so it may well be taken down, but we can enjoy it until then:



Thank you Rammstein Uruguay!

David Farrier & Richard Kruspe Talk Opera

No really.

For those of you outside New Zealand, David Farrier is a NZ reporter for TV3, who tends to cover the fun stuff, like video games, music, fun technology, and the like. He's a funny chap, with a camp streak a mile wide and a definite liking for many of the things I like. He does tend to enthuse over pop more than I ever will, but otherwise we have a great deal in common. Here's the TV3 video stream. I am not sure if non-Kiwis can view that, but give it a try. If you can view it you will see Richard at his best.

I like that Richard has started to back up my long-time theory that Rammstein is operatic and also that he is so positive and buoyant in this interview. Good man!

RZK's A-Comin'

Yep, he is coming to the BDO with Rammstein, but apparently he also plans to take a road trip around NZ at some point.

Kruspe added he was determined to see more of New Zealand than the backstage area of Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.

"It [the Big Day Out] is one of those events where we can try and combine all our holidays and business together," he said.

"I want to do a road-trip [in New Zealand] ... I have some friends coming with me and we want to rent a car and see some of the country.

"When you are travelling all the time you don't [often get the chance] to see the country. This time I want to get a car and go from city to city ... I want to know a bit more about the country."

To be honest, with the first Aussie show a couple of days after the Auckland show, I'm not seeing Richard and his friends getting much sight-seeing in, but hell, he can try. He's probably under-estimating how long it takes to drive around NZ, if he's used to US interstate highways and the Autobahn.

To those of you who haven't driven in NZ, the roads are not all flat and straight. We're sitting on top of a major set of faultlines and have a spine of mountains and volcanos. We're mountainous and rocky, and our roads resemble nothing so much as the coastline of Norway. It is all rather beautiful though. It's well worth the effort, and I recommend renting cars that corner really well...

RZK Talks to the Ockers

I found this a few days ago, and completely failed to post, sorry. It's a Sydney Morning Herald article about Rammstein, featuring Herr Kruspe. Enjoy!

RZK@NYC

Rammchick has shared a link to an interview with Richard, conducted recently from New York, just before the South American leg of the tour began.

New RZK Interview

SkeletonCrew has come through once again, this time with an interview with RZK (GLT - original Spanish here).

RZK & NI

Richard has been interviewed about his relationship with Native Instruments, his set-up, and more. Thanks so much to Sarah for bringing this to my attention. Enjoy!

Very Nice People

Lutz Buch, RZK's guitar technician, talking about life with Rammstein:

Rammstein Remarks USA

TG has comment from Rammstein regarding their single US show in December. You definitely need to read the whole article linked above, but here is a highlight:

...Everything for this show is perfect - the timing, the season. We are really pumped to return to the States to play Madison Square Garden – this is one of the most challenging shows for us in 10 years...
- Olli

So go on, America. Do anything to get to that show and show them it's worth booking more shows on another leg. Nobody wants another ten years to pass without any US shows.

Rammstein, Rammstein

Well, Richard's complete lack of subtlety has come to the fore (read the first answer). His remark that his ideal gig would be at Madison Square Garden in New York has been explained. Rammstein are going to America for a single NY show. Is it, as Richard said, a recce 'to feel out, like, if there is a need for us, are people waiting for us, what can we do, what would be the next step' or is this it? The US griefers are going to have conniptions.

For those who don't follow links, Rammstein will play one live show at Madison Square Gardens, December 11. Tickets go on sale October 8. More details will be forthcoming.

Rammfire

I'm not a musician, but I'm sure a bunch of you are. Those of you who are will know who Native Instruments are, and will no doubt be interested to know about their new suite of tools, which includes an emulator RZK helped develop:

The new RAMMFIRE amp emulation was developed in close collaboration with one of Rammstein's guitarists, Richard Z. Kruspe, and models the original recording chain that is behind the band's trademark guitar sound. It can be used both as an expansion to the amplifier arsenal in GUITAR RIG 4 and as an individual product in combination with the free GUITAR RIG 4 PLAYER.

For those of you not familiar, Paul has spoken about Guitar Rig.

Arr-Zed-Gay

I can never resist a cheesy pun.

My friend Maggie has posted her interview with RZK for her paper. She disclaims all responsibility for the title. Blame her editor!

The interview is great, taking Richard outside the usual, and deliberately keeping him off the straight and narrow, without being too pushy. Good job, Maggie. This is the best RZK interview I have read.

To top off her extraordinary dip into Rammstein waters she has also published her review of the Quebec show here. Awesome!