HELSINKI, FINLAND – MAY 28: Rammstein performs live on stage at Olympia Stadion on May 28, 2023 in Helsinki, Finland. (Photo by Venla Shalin/Redferns)
Photo: Redferns, Venla Shalin. All rights reserved.
On Saturday (June 24th) Rammstein guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe will be celebrating his 56th birthday. That’s what Till Lindemann & Co. and tens of thousands of fans celebrated the night before at the Berlin band’s concert in Madrid.
Several fan videos show the members hugging each other to thunderous applause from the audience. They laugh, hug each other — and a tray with a glass to toast is brought onto the stage. Kruspe first toasted the crowd, then toasted his bandmates.
Allegations of abuse against Till Lindemann
They are carefree images in the midst of a turbulent time for the musicians. For weeks, Rammstein have been the focus of public criticism after allegations that the band devised their own system for recruiting young women for sex at after-show parties after concerts, now known to many as “Row Zero”. As it became known on Friday (June 23), the Lithuanian police in Vilnius finally dropped their case against Lindemann.
In Berlin, on the other hand, investigations are underway against the singer: the Berlin public prosecutor’s office is investigating an initial suspicion against Till Lindemann, as became known on Wednesday (June 14). “Image” speaks of investigations under paragraph 177 of the Criminal Code (this relates to sexual assault, sexual assault and rape).
In a “Spiegel” cover story allegations were also made against the celebrating birthday boy Kruspe.