June 16, 2023, Eichenring, Scheessel, GER, Hurricane Festival 2023, in the picture “KRAFTCLUB” Photo © Rojahn
Photo: Guenther Rojahn, Rojahn. All rights reserved.
Felix Kummer used his band Kraftklub’s performance at the Hurricane Festival on Friday (June 16) to raise his voice against abuse of power and sexual violence in the German music industry.
Like the Donots and Madsen before, Kummer did not name Till Lindemann or Rammstein. “I don’t want to get any applause now, I don’t want to tell something that others have told us in much more detail and much better before us,” several German media quote him as saying. Kummer’s appeal: “Solidarity! And believe those affected!”
In the last few days, “so much shit has come to light” that one is ashamed to be on stage as a man, the 34-year-old explained. In the end he added: “Sometimes things just don’t change by themselves. Sometimes, Hurricane, it takes a bit of a riot to make changes.”
Other bands also take a stand
Kraftklub aren’t the first band to have commented on current events lately. The Donots recently released a lengthy statement on their social media. “A fat elephant called abuse of power is currently in the room. A public debate that was long overdue,” it said. The band explained that they hope that “other artists will openly show solidarity with the victims of abuse of power and sexualised violence”. “All of us (and men in particular are explicitly mentioned here) can work very actively in our own bubble to ensure that the glorified romanticization of ‘sex, drugs and rock’n’roll’ has finally had its day. It’s not that difficult,” write the musicians.
Madsen also made a statement. “Of course we also condemn any other kind of abuse. We’ve been a band for almost 20 years, our lives mostly take place on concerts and stages. That’s why the current events are very close to our hearts,” wrote the group around frontman Sebastian Madsen.
Tocotronic bassist Jan Müller, on the other hand, directly criticizes Till Lindemann in his “Musikexpress” column “Reflector”.