After Rammstein recently released their new album “Zeit”, the band’s alleged new tour dates for 2023 appeared on the internet. Many media reported that numerous fans were looking forward to the concerts, sometimes in countries where Rammstein had not been seen for a long time. But the band’s European tour promoter quickly made it clear: the dates were fake!
How did this fake news come about? The band, along with scores of other celebrities, are the target of a Russian cyber campaign, according to a study commissioned by the UK government, released on May 1. A Russian so-called “troll factory” is said to be trying to influence public opinion in the West. Above all, it should be about confusion and chaos. The trolls hang around on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Tiktok in particular, spreading Kremlin propaganda and misinformation. Although these are currently closely related fields of activity. In addition to Rammstein, politicians such as British Prime Minister Bors Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU foreign policy representative Josep Borrell are also targeted by the trolls. But other artists are probably the focus of the “troll factory”: Draft Punk and David Guetta, for example. All in all, the Russian campaign is likely to extend to significantly more targets, the ones mentioned are only those where the British study has closely tracked the troll activities.
Rammstein: European tour 2022 almost sold out
Is the fake tour also a result of the Russian “troll factory”? It’s not possible to say with certainty yet, but it would fit in well with the picture. For fans who have been looking forward to the 2023 tour, however, the news that it was fake is a huge disappointment. The band’s European tour, which begins on May 15th, is almost completely sold out, only the performances in Prague, Cardiff, Lyon and Gothenburg are still available tickets.
Rammstein released their new album ZEIT on April 29, 2022. With 160,000 units sold within a week, the band went straight to the top of the German album charts. Read our review of ZEIT here.
Rammstein live in Germany 2022 (sold out!)
- 05/20/2022 Leipzig – Red Bull Arena Leipzig
- May 21, 2022 Leipzig – Red Bull Arena Leipzig
- 04.06.2022 Berlin – Olympic Stadium
- 05.06.2022 Berlin – Olympic Stadium
- 06/10/2022 Stuttgart – Cannstatter Wasen
- 06/11/2022 Stuttgart – Cannstatter Wasen
- 06/14/2022 Hamburg – Volkspark Stadium
- 06/15/2022 Hamburg – Volkspark Stadium
- 06/18/2022 Düsseldorf – Merkur Spiel-Arena