“A sophisticated system”: What is known about the allegations against Rammstein

Rammstein, which is considered the most successful German band in the world, has been under criticism for days. It started with statements by the Irishwoman Shelby Lynn on May 25th on Twitter and Instagram. She reported being allegedly drugged and injured at a Rammstein concert. Comments from other women followed.

Then, on June 2nd, the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” published an article that “sophisticated system” describes. It serves to “target women” for Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann. The newspaper writes that “about possible abuse of power” and “alleged sexual assault“. “SZ” and “NDR” spoke to numerous women for the research. They are concert visitors from different cities and countries.

The accusation: women would be approached before or during the concerts and provided with backstage bracelets and alcohol. Some of them, the “SZ” writes, are said to have been fed to Lindemann. Some of them were prepared for possible sex with him. Previously, they had photo applications to a woman named Alena M should submit and then get instructions on the dress code.

At the backstage parties there was a lot of alcohol and cocaine was offered, writes the “SZ” with reference to chat messages and reports from memories.

Multiple reports from women backstage at Rammstein

The “SZ” describes several memoirs from women who would have had access to the Rammstein backstage area. One of the stories involves Cynthia A.. Lindemann showed her and two other women the recently released music video for the song “Platz eins” on a laptop.

Lindemann then took Cynthia A. to the dressing room. “I don’t want to say that it was a rape because I agreed, but I wasn’t obviously happy about what was happening either. I was also in pretty bad pain and he must have noticed that it wasn’t easy to sleep with me,” Cynthia A. is quoted as saying in the “SZ”.

“It was all pretty quick and pretty violent.” But she didn’t want to say during intercourse that she was in pain, “because it was Till Lindemann”.

Another case described in the “SZ” concerns Kaya R., who attended a Rammstein concert in her hometown of Vienna on August 22, 2019. It was from a man named Joe L. (Editor’s note: a musician who is part of the Rammstein crew) was selected for the after-show party, where she celebrated with the band members but without Till Lindemann and found it “very nice”. There was free alcohol.

Kaya R. was then asked by Alena M. if she wanted to meet Lindemann and agreed. Later in a hotel there was “a lot of alcohol”. Kaya R’s memories have become patchy. She does not know how she got into a hotel room, writes the “SZ”, and when she regained consciousness, “Till was on top of me”, as she is quoted in the “SZ”. Lindemann then asked her if he should stop. Kaya R. didn’t know what he wanted to stop with.

Even after repeated requests from the Tagesspiegel, Rammstein’s management has not yet commented on the allegations.

Getting the ball rolling: The Shelby Lynn case

The “SZ” publication follows the descriptions of the Irishwoman Shelby Lynn in the social networks. According to his own statement, Lynn attended the Rammstein concert in Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 22nd. Then she reported on twitter in a very detailed description of it, to have been drugged against her will at the event. Other women are also said to have been affected.

According to his own statement, Lynn was invited to a party before and after the concert by the Rammstein crew. She reports how she previously named a woman Alena M I wrote to Instagram and asked M. for access. Joe L, then filmed Lynn and other girls before the concert. L. later offered Lynn the prospect of meeting Till Lindemann.

There were alcoholic drinks at the pre-show party. The singer Till Lindemann appeared briefly with the women and asked them to drink tequila, which happened. Shortly thereafter, according to Lynn’s own statement, a strong intoxication set in, which, according to his own statement, did not stem from alcohol. Lynn’s description suggests that a substance in the drinks could have triggered the intoxication.

According to Lynn’s account, she later met Lindemann during a concert break in a small room, into which Joe L. led her. He had previously assured her that it would not be about sex. According to Lynn, however, things turned out differently.

Because the young woman in the room didn’t want to have sex with him, Lindemann reacted angrily, Lynn writes. According to Lynn, Lindemann screamed: “Joe said you would do it.” Lindemann then disappeared through the curtain, visibly upset, and waited in front of the room.

But, as Lynn clarifies, “Till did NOT touch me. He accepted that I didn’t want to have sex with him. I never said he raped me.” Lynn left the small room unhindered after a few minutes.

Photos of injuries published – statement by Rammstein

Later that evening, Lynn said he vomited and showed further signs of poisoning. The next morning she woke up with bruises. Lynn posted photos of the injuries she discovered after the concert. When and how they might have arisen, Lynn did not explain. Lynn also posted videos of herself at the concert night and chat histories with other women who were at the parties.

Allegations of abuse against Till Lindemann had previously been reported in some media, but according to Lynn, she did not raise them at all.

The band said in a statement via Twitter: “Regarding the allegations about Vilnius circulating on the internet, we can rule out that what is alleged to have happened in our environment. We are not aware of any official investigations into this.“

According to her, Lynn spoke to the Lithuanian police the day after the incident. She writes that she know many reports from other women who apparently had similar experiences with Rammstein as. Back in Great Britain she wanted an elaborate drug test, the first one in Lithuania the day after the concert had turned out negative.

Women are said to be targeted

The practice described by Lynn of specifically addressing women and recruiting them for sex with Till Lindemann is also described by other women after the incident, among others, the Austrian site “oe24.at” reports. According to the report, a woman “who posed as a love recruiter” approached a concert visitor in 2019 who is said to have attended an after-show party. It was probably Alena M.

The concert visitor should then be called by the “love recruiter”. “immoral offer” in connection with Till Lindemann. She was also offered “white powder” to break the ice. In addition, “oe24.at” talks about a selection process: Lindemann receives profiles of women with a photo and information about their age from the “love recruiter” via WhatsApp. This information cannot be verified either.

The Rammstein management did not comment on this case either when asked by the Tagesspiegel.

The well-known Youtuber Kayla Shyx, meanwhile, has announcedto recount how she “nearly got herself out of a very dangerous situation.” She wrote this on Instagram. Shyx was also “recruited to the after party” at a Rammstein concert. “I’ll tell you what happened to me and what a sick, systematic, pedofile (sic) sex offender mafia is behind Rammstein,” she claimed. “Hundreds of girls are affected,” Shyx wrote.

Sophia Thomalla defends Till Lindemann

Actress Sophia Thomalla, who was in a relationship with Lindemann, defended the Rammstein front singer in the “Bild” newspaper.

“This ‘incident’ in Vilnius never happened! This is fictitious by a person who wants to gain fame for 5 minutes on the back of a rock star,” explains Thomalla. Many users on Twitter also assume that Lynn is not telling the truth. However, there are also numerous statements of solidarity with Lynn in the social networks and reports about the experiences in the so-called row 0, where the women are for the parties at the concerts. Lynn also posted a video of herself in row 0.

In a story on her Instagram account, actress Nora Tschirner pointed out the dangers of portraying victims as attention-grabbing. Tschirner described this as “severe form of psychological violence that contributes to re-traumatization and intimidation of other victims.“