Christoph "Doom" Schneide

Alles gute zum Geburtstag Christoph!!!




"A genius at work"

Fire and fun with Rammstein

Nothing says “Mother’s Day” quite like a Rammstein concert.

Curiously, there were more than a fair share of matronly types and their silver-haired husbands among the estimated 14,000 strong at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday night, getting all fired up about the industrial grade German sextet that was making its first Toronto appearance in over a decade. And they were excited for good reason: Rammstein lived up to its extravagant reputation and put on one mother of a show, sublimely delivering deadpan theatrics, musical intensity and stunning visuals against a backdrop that was part mad scientist lair, partMetropolis, and employed enough pyro to put Metallica to shame.

Performing with their tongues planted firmly in cheek, the Berlin metallurgists showcased their excellent showmanship from the get-go: with the first blasts of “Rammlied,” guitarists Richard Kruspe and Paul Landers hacked their way through a wall with a pickaxe, while charismatic singer Till Lindemann scythed out his own circular entrance with a laser. Sporting a peculiar getup that included spiked boots, a red rubber butcher’s apron, black latex gloves and feathers sprouting out of his cap, Lindemann opened his mouth to sing — and a light from within illuminated it for the evening’s first impressive effect.

It wasn’t long after another number from Rammstein’s two-year-old album Liebe ist für alle da— the pounding “Bückstabü,” to be precise — that the heat began in earnest; flames erupting from the stage; explosive fireworks triggering more infernos, with Lindemann playing the role of conductor and raising his hand as if summoning them from the depths below. Although Lindemann’s deep, spirited tenor that was at times overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the throbbing electronics, searing guitars and pounding drums, he was always the one to watch: whether he was hunched over, head bobbing as he pounded his fist on his beefy right thigh (the musclebound microphone keeper obviously knows his way around a gym) or sporting a fireworks crossbow, the Rammstein singer was nothing short of riveting.

He also had something of a fun competitive foil in keyboardist Christian “Flake” Lorenz, who sometimes challenged Lindemann with either lousy dancing, “mock” fights or, during a portion of the “Haifisch” arrangement, manned a rubber raft and actually set sail into the mosh pit, held aloft by a sea of willing human hands. His keyboard playing more often than not served as a sonic segue between numbers, made all the more impressive with Lorenz performing many of his musical intricacies while walking in numerous directions on a few multidirectional treadmills.

That’s not to say the remaining Rammstein members were slouches on their instruments, with drummer Christoph Schneider and bass player Ollie Riedel battening down the hatches and keeping the rhythms locked as the band’s anchors. The 18-song set dated back to 1995’sHerzeleid — the album largely responsible for kicking off the Neue Deutsche Härte crossover sound — with “Du Riechst So Gut” — and also generously referenced the remaining five albums, including 1997’s cult fave Sehnsucht and its popular call-and-response number “Du Hast.”

It wasn’t all balls-to-the-wall metal tempered with occasional techno and electronica dance-groove beats and flourishes: there was the intermittent dynamic thrown into the mix, like the unexpected acoustic guitar deployed for the rare soft ballad “Frühling In Paris.” But those moments were rare.

It would be hard to pick just one highlight in a nearly two-hour show that was filled with them, and most involved fire, whether it was Lindemann dragging a gigantic gas station pump onstage for “Benzin,” and promptly setting a “fan” ablaze with his flame-thrower, or donning flame-thrower masks with guitarists Landers and Kruspe for “Feuer Freil,” and shooting 20-foot streams of fire over the audience, or mounting a pink phallus shaped cannon during the sardonic “Pussy” and spewing foam and tickertape all over surprised concertgoers.

It was all done in good fun, and left the audience begging for more. There was also the hope that fans wouldn’t have to await another 10 years before Rammstein returned to these parts. They’d love to rekindle the flame sooner than later.

Rammstein dynamite to blow the Bell Centre explosions and pyrotechnic effects

After an acclaimed performance on the Plains of Abraham during the Quebec Summer Festival and an electrifying concert at the Bell Centre last year, here are the German Rammstein training recurred last night with a second concert sold out. The industrial metal sextet from Berlin, has redoubled ardor and surprises in this Saturday, May 7 to deliver a spectacular performance that fans will remember for long.

It is precisely at 20h as the American of Norwegian descent Combichrist got the ball rolling in a frenzy of distorted guitars and screams aggressive. Formed in 2003 by Andy LaPlega, training had already been fortunate in the past to ensure the first parts of the Germans. The quartet has a charisma and energy that have devastating unfortunately nothing to do with power and boldness of Rammstein.

At 21h typing, the sextet's most muscular of Germany made its appearance in a frenzy of screams and cheers. First, the two guitarists Richard Kruspe and Paul H. Zven Landers, were introduced to everyone's surprise, by ripping the curtain on both ends. When the band played the first notes of Rammlied, appeared the other members, Oliver Riedel, Christoph Schneider, Christian Lorenz, and the imposing singer Till Lindemann.

Rammstein was content to keep the same direction as last year: there are huge metal structures dotting the landscape, a gun, a bath sheet, and doll hanging from the ceiling, scattering here and there rays green laser. Otherwise, no drastic changes on the horizon, even the order in which the songs have been remained the same. They played mostly the jibes B ********, Frühling in Paris and Pussy, before flowing body and soul in the past with crusty oldies, including Feuer Frei!, Links 2 3 4 Du Hast , Ich Will. In return, Rammstein surprised us with the melodious Sounds, which is on Mutter, and returned for one last salute the crowd with Engel. During the last, Till Lindemann returned to the scene with huge angel wings, after which the flame burned intermittently.

The German sextet is known for providing exceptional benefits and it is precisely that level they stand formations known as Guns N 'Roses, KISS or AC / DC. Rammstein was no exception to the rule last night and no need to say that the show, lasting two hours, was set to a quarter turn. Each song had its own stage and each caused by itself a special effect. Till Lindemann did not pray to impress the audience with his pyrotechnical effects. Indeed, he spat fire repeatedly fired a crossbow to create a fireworks effect boomerang has fought with keyboardist throwing her a shower of sparks on the body. It was really a precious moment to keep in memory.

Rammstein is a band that no longer needs an introduction. They have a strong reputation globally and offer concerts oh so memorable. After leaving the North American landscape for over a decade, it was high time they come back to show us what stuff they get hot.

Rammstein burns at the Air Canada Centre

Rammstein brought the fire to the Air Canada Centre last night — literally. In fact, I think one of my contact lenses got singed. Lead singer Till Lindemann commanded the crowd throughout the 100-minute theatrical performance last night. This German band know how to put on a show.

Since 99 percent of the North American audience isn't likely to understand the lyrics -- mostly sung in German -- Rammstein relies heavily on theatrics, including pyrotechnics galore.

A spirited mosh pit formed in the centre of the floors, seeming to get quite violent at times. But it was a mostly friendly bunch.

The crowd was comprised of hordes of male fans in their 20s and 30s. But I also saw several younger couples, some father-daughter pairs and a bunch of metalhead men well into their 40s

Lindemann was the obvious focal point throughout the show. But he frequently engaged his keyboard player, Christian "Flake" Lorenz. In one scene he chased him into a huge garbage receptacle and climbed up a fence-like structure and poured a vat of fireworks onto him.

The poor guy emerged moments later in a head-to-toe sparkly jumpsuit, as if resurrected from his ashes. He climbed back up to his perch on stage and continued to play while on a treadmill. This scene seemed like something almost out of a Cirque du Soleil show.

At one point, Lindemann grabbed what looked like a fat rocket launcher and aimed it at the centre of the crowd. I thought a big blast of fire would be directed at the unruly boys moshing about. Turns out they got a giant blast of foam bubbles. That seemed to do the trick

Lorenz, towards the end of the show, jumped into a huge black dinghy and crowd-surfed halfway across the floors before circling back and pulling out a Canadian flag, which got a late peak out of the exhilarated, fire-tinged crowd.

All told, it was quite a delight to take in such an awesome display of fire. Although it had a tendency to overshadow some great music, from the starting chant of Rammstein to the final encore Engel, which saw Lindemann centre stage adorning a four-metre wingspan of black, fire-shooting angel's wings.

Thank you blogTO 

Rammstein Burns Down the IZOD Center

lright, so Rammstein didn’t literally burn down the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but if any band could, it would no doubt be this German rock band.

Cinco de Mayo 2011 marked the beginning of a truly historical moment in the world of music: Rammstein, a band that hasn’t toured the North American continent in 10 years, kicked off a 13-date tour just a few miles from their epic show at Madison Square Garden months before (keep in mind, the show at MSG didn’t qualify as a tour, it was a one-stop thing).

If the show at the IZOD Center is any indicator of what fans can expect for the rest of the tour, then you will not want to miss the show. For the better part of two hours, Rammstein hammered the audience with song after song, spectacular light show after spectacular light show…and most importantly, insane pyrotechnics after insane pyrotechnics.

Easiest way to sum up the show? How’s this: Till Lindemann, the lead singer, set a guy on fire on-stage.

At one point during the night, an old-fashioned gas station pump was wheeled out onto the stage. Lindemann took the nozzle in one hand and a flare in the other and proceeded to create a homemade flamethrower. He eventually pointed it at what looked like a stagehand and let loose.

Other highlights? Lindemann threw Christian “Flake” Lorenz, keyboards, into an empty bath tub and poured fire on him. Several babies with laser beams for eyes hung above the bandfor a few minutes, and then exploded. Lorenz jumped in a rubber raft and rode it across the audience. Lindemann mounted a gigantic male “member” and sprayed the crowd with some sort of white substance during the last song of the first set, “Pussy.” He also came out for the last song of the night, “Engel,” with huge angel wings that shot fire.

All in all, this was like no other show I’ve ever seen: The theatrics, the sound, the pure, visceral, raw power of a live performance…I completely understand why Rammstein received Best Live Band at this year’s Revolver Golden Gods Awards. From the crushing opening of the show with the song “Rammlied,” to the two encores the band gave the crowd, this was a show I will not soon forget.

All I can say is this: If you get the chance to see Rammstein on this tour, do not miss it. There is no doubt they are pulling out all stops. This is their first North American tour in a decadeand they are coming off of the high of being named the best live band in the world by Revolver Magazine…So regardless if you’ve seen them or not, I can make a guarantee that you haven’t seen them like this.

Book a plane ticket if you have to. Plan a roadtrip. Who knows when the next time Rammstein will deliver a tour as historical and epic as the one they are embarking on right now. I can tell you this, though: You will not be disappointed. You will have a night of incredible live music to remember for the rest of your life.

The Best Live Band is…

“This is what happens if the fans make the decisions,” declares Rammstein.com.

What is being referred to in the quote is the award that the German rock band received at this year’s Revolver Golden Gods Awards: Best Live Band. This is truly a remarkable accomplishment, not because Rammstein doesn’t deserve the award, but because in the last decade the band has played one show on US soil (at Madison Square Garden this past December). Obviously the lack of US shows didn’t keep fans from voting them to win the coveted award.

According to Rammstein, this is the first US award that they have received, and regardless of what happened in the last decade, they are hitting the road for a string of US dates. “We are looking forward to living up to this tribute on our US tour.”

The US tour kicks off this Thursday at the IZOD Center, with Combichrist opening the show. This marks the beginning of Rammstein’s first North America tour in 10 years.

Best live band at Revolvers Golden Gods

This is what happens if the fans make the decisions – The winners are in for the 2011 Revolver Golden Gods Awards, and we’re proud to report that Rammstein was awarded as Best Live Band! Thanks to all our fans that secured this award for us. Good Timing- as this is Rammstein’s first US award we are looking forward to living up to this tribute on our US tour.

Taking place this past Tuesday (20.04) night at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, the awards show was filmed for broadcast and will be hitting the airwaves on VH1 Classic on May 28.