The German government on Tuesday (June 6th) requested protective measures for the female public of Rammstein after accusations of sexual assault against the singer of the metal group. “Young people in particular need to be better protected against attacks,” said family minister, environmentalist Lisa Paus, as Rammstein, one of Europe’s best-known metal bands, is on tour on the continent.
The singer of the group, Till Lindemann, is accused by several women of sexual assault, reported in recent days the NDR channel and the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung. In particular, he is suspected of choosing young women from the front rows of the group’s concerts, who are then invited backstage for after-concert parties. Two of these women claim to have undergone non-consensual sexual acts after being drugged during these parties, which the group has denied.
The Minister for the Family proposes in particular the establishment of protection zones for women during concerts as well as teams likely to intervene in the event of sexual assault. We must discuss “quickly and concretely” protective measures, asks Lisa Paus, for whom “a serious debate on the responsibility of artists and organizers vis-à-vis their fans would be useful”.
A system at the service of the singer
Another investigation, carried out by the weekly Die Welt, describes a real system at the service of the singer, the women present in the front row being filmed or photographed so that Lindemann, 60, can make his choice.
Four sold-out concerts are scheduled for this week at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. The area just in front of the stage (“Row Zero”) where the singer allegedly spotted the young women will be removed.
“The organizer informed us yesterday that there will be no Row Zero or Aftershow Party here at home,” said Tobias Kohler, spokesman for the stadium where the band will perform for their concerts at big show.
The group, founded in 1994 and experienced in provocations in its clips, must notably perform in the coming weeks in France, Italy, Switzerland or even Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and Austria.
