#we're blessed here in this Chili's today

[endlich-allein]

Promo "Liebe Ist Für Alle Da" (2009), Christoph "Doom" Schneider  — Interview by Philip Lageat, 16-11-2009, Nantes (Rock Hard #94)

Rock Hard : With six studio albums in the bag, it must be more and more difficult to establish a setlist. How do you deal with that ?

Christoph "Doom" Schneider : Strangely enough, we take our heads less at this level than in the studio. I am therefore going to surprise you by telling you that this is done as simply and naturally as possible, since we ultimately proceed in a very democratic way : each of us draws up a list of our favorite titles. We then compare the desideratas of each... and the majority wins, provided however that the songs chosen fit well into the show. We did it this time around and it worked really well, since we shared an identical opinion on many songs. Personally, I find that we have found a good balance between old songs and new songs. We play a lot of songs from our last album, Liebe Ist Für Alle Da, which suits me well because I admit that I was fed up with some old titles. I was almost sickened by playing them. So we discarded them, otherwise I think we would have quickly become jaded of the new show. So we had to be careful what we choose, because, given the special effects that we deploy on stage, it is quite difficult for us, after the fact, to make big changes in the setlist. It is that each of us must know precisely what to do, and where it must be, during each song : a misstep, a second of inattention, and you are toasted like a peanut ! (laughs) Anyway, a setlist usually follows you during a whole tour and I'm happy with it which, as I said, seems to me to be a happy medium, a pretty harmonious balance, between old and new songs.

RH : Twenty years ago almost to the day, on November 9, 1989, we witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall. As an East German, do you remember this historic moment ?

Christoph : Yes, I was in town. In the middle of the night, I heard the radio announcing that people were destroying the Wall. It must be said that, for a few days already, the rumor had swelled that this was going to happen. But I stayed home because quite frankly, I couldn't believe it ! (laughs) It wasn't until a day or two later that I crossed the Wall for the first time to go west. At the risk of disappointing, I was therefore not one of those people we saw on TV riding the Wall and destroying it with a pickax or hammer. I remember I was of course delighted, but the shock was such that it took me a while to adjust to this new life : during the first two or three years, I had the feeling of not being able to be part of nothing and of everything at the same time, to evolve in a space of total freedom. To tell the truth, it was an extraordinary period ! In East Berlin, it was chaos. We squatted in houses where we organized huge parties... (smile) There were no rules and a sweet scent of anarchy hung in the air. Musically, we all continued to play with our respective bands and for a while it didn't go so badly. Until we realized that the situation had changed dramatically and that these bands belonged to a period from now on bygone, were from another age. We felt that the time had come to start a new adventure by creating another group. The foundations of Rammstein were laid... From the start, we defined what our sound should be. Very quickly we figured out that even if we rehearse hard, we would never be able to sound like an American band. That's why we tried to create something unique, which really looks like us.

RH : Do you remember the first concert you saw in the West ?

Christoph : It probably must have been an unknown punk band. But the first big gig I attended was a Red Hot Chili Peppers show at a tiny club. In 1990, it seems to me. They were not as popular then as they are today and did not perform in large venues yet. Before this concert, I had never heard of it. It was a Californian who was squatting at my house who told me that it was a good group and offered to go see it. When I think about it, I wonder what she and I could say to each other, since I couldn't get a word of English ! (laughs) Anyway, we went to this concert and I took a huge slap. Never before have I seen something so exciting ! This is an evening that I will never forget...

RH : Despite multiple internal friction, Rammstein has always kept the same line-up. How do you explain this stability ?

Christoph : Rammstein is only worth the sum of his individualities and their uniqueness. If one of us left, or whoever, we wouldn't be dealing with the same group. Rammstein would no longer be. So, it's true, there were tensions between us during the recording of the last album (see previous interview), but that's how Rammstein works. I believe in these guys... And then we always had a fight every time we set foot in the studio, and that, for any album. It's just that, when we were younger, we were able to find common ground faster because we were less stubborn and had less ego. Maybe we are too stressed out today when we work together, because we know it is going to be a long and painful process. And that, we find it more and more difficult to bear it. But for me that's a good thing, because these tensions are a blessing, in that they sharpen our creativity. Without them we would not achieve exciting results. We only yell at each other over simple taste issues : "I like it, why don't you like it too?". It's just that sometimes we tend to forget about it and take things too personal. At my level, I now tend not to want to impose my point of view if the majority does not think like me. Others, on the contrary, do not get along with age and refuse to give up even the smallest square inch of land (laughs). Hence endless heated discussions. Not to mention that the producer also has an opinion and that we therefore have to juggle the desires of seven people. You should know that for the most of us no longer get along with the producer (Editor's note: the Swede Jacob Hellner who has so far produced all of Rammstein's albums) in terms of choices and tastes. We have not changed, not evolved one iota. We are still able to develop this stupid energy in order to provoke, and I like that because some people expect us to mature with age, that we become more "adult". And here we are shooting a porn clip (Editor's note: allusion to the video for the single "Pussy") ! (laughs) We're still the same kids who, twenty years ago, were overflowing with youthful enthusiasm : "That's going to be a blast. So what are we waiting for ?"

RH : To conclude, do you really sell this box containing Six dildos that we could see on the Net ?

Christoph : (Visibly embarrassed) I have no answer to that question. I think this is more of a joke than a reality... And then who would buy this anyway ? (laughs)

© P.R. Brown (2009)

#rockhard magazine special rammstein 2021 #rammstein in press #rammstein interview #rammstein #christoph schneider #till lindemann #flake lorenz #paul landers #richard kruspe #oliver riedel

[wann-der-lusst]

Waterfalls

By: Cassy

Just like every other day, I have to go to work. My life is such a mess. I mean, I haven't even picked a career, and I don't even have a car. Well, today I'm taking the bus. I don't know why but it's very crowded than usual.

"Hey, excuse me, can I take that seat?" I asked politely.

"No can do. I am too tired," the hard-headed man said.

"Well, I don't care. I'm tired too!" I yelled.

"Sorry. Here take my seat," the man said, frightened.

I squeezed my way through the crowd of people and slumped down into the rough leather seat.

Living in a little apartment wasn't really helping me either. Going to sleep at 3 am just because I can't fall asleep was killing me. With only 4 hours of sleep, I fell asleep on the bus. I shockingly felt the bus stop, and suddenly I woke up.

"Why did we stop?" I asked.

"Sorry, ma'am, but the bus has broken down. It's going to take ages to get it moving again," the bus driver said sadly.

So angry I stomped off the bus. I walked and walked and walked and walked. It was like the world was never-ending. The agony and the anger that I am feeling weren't going away.

Knowing I was never going to work today, I kept on walking and walking and walking. Suddenly, I reached a waterfalls.

"Wow, there's so many people. Since I'm not going to work, I might as well do something," I said to myself.

I walked up to the lady who was giving out the pamphlets.

"Hello, um, excuse me, is there an entrance fee?" I asked.

"Is there anyone else with you?" the lady asked.

"Nope, just me," I replied.

"Oh, ok, then that would be 300 pesos," the lady said.

"Ok," I replied.

I rummaged through my purse and found 300 pesos.

"Here," I said as I gave the lady 300 pesos.

"Umm, can I have one of those pamphlets?" I asked kindly.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot. Here," the kind lady said.

"Thank you," I said as I took the pamphlet.

"Have fun," the lady said.

I opened the pamphlet, started reading, and walked to the waterfalls.

"Ouch," I said.

I tripped over the branches of one of the trees when I was looking at the pamphlet. Someone held out their hand to me. I looked up, and I saw a lady looking down at me.

"Hey do you need a hand?" she asked.

"Yes, thanks," I replied.

I took her hand, and she pulled me up.

"Hey, what's your name," she asked.

"My name is Cassandra," I said.

"My name is Alyssa," she said.

"Well, nice to meet you," I said.

"Are you here by yourself?" Alyssa asked.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Me too. Do you want to go together?" Alyssa asked,

"Sure, I don't know how to read this map," I said.

"I'm good with maps. Give it to me." Alyssa said.

I gave Alyssa the map, and she looked at it slowly.

"I thought that you're good with maps, Alyssa," I laughed.

"Ok, first of all, maps take a lot of time to inspect, and also please call me Aly. I never really liked the name Alyssa," she said.

"Well… Aly, hurry up if you keep on reading this slow, We're gonna be here all night," I said.

"Ok, first, let's get food," Aly said.

"OMG, they have food here?" I asked excitedly.

"Yeah, you didn't know?" Aly asked surprisingly.

"No! Let's go," I said excitedly.

Aly led the way, and we ran to the food vendors. We stood in line for the hot dogs and hamburgers.

"So, what do you want?" Aly asked me.

"Hmm… I think I want a hamburger with cheese and tomatoes, chili and cheese fries, and a Sprite," I said.

"That's delicious. You have good taste." Aly said.

"Thanks. What are you getting?" I asked Alyssa.

"I think I'm going to get a hot dog with ketchup, curly fries, and a Coke," Aly replied.

"Excuse ladies can I have your order?" the chef asked.

"What if you say my order and I say yours," Aly said.

"Ok," I replied.

"I want a hamburger without the tomatoes, chili and cheese fries, and a Sprite," Aly said to the chef.

"And you ma'am?" the chef asked politely.

"I want a hotdog with ketchup, curly fries, and a Coke," I said.

"Before you two go, what are your names?" the chef asked.

"It's Cassandra and Alyssa," Aly said and smiled.

"Ok, can you both please wait for your order?" the chef asked.

"Ok," we both said.

We both found a table to sit down on to wait for our food. I pulled my phone out of my purse and put in my passcode.

"Do you want to exchange numbers?" I asked.

"Of course," Aly replied as she smiled.

She brought out her phone and gave it to me. I did the same and gave mine to her.

"Here I put my phone number," Aly said.

"Me too," I replied.

"Ok, try to call me," Aly said.

I tapped the phone button, and Aly's phone was ringing instantly.

"Ok, now call me," I said.

Aly called me from her phone, and mine started to instantly ring.

"Cassandra and Alyssa, your food is ready!" we heard the chef yelled.

"Come on, let's get out food," I said.

Aly and I got up from the table and went to get our food.

"Here is your hamburger without tomatoes, chili and cheese fries, and your Sprite," the chef said to Aly.

"Also, here is your hotdog with ketchup, curly fries, and your Coke," the chef said to me.

"Thank you," we said.

"Now, which one of you is paying?" the chef asked.

Aly and I looked at each other.

"I can pay," Aly said.

"No, I can pay," I insisted.

"Actually... excuse me, what's the price of our order?" Aly asked the chef.

"Weirdly, it's precisely 250 pesos," the chef replied.

"We can split the price," I said.

I gave the chef 125 pesos from my purse while Aly did the same. We went back to the same table. Then, we switched our meals.

"Here is your food, madam," I said jokingly.

"Here is your food, ma'am," Aly said jokingly.

Together we ate our food.

"I'm so full," I said.

"You said it. I think we grabbed too much food," Aly said.

"Well, I'm gonna throw the rest of my food in the trash," I said.

"I'm right behind you," Aly said.

We threw our food in the trash and picked up our purses from the table.

Let's go to the waterfall," I said.

We walked and walked and walked until we reached the beautiful waterfall. By then, the sun was setting.

"Let's take a selfie in front of the waterfall," I said

"Ok, let's use my phone," Aly said.

We took the selfie together.

"Send the picture to me," I said.

"I already did," Aly said.

Seconds later, my phone dinged. I took my phone out of my purse and checked it.

"This selfie looks spectacular," I said.

"Let's go up there so we can watch the sunset," Aly said.

"Ok," I said.

We both climbed up the hill to see the sunset. The sun dipped below the horizon, the last gasp of beauty before the death of the day.

"Look at how beautiful it is," Aly said.

"I never really looked so intently at the sun setting before. I never really cared," I said.

"Thanks for this day. It's been so fun. What I know is that we're going to be best friends forever and ever," Aly said.

"Off course we are," I replied.

After a while, Aly started visiting me in my not so big apartment and she never forget to bring food. When she's in my apartment we do, off course eating and we really do love watching movies together.

Aly and I has a lot of something in common, like we love to a travel a lot, collecting memories and we both have a broken family. Aly was raised by her father and I was raised by my mother, but both of us did not use it as a discouragement to continue in our lives, we took as an inspiration so that both of us succeed. Having a broken family is not good for my mental health when I was younger, it gives me jealousy, curiosity and it makes me longing, but it did not affect on who I am right now. I am blessed on what I have right now especially I met a new friend that can change my everyday mood.

We can be friends with other people, we can bond, we can stay closer to them, but not everyone can stay forever, not everyone can lend their shoulders for you to cry on, not everyone can listen to your problems, yet there is always one person who is willing to give his or her time and will never ever leave you.

I never really knew it, but meeting Aly changed my life forever.

#short stories