September 1998 Blue Jean in English

Interview: September 1998, Blue Jean

Question: "Paul, can you explain us the philosophy and the meaning of Rammstein?"

Paul: If you follow in someone else’s footprints you can't leave your own track. Asking the meaning of Rammstein leads you to another question: what do the Rolling Stones mean?

Question: "How was the band formed? How was your style shaped?"

Paul: Everything began with the union of six friends. At the beginning, Rammstein was a co-project to realize things that we couldn't do in our own bands. But we enjoyed working with machines. It satisfied our German character.

Question: "We watched Rammstein live in the Dynamo Festival. Your show was too perfect that the most of the fans thought it was a playback. What do you say about that?"

Paul: Of course it wasn't playback. Your compliment made me really proud but my personal idea is that the show could be much better. The bands I appreciate are: Skunk Anansie, Smashing Pumpkins, and Pantera. And I watched two perfect shows: Metallica and Nine Inch Nails.

Question: "All your lyrics are in German but Rammstein has an incredible international success. Isn't it a little strange?"

Paul: Sure, it has been a big surprise for us. All that happens to us seems "funny".

Question: "We were greatly surprised to see Rammstein in the Depeche Mode tribute album and to hear you sing in English. How did that come about?"

Paul: This is not some big story. We had an offer and we accepted. We don't have a dislike for English, but whenever we try to use this language it sounds strange to us. That may be why we keep writing lyrics in German.

Question: "How did Rammstein influence your private lives? It seems you made a hard choice."

Paul: There was no other way, believe me. And we all have been left by our women. Of course this is a consequence. We didn't organize a meeting between us and than decided to leave our relationships. All those things happened just into a few months.

Question: "When Rammstein entered into the music industry the German press accused you of supporting Neo-Nazi ideas, were you upset?"

Paul: Sure, we were shocked. Personally, I can say I have socialist tendencies. Because of those ridiculous accusations, we have been obliged to write politically meaningless songs. I don't know how good or bad this has been for us.

Question: "With the Lost Highway soundtrack, you had many new fans. Do you know why David Lynch chose Rammstein for this soundtrack?

Paul: This is not difficult to understand. If you watch the movie you'll find the answer.

Question: "And where is Rammstein's place in the modern music world?"

Paul: Like many other bands, we try to be the band of the future.

Question: "Where does the originality of Rammstein come from?"

Paul: We all have very different personalities but we have the same target. There's always a quarrel in the band because we all have very different point of views.

Question: "The show is very important for Rammstein. What is the most radical show that an artist can do?"

Paul: Let's imagine that. A naked man burning himself would be extremely radical. Till would need to stay in the deep-freeze for one hour after doing that. We can't expect too much from him!

Question: "By the way at Dynamo Festival, I heard that Till has serious psychological problems."

Paul: Every person, more or less, has psychological problems. The line between normal and abnormal is very thin.

Question: "Why do you think that radical band are too popular in Germany?"

Paul: I don’t think that they are popular only in Germany. Even jazz was considered radical. In East Germany rock and roll was defended. The Beatles shocked the world with their revolutionary music. A few years from now, nobody will understand why Rammstein was considered as a radical band in the past.