Date: 11/15/2023
Mood: hopeful
Listening to: Holy Mountains - System Of A Down
How to tell LIFAD and Made in Germany Tour Paul photos apart
Quickest identification guide
The easiest way to tell LIFAD and Made in Germany tour photos apart is to check Paul's left wrist first. (A viewer's "right" arm.) A solid, leather, buckled wristband usually points to LIFAD. Additional LIFAD traits are a white ESP guitar, claw mark backgrounds, and black earrings. Fabric forearm covers (never leather or buckled), fingerless gloves, no neck wear, and geometric stage backgrounds usually point to Made in Germany.
LIFAD vs Made in Germany comparison chart
| Visual clue | LIFAD tour | Made in Germany tour |
|---|---|---|
| Left wrist | Solid, leather buckled wristbands | Fabric cover only, never firm |
| Gloves | No fingerless gloves | Fingerless gloves |
| Guitar | White ESP Eclipse CTM (select songs) | Signature Gibson Les Paul only |
| Stage background | Claw mark style / many light bulb display grids | Geometric / stained glass looking |
| Earrings | Black in 2009–10 | Standard silver |
In-depth explanations with visual examples
YOU, yes you, can identify Paul on stage via these two similar tours. It is not impossible. You can do it! I promise. I have spent my life knowing how to tell them apart like flashcards. I will share with you my in-depth knowledge of the forbidden lore about his arms and other nuances of man and his accessories on stage. Paul does change between these tours! Even if it's super subtle at first glance.
I even have a lovely pop quiz for you at the end to test your skills and if you feel like you can do it too. Trust me! 💕
Rule of thumb: check the LIFAD distinct left wrist
Due to LIFAD tour having specific notable traits in abundance to find, it is easier to identify if it isn't LIFAD tour than it is to forcibly identify it as MiG. Eliminate LIFAD from the pool of criteria foremost. You're better off asking "does this pic have LIFAD traits?" After you go through the list of numerous LIFAD era traits to process of elimination and find none, then assume it's MiG.
This will make sense later, but I highly suggest looking at his left arm first as the number one clue to start with. His natural left, our "right arm". The one he uses on the fretboard, no pick. That arm. Look at it first. This is always where my brain starts when identifying this era because this wrist band is the most consistent in LIFAD era to look a certain way that does not exist in MiG at all in any capacity. Nor can be mistaken for another wrist band. It has a distinct look. Completely different texture and style that makes it blatant. If this arm is covered, cropped out of sight, or out of angle; it is only then I'll seek out other details.
Clue 1: Other band members are easier to identify
They do radically change their clothes on stage! Even Schneider entirely changed his hair style between these eras. Richard for example changes his hair drastically in LIFAD and MiG. So if they are next to each other, use Richard's hair instead. It always had disappointed me since MiG era in real-time of life itself that he basically didn't change his outfit much when everyone else got something fresh. This has been a decade old disappointment for me. If you find him in a pic with someone else, you're better off trying to use that man to help you more than looking at Paul ever will accomplish.
Clue 2: Style of Ich tu dir weh's influence
In LIFAD tour, Paul kept intentionally imitating the ITDW music video on stage. You can fully utilize this to your advantage in several ways.
Shirtless photos mean LIFAD
Sometimes this was also for reasons pertaining promoting Pussy, but in most cases it's the imitation of Ich tu dir weh's video.
Solid buckled left wristband means LIFAD
Sometimes it would be tight enough to cause his arm skin to bunch up. This is very different than MiG era where such arm band did not exist with that texture, solid image, or tightness on his skin. It has buckles on it, as well; making it distinct from various angles.
LIFAD
If the left wristband is solid, thick, and buckled, treat the photo as LIFAD without hesitation. Will also often come with his personal jewelry nearby.
It was often paired with the jewelry which comes from his personal wardrobe from home. It's a skull ring and silver bracelet (or two, but usually one). On stage, these jewelry were worn during early LIFAD era photos. But were dropped quickly for whatever reason during 2010. His ring was the first to be dropped. He continued the bracelet(s) beside the ITDW wrist band for a while. Then dropped them from usage.
On the upper arm on the right, he would wear a soft textured arm band that bends easy. Usually around to just slightly below his tattoo area or on his elbow during LIFAD. During MiG tour, he would wear a similar soft black arm band but never so high up. It was instead placed at his forearm and wrist properly in every usage.
Made in Germany
A clean fit to his forearms on both sides in even distribution of size will always be MiG.
LIFAD exclusive variants
LIFAD
These are exclusive to that tour cycle.
Fingerless gloves mean Made in Germany
Made in Germany
Never worn any other tour cycle.
Clue 3: Neck wear changes
This is where things get complicated and require sharp eyes. The black/red neck choker is shared between both tours. This thing will never help you. Abandon caring about it. However, there's hope at the end of that statement. Because some variants exist. Which are distinct if you actually look. If you ever see no neck wear at all, that is MiG.
Clue 4: Stage props, guitars, and song specific hints
The ESP Eclipse
LIFAD
If Paul is holding a white ESP guitar, these models are exclusive to that tour cycle.
Song identifiers
Clue 5: Black earrings point to 2009–10 LIFAD
LIFAD
He never did this in MiG tour era whatsoever.
Clue 6: Stage backgrounds
Additionally, if you ever see Schneider's drums back there, check for the LI of LIFAD to see if it's there. If you see the R+ logo, that's MiG.
2009–2012 tour identification quiz
Now that you have come a long way from the days of mystery and confusion, it's time for you to be given your pop quiz. Look at the image and make your choice based on the details.
Quiz photo #1
Show answer
Answer: LIFAD
Why: His left wristband is solid and thicker and is the small sized variant from ITDW promotions. The right arm cover sits near the low shoulder and elbow.
Quiz photo #2
Show answer
Answer: Made in Germany
Why: Right and left arm covers are both fabric and made to fit.
Quiz photo #3
Show answer
Answer: Made in Germany
Why: No neck wear = MiG only. Right arm has forearm cover, made to fit. Left arm has no buckle or solid looking wrist band.
Quiz photo #4
Show answer
Answer: LIFAD
Why: Left arm has solid wrist band with thicker look. Right arm has elbow bunched up variant.
Quiz photo #5
Show answer
Answer: LIFAD
Why: Purposefully harder because his arms are hidden in darkness. The claw background = LIFAD. You can also see his bracelet!
Quiz photo #6
Show answer
Answer: Made in Germany
Why: Fingerless gloves, geometrical background, no neck wear.
Quiz photo #7
Show answer
Answer: LIFAD
Why: Black earring is 2009-10. Thick solid black neck wear = ITDW.