band under criticism
“The allegations weigh so heavily”: Berlin’s interior senator does not allow Rammstein parties
Iris Spranger (SPD), Berlin Senator for the Interior, wants to prevent the Rammstein parties
© Jens Kalaene / DPA
The Rammstein concerts should continue to take place in Berlin. However, the band and fans have to go home afterwards. There will be no after-show parties in the German capital.
In view of the allegations against Rammstein singer Till Lindemann, Berlin’s Senator for the Interior has confirmed that there will be no after-show parties for the band in the country’s properties. “The allegations are so serious that I gave absolute priority to the protection and safety of women and stopped the rental contracts that would have been due for the after-show parties,” said Iris Spranger (SPD) on Monday in the Interior Committee of the House of Representatives. “In Berlin there will be no after-show parties by the Rammstein band in the properties for which I am responsible.”
When asked, Spranger said: “The rental contracts for the parties have not been decided, I have prevented that. I cannot ban the concerts as such, it is not in my sovereignty.” She added that the presumption of innocence naturally applies in the rule of law, but the state also has an obligation to ward off dangers.
Spranger did not provide any more precise information on when exactly she intervened in planned contracts or how many inquiries there were at all. As early as June 7, she announced on Twitter that she did not want to allow parties.
According to information from the administration, the so-called properties are two areas near the Olympic Stadium, where the concert will take place in July. Namely, areas on the grounds of the Olympic Park and Olympic Pool.
Rammstein lawyer rejects allegations against Lindemann
Several women had raised allegations against Lindemann in the past few days, some anonymously. The women described situations that they sometimes found frightening. Young women were selected during concerts and asked if they wanted to come to the after-show party. According to descriptions by some women, there were also sexual acts.
Lindemann had rejected allegations against him on Thursday. He is now having his interests represented by a lawyer, as the Berlin lawyers Simon Bergmann and Christian Schertz announced. “Serious allegations against our client were made by various women on social networks, especially on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube,” it said in a statement. “It has been repeatedly claimed that women at Rammstein concerts were sedated with knock-out drops or alcohol to enable our client to perform sexual acts on them. These allegations are untrue without exception.”