Till Lindemann (Rammstein) accused of sexual assault: what we know

The German press reveals the existence of several investigations against Till Lindemann, leader of the metal band Rammstein, accused of sexual assault.

The turmoil in the middle of a world tour. Singer Till Lindemann, frontman of German metal band Rammstein, is targeted by dozens of testimonies, relayed by the German press, accusing him of sexual assault, as part of a system of predation described as being well established around him. It all started on May 25, on Twitter, when a young Irish woman named Shelby Lynn wrote a long thread of posts, claiming to have been drugged and sexually assaulted during a private party on the sidelines of the Rammstein concert in Vilnius, Lithuania, May 22.

She explains that she was invited to a party before the metal band’s show, where she was served a drink. After drinking it, Shelby Lynn says she felt “like a human zombie.” The fan assures that Till Lindemann would have tried to have sex with her, losing her refusal. On Twitter, the young woman publishes photos of bruises that appeared on her body, not remembering their origin. Shelby Lynn was taken care of by the police and the emergency services the day after the facts she recounts. Investigations are ongoing.

In addition to this testimony, the German press has collected dozens of stories from women recounting similar facts, revealing a system of predation organized around Till Lindemann. Fans would be recruited from social media and then herded to the front row of their concerts, dubbed “Row Zero.” Invited before or after the show in the dressing rooms of the group, they would be offered alcohol or cocaine and confiscate their telephone, before being brought to Till Lindemann.

A dozen women, aged between 20 and 22, testified in several investigations carried out by the German media NDR and the Suddeutsche Zeitung. A second survey was published by the weekly Die Weltdescribing the role of a certain Alena Makeeva, a Russian in her thirties responsible for spotting young women in the front row of Rammstein’s concerts, to present the photos and video to the leader of the group.

Rammstein denies the accusations

Sherlby Lynn’s publication and the rise of the case prompted Rammstein to respond to the accusations in a statement. “Regarding the accusations circulating on the Internet about Vilnius, we can rule out the possibility that what is alleged took place in our environment. We are not aware of any official investigation into this case,” reads in a first press release, followed by a second following new revelations from the German press.

“Posts over the past few days have caused irritation and questions from the public and especially from our fans. These accusations have touched us all deeply and we take them very seriously. We say to our fans: it is important to us that you feel comfortable and safe at our shows – in front of and behind the stage.We condemn all forms of aggression and ask that you do not engage in public condemnation of any kind against those who have made the accusations . They have a right to their point of view. But we, the band, also have a right – namely not to be judged”, can we read.

These accusations come in full world tour of Rammstein, which must occur at the Stade de France, in Paris on July 21 next.