The burning issues in Rammstein

By NICK SMITH

Techno, hardcore, industrial, metal ... German rockers Rammstein have borne many musical labels but one that has definitely stuck is "outrageous."

Flames, explosions, gigantic dildos on stage - Rammstein come on like a kind of Jim Rose Circus backed by sledgehammer rhythms, squealing metal guitars, techno keyboards and guttural vocals uttered only in German.

And in this over-the-top Wagnerian rock opera, there are no surtitles.

Despite the Teutonic tumescence of the music, Rammstein claim to have a sense of humour. They say they don't take themselves seriously in their at-times ludicrous efforts to shock the audience.

Certainly the East German sextet are shaping up as one of the must-see acts at Big Day Out.

It's not often that members of a band are literally set alight on stage or a lead singer fires incendiary devices from rocket launchers strapped to his arms.

That's why critics claim that Rammstein make a Marilyn Manson gig look like a Disney production.

Then there are the dildos, which apparently are used to shoot 10m flames over the heads of audiences.

Quite why Rammstein use giant dildos as flame-throwers is unclear - would they care to explain?

Speaking through an interpreter, keyboardist Flake says the dildos became part of the stage act after lead singer Till Lindemann experienced a disturbing dream and wrote a song.

"The dildos are not burning but there are lots of flames," is the terse interpretation from the English translator after an interminable German monologue. All the publicity material says the sex toys shoot flames. But the interpreter is emphatic: no burning dildos.

Glad we cleared that one up.

What about this dream, then? "[In the dream, Lindemann] opens the door and there are women bending over and they come back towards him. The dildo story comes from this dream."

Clear as mud, really. It's difficult to conduct an interview through an interpreter. Particularly when Flake seems a voluble personality, prone to rambling at great length - and his interpreter offers a one-sentence summation as translation.

But here's the gist of the scintillating three-way discussion:

Western media coverage of German events is often sensational.

Racist attacks on immigrants are perpetrated by unemployed, uneducated youth.

Rammstein does not support "these kind of activities."

Employment and education would solve these problems.

Oh, and they are also very excited about coming to New Zealand, about which the band know nothing.

Flake obviously possesses a droll sense of humour and wonders whether New Zealanders have to stand on their heads, given that we live at the bottom of the world.

He's heard that there are no mosquitoes in this country.

Really?

"Yes," says the interpreter, "no things that bite, poisonous snakes."

No, Flake, there are no poisonous snakes or spiders in Godzone.

Glad we cleared that up for you.

* Rammstein, Big Day Out, Orange Stage, 8.45 pm