Till Lindemann, frontman of incendiary German metal act Rammstein, is a free man after the Berlin public prosecutor’s office dropped its sexual assault investigation, citing a lack of evidence.
The probe was initiated in June, when several women came forward with claims they were plied with substances at pre- or after-show parties, and recruited to engage in sexual activity.
One of those accusers, Shelby Lynn, from Northern Ireland, told the BBC she was recruited and “groomed” for sex with the singer after a May concert in Vilnius, Lithuania. Lynn claimed her drink was spiked at the show, but says she wasn’t sexually assaulted.
Lindemann always denied the allegations, and lawyers for the 60-year-old singer called them “without exception untrue”.
Now, Lindemann has been cleared on suspicion of committing sexual offenses and violations of German’s Narcotics Act.
“The statements made by witnesses in the press reports have not been confirmed by the investigations,” reads a press release issued Tuesday (Aug. 29) by the public prosecutor’s office.
Afterwards, Lindemann posted a brief message to his social channels, reading: “I thank all those who have waited impartially for the end of the investigation.”
When the allegations emerged earlier this month, the band members issued a statement to say they took them “extremely seriously” and condemn all forms of abuse, adding that fans should feel safe “in front and behind the stage” at shows. Also, the rockers asked that they “not be pre-judged.”
Politicians weighed in. German Families Minister Lisa Paus called for an “alliance against sexism” and safety from abusive behavior, telling the AFP news agency, “young people in particular need to be better protected from attacks here.”
Formed in 1994, Rammstein has consistently been one of Germany’s most popular — and controversial — rock music exports.
The band’s explosive concerts have landed them on festival headline slots around the world, and, at times, put them at loggerheads with health and safety. A planned 2001 concert at former London venue Astoria was scrapped “due to significant restrictions to their stageshow and pyrotechnics” — in other words, authorities were worried the inner-city venue would light up.
The group has also courted controversy with its lyrical content and music videos, which have included a hardcore pornographic promo for the 2009 single “Pussy”, and the clip for 2019’s “Deutschland” which was blasted as tasteless and unacceptable by Jewish organizations for its depiction of band members as concentration camp inmates.
Their success as a touring juggernaut and record-seller is in no doubt. In 2019, Rammstein’s untitled seventh studio LP debuted at No. 1 on the album charts in 14 countries, according to Universal Music.
