Lindefann

Rammstein’s untouchable gods setup has a lot to be said for it and no band out there puts on a better or more awe inspiring show, but there’s another type of magic to be found in Lindemann’s concerts. I genuinely felt such an incredible connection to Till, Peter, the band and the crowd. I could see the movement of every eyelash and the lines of every frown, and Till just oozes charisma. 

You were also shooting Till's "Messer" tour in Russia at the end of 2018 - are there any plans to release this footage? What can you say about this tour?

Yes, I was shooting and one day it will come out. Something dirty and loud and very punkish. That tour was absolute madness. it was my hardest job ever, because either I shot the shows, or the after party, or the travel, every time there was something happening what had to be captured in camera. I think you had the chance to see Till how he was 20 years ago. It was like the stuff that I love. The real spirit of sex, drugs & rock’n’roll. It was real punk attitude. That was exactly how I imagined the wild times of Zeppelin, Iggy, Sabbath.

“For Mein "Herz Brennt" you did reshoots in order to improve Eugenio Recuenco’s footage. What is the difference between working with your own material and with the material of someone else? 

Zoran: It’s not a good feeling to be honest. The band has been unhappy with his film. So I was asked to make a new edit, but I felt uncomfortable touching others work. Especially because I really, really admired Eugenio’s work (until he started his shitstorm).So to make a new version we had to reshoot. I took some of his scenes and made a new story of it. In the way that I told a story, that played years later, when the Rammstein-kids grew up. Well, Eugenio “thanked” me with a shitstorm campaign against Rammstein and, somehow against me. It started right on my birthday, and Spanish and Hispanic fans wrote me bad comments and letters. He even misspelled my name in his posts, campaign, whatever it was. So, was I the one to blame? Pfff. Thank God and the Universe I did the “Piano Version”, which is 100% me ... Me and Till. THAT’S my real “Mein Herz brennt”, which burns all the other stuff away.

What are the main differences between working with Rammstein and working with Lindemann project?

In Rammstein you have six opinions, in Lindemann - two. Lindemann is more wild and raw, we do here stuff that Rammstein wouldn’t do. Yes, maybe it’s not so popular like Rammstein, it’s more edgy. And why? Because it CAN be edgy now. So Peter and Till, with this punk/metal attitude, decide to be more spontaneous, while with Rammstein many think-overs and discussions have to be done. Well, at least in the times when I directed for them.

Is it your idea trying to kill Till in almost every Lindemann clip or he's asking for it?

Zoran: Since „Mein Teil“ he wants this from me, and I want it from him. No, I am thankful, he gives it to me, for his art. He is the one artist, who sacrifices everything for his art. for art itself. I only know Marina Abramović who does this. We both know when the scene , the act, the moment, is good - most of the times.

So, yes, we want it both. But also, I don’t want it to be a common thing now. Somehow everybody is expecting that now, and even saying that it is just a repeating pattern, that I always use just for the shock-effect. That’s not true, that’s not my intention. It always depends on the song, what metaphors and what imagination it demands. But , I am sorry for that, almost every time I find it in „suffering“. And to add something important for this: everybody only sees the violence, but nobody sees the sadness and loneliness of his figure in the videos. This is the real motive for the actions.

But: people see what they want to see. The more room I give for interpretation, the better for everybody. And so everybody can reflect his taste, fears, desires in that.

Now as everybody has seen it, you can ask me questions about it too. Maybe I say some stuff here: So, while they made the „big“ video, “Frau & Mann”, I shot the dirty little small one , in-between their breaks, or before they went to shoot. We had to do it in a limited place, and shoot it in a very, very short time. It was very wild, and we improvised a lot. It is about Till, dreaming of being number one. That was my approach. Not the real thing, a fantasy. So how has to be the situation be, that you fantasize about something like that? It must be hell, it must be the absolute opposite. He has to be totally helpless. And worse: even blind. There will be something else coming out, something very raw, and it will close the circle. “Ach so gern”, “Knebel”, “Platz Eins”, and the new one, all is part of one big thing. “Frau & Mann”: I have nothing to do with that. So, be surprised.

1) Till Lindemann: He isn’t a thing but you all knew that was coming, but he makes me happy beyond measure. There are no words to express how much I love and admire that man.

2) Animals. Almost any animal. Just looking at them makes me so happy. Wild or domestic I love them all. 

3) Japanese food: Especially sushi but Japanese food generally. It’s so good, and so delicious without being too heavy on the stomach. Also they had the best seafood dishes. 

4) People who add a comment on reblogs. It doesn’t matter what they say, if it’s a long commentary on the subject of the pic or just an OMG! I love reading them.

“It must not be easy to be Lindemann either, you think when you observe him in the hotel lobby, where he is getting ready to head for a music video recording session. Around twenty men are constantly circling around Lindemann; people from the record label, managers, media professionals. They are pulling on him, talking to him. Pushy passers-by who recognize Lindemann are kept away from him. Lindemann, a 56-year-old guy, stands amidst that commotion like the Sphinx of Giza among the pyramid tourists. He must also be tired of all this fuss.” 

Till in Moscow. 26.02.20

Two of the backstage London signs at the Lindemann show.