As the legendary German metallers drop an exclusive playlist for the house, a bunch of their biggest stans slip into Demna’s new merch line
Type Demna Gvasalia’s name into Google image search and it won’t be long before you land on a thumbnail of him wearing a Rammstein tee. Whether he’s running around Paris between shows or catching up with Twin Peaks icon Kyle McLachlan backstage, the Georgian designer doesn’t so much wear his heart on his sleeve as he does plastered across his chest.
As a longtime uber-fan of the legendary German metal band, Gvasalia even included multiple Rammstein tracks in his brilliantly chaotic Balenciaga playlist in September of last year. If you’ve never heard the Fugees’ “Ready or Not” blur into “Bestrafe mich” – as bolstered by Barry Manilow and the dulcet tones of George Michael – you truly have not lived.
Now, as part of this ongoing curated music series, Gvasalia has gone one better than just sticking a bit of Rammstein on a mix, and invited the band to put together their own. Launching on Apple Music today, Rammstein for Balenciaga sees The Stranglers lined up next to Lana Del Rey, a touch of Arctic Monkeys, and a bit of Vegyn and Archy Marshall thrown in for good measure (check it out for yourself here).
Also dropping alongside Rammstein’s mix is a new capsule merch line, bearing unseen photos from an iconic photoshoot lensed by Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein. Plastered across Balenciaga staples including long-sleeved tees and oversized hoodies, baseball caps, bumbags, and a backpack also get the band’s logo treatment.
The whole lot is modelled by a bunch of die-hard Rammstein fans – Helena, Mona, and Torsten – who Demna and his team reached out to via Instagram. Captured in their home by Patrick Welde, the three are surrounded by swathes of their own merch and paraphernalia – with handwritten poems by frontman Till Lindemann and bottles of Rammstein perfume among their extensive collections.
“In September 1996 I heard them for the first time,” Torsten recalls. “I was flashed, excited, pure goosebumps – I was just blown away.” Helena, meanwhile, reveals she’d ‘never heard anything like (them) before’: “They made me immediately jump off the bench where I was sitting and start dancing.” Naturally, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to hear more about their obsession, so sent a few questions in their direction. Get to know them below, and check out the full gallery above.
HELENA JURISCH, MUNICH
What was the first Rammstein track you ever heard and how did it make you feel?
Helena Jurisch: I remember watching a Rammstein video for the first time in 2001, it was a video for the song “Du Hast”. It was in a rock club in Manaus, called Porão do Alemão. What impressed me the most was the brutal strength of the music, combined with the exoticism of the language. I had never heard anything like this before, which made me immediately jump off the bench where I was sitting and start dancing. From then on, whenever I went back to that club – my favourite club – I asked them to play Rammstein.
What’s your fave track or album?
Helena Jurisch: My first Rammstein album was Sehnsucht, a gift from an ex boyfriend. It is also my favourite album. It´s very hard to pick one track, but I will go with “Mutter”. I will never get bored of screaming “MUTTEEERRRRRR” along with Till. "Don´t Die Before I Do” close second.
Why do you love the band?
Helena Jurisch: The lyrics of the songs surprise me sometimes. They often have dark content, and I feel that I have these dark elements in myself, which naturally makes me feel attracted to the band. Even as a child I was depressed. It sounds strange, but Rammstein is helping me out of the depression.
How many times have you seen them? Do you have a favourite moment from one of their gigs?
Helena Jurisch: Six times and I hope that the next stadium tours will be the seventh and eighth. I waited nine years to be able to see them live. The first time was in Wuhlheide, Berlin, in 2010, on the LIFAD Tour – a mega gift from my husband. I can still see the fire bursts from “Sonne” that were making me sweat. It was a night I will never forget.
“It’s very hard to pick (my favourite track), but I will go with “Mutter”. I will never get bored of screaming “MUTTEEERRRRRR” along with Till” – Helena Jurisch
Have you met them? If so, what did you talk about? If not, what would you like to say to the band?
Helena Jurisch: Unfortunately not and to be honest I have no idea what I would say to them. Maybe, I love you? :-)
How would you describe your style?
Helena Jurisch: I like the metal style, with studs, and a lot of black, but I don't follow any style. I try to dress to suit the situation, the place, and my own mood.
If someone were just being introduced to Rammstein, what song would you get them to listen to and why?
Helena Jurisch: I would show you the song “Ich will” right away. I always heard the song “Ich will”, but I never paid much attention to the lyrics until I went through my last depression crisis. For the past few years, two sentences kept going through my head. “I want” and “I want to conquer depression,” I said to myself, crying often.
“Ich will eure Blicke spüren. Ich will eure Stimme hören. Ich will, dass ihr mich gut seht. ich will, dass ihr mich versteht,” sings Till Lindemann (I want to feel your eyes. I want to hear your voice. I want you to see me well. I want her to understand me). At the end the choir replies: “Wir hören dich! Wir sehen dich! Wir fühlen dich!” (We hear you! We see you! We feel you!).
This song touched me deeply. For most of my life I was painfully lonely and I missed just that. And as I know today, one can only develop a stable self in exchange with others. That's why this song is so important to me, and why I would show it to others.
Is there a ‘holy grail’ piece of Rammstein merch you'd love to get your hands on, or otherwise do you have a piece in your collection that you prize the most?
Helena Jurisch: I have a pair of silver earrings that my husband gave me as a gift years ago, which are my favourite piece of the collection. And I would love to have the Rammstein wall shelf – I could put all of my Rammstein perfumes in there.
TORSTEN GÄBLER, DRESDEN
What was the first Rammstein track you ever heard and how did it make you feel?
Torsten Gäbler: In September 1996 I heard Rammstein for the first time. My nephew brought me a CD that we listened to at least three times in the car. I was flashed, excited, pure goosebumps! “Weißes Fleisch” was the first song I heard.
What’s your fave track?
Torsten Gäbler: I have several: “Wiener Blut”, “Stirb Nicht Vor Mir”, “Engel”, and “Donaukinder”.
What is it about the band you love?
Torsten Gäbler: I love Till's lyrics, these lyrics are unique. I would call them art. These German words from the deepest abysses of mankind are simply impressive! And of course the associated implementation with the instruments.
“I’ve seen the band 21 times. On July 17, 2019, my wife, my then-five-year-old daughter, and I were at the Prague concert. It was my daughter’s first concert and she could sing along to almost all of the songs” – Torsten Gäbler
How many times have you seen Rammstein, and what’s your favourite or most memorable moment from one of their gigs?
Torsten Gäbler: “I’ve seen the band 21 times. On July 17, 2019, my wife, my then-five-year-old daughter, and I were at the Prague concert. It was my daughter’s first concert and she could sing along to almost all of the songs. All the people standing around watched our daughter Ella. They paid more attention to our daughter than to the Rammstein concert. Me too, of course – those big child’s eyes! We were so proud and it was the best concert!
Have you met the band? If so, what did you talk about? If not, what would you say to them if you met them?
Torsten Gäbler: Unfortunately I haven't gotten to know the band yet. I met Till Lindemann twice. What an aura he has! I would say to the band: they should make music for many years to come and give great concerts.
What’s your most-prized piece of merch? Is there a ‘holy grail’ item you’d love to get your hands on?
Torsten Gäbler: For me, a total highlight would be a vinyl with signatures of all six band members. That would be great. I have a handwritten poem by Till Lindemann with an autograph. I am particularly proud of that!