Until Lindemann, frontman of incendiary German metallic act Rammstein, is a free man after the Berlin public prosecutor’s workplace dropped its sexual assault investigation, citing an absence of proof.
The probe was initiated in June, when a number of ladies got here ahead with claims they had been plied with substances at pre- or after-show events, and recruited to interact in sexual exercise.
A type of accusers, Shelby Lynn, from Northern Eire, informed the BBC she was recruited and “groomed” for intercourse with the singer after a Might live performance in Vilnius, Lithuania. Lynn claimed her drink was spiked on the present, however says she wasn’t sexually assaulted.
Lindemann at all times denied the allegations, and legal professionals for the 60-year-old singer referred to as them “with out exception unfaithful”.
Now, Lindemann has been cleared on suspicion of committing sexual offenses and violations of German’s Narcotics Act.
“The statements made by witnesses within the press experiences haven’t been confirmed by the investigations,” reads a press launch issued Tuesday (Aug. 29) by the general public prosecutor’s workplace.
Afterwards, Lindemann posted a short message to his social channels, studying: “I thank all those that have waited impartially for the tip of the investigation.”
When the allegations emerged earlier this month, the band members issued a press release to say they took them “extraordinarily severely” and condemn all types of abuse, including that followers ought to really feel secure “in entrance and behind the stage” at reveals. Additionally, the rockers requested that they “not be pre-judged.”
Politicians weighed in. German Households Minister Lisa Paus referred to as for an “alliance towards sexism” and security from abusive habits, telling the AFP information company, “younger folks particularly have to be higher shielded from assaults right here.”
Fashioned in 1994, Rammstein has constantly been one in every of Germany’s hottest — and controversial — rock music exports.
The band’s explosive live shows have landed them on pageant headline slots all over the world, and, at occasions, put them at loggerheads with well being and security. A deliberate 2001 live performance at former London venue Astoria was scrapped “because of vital restrictions to their stageshow and pyrotechnics” — in different phrases, authorities had been apprehensive the inner-city venue would mild up.
The group has additionally courted controversy with its lyrical content material and music movies, 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 focus camp inmates.
Their success as a touring juggernaut and record-seller is in little question. In 2019, Rammstein’s untitled seventh studio LP debuted at No. 1 on the album charts in 14 nations, in accordance with Common Music.
