Rammstein Censored

According to Deutsche Welle, the metal band Rammstein has again managed to achieve worldwide infamy: this time, they've been declared a danger to the citizens of Belarus by that country's officials.

The ominous-sounding Council for Morality announced earlier this week their intent to ban Rammstein from entering the former Soviet republic – claiming that their music promotes violence, masochism, homosexuality and other abnormalities, and could potentially destroy the Belarusian state system.

This came despite assurances from the band's promoters that they do not intend to spread violent, perverse, cruel or Nazi ideology in their concerts.

German rock band Rammstein is having more than a bit of difficulty with German censorship authorities over what songs they can and cannot play at a couple of upcoming concerts.

According to The Gauntlet, officials in the German Family Ministry will not permit the group to play any of the songs that had already been specifically blacklisted when they perform at Dortmund's Westphalia Hall.

In addition, the government agency is asking that each member of the group sign a written explanation before the concerts that the indexed songs are not played.

If Rammstein decides to call the ministry's bluff, they could face a fine of up to 10,000 €. In accordance with the country's Youth Protection Act, any fans under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian of a person to attend the concert. Fans without a parent or guardian in attendance will be sent home.

The concerts, part of the band's promotional tour for their album Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da, are both sold out, and organizers are expecting well over 10,000 fans to show up

Rammstein's much discussed and highly sought-after Liebe Ist Fr Alle Da box set, which features six sex toys, lubricant, handcuffs and a special album version packaged in a custom flight case, is now available to U.S. fans via Rammstein-Deluxe.com.

In keeping with the sexually charged nature of Liebe Ist Fr Alle Da , Rammstein's video for the first single, Pussy, made music history as the first major recording artist to create an adult-themed video. Recently, the band has seen their album banned and/or available with age restrictions in their native Germany, Switzerland, and Australia.

Rammstein's latest album, Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da has been indexed as it is commonly referred to in Germany, meaning that the album cannot be sold to minors and cannot be displayed on store shelves. The album will now only be made available for purchase behind the counter at shops that still carry the album.  The ban is not proving too detrimental though, as the album is currently topping the album charts.

Word is that the tracks Ich Tu Dir Weh and Pussy along with some promotional imagery featuring guitarist Richard Kruspe spanking a female were cause for the BPjM ( Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons ) to act.

With the songs being indexed, the band will not be allowed to perform them live.

Rammstein commented on the matter via Facebook, stating that German fans should specifically ask for the album, and be sure to have their ID with them to prove that they can buy the CD.

The album is also taking flak in Switzerland. The Evangelical People's Party (EPP) has stated that they will file a parliamentary request to block the sale of the album to protect the youth from the album.

EPP President Heiner Studer said the cover shows sadomasochistic practices. In addition, the single Pussy promotes unprotected sex.

Note:

BPjM, Bundesprfstelle fr jugendge fäh rdende Medien ( Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons )

A board of 12 representatives consisting of 8 different social organizations (e.g. artistic and literary community, entertainment industry, youth welfare, teachers, religious groups), 3 representatives of the federal states as well as the chairwoman of the BPjM, examines the respective object. If the board, with a majority of 2/3 of the members, decides that the object has a content dangerous for young people, it enters its name into the list of youth-endangering media, generally referred to as the index.

Distributors of that medium are then no longer permitted to sell, rent out or even display this object in public or to broadcast it. The same goes for advertising for this object.

Retailers in Australia cannot sell the new Rammstein album to anyone under the age of 18 because it has been rated R18+.

Under Australian censorship laws, the R18+ rating is restricted to content with high impact and restricted to adults 18 years and older.

Liebe ist fur alle da was released in Australia this week under somewhat controversial circumstances after the band pre-empted the album release with an X rated pornographic video of the first single Pussy.

Swedish director Jonas Akerlund, who has worked with Metallica and The Prodigy, shot the Pussy porn clip.

The band will also release a limited edition of the album soon in a flight case packaged with six sex toys, handcuffs and lubricant.