Here it is an interview that Paul gave to the fansite Rammstein-Mexico. What a bunch of lucky bastards
Source: http://www.rammstein.com.mx/foro/vie...php?f=3&t=1171
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R+MX: Do you have any special memory of your past times in our country? How important is Mexico for you?
Paul Landers: We consider the Mexican fans as the most enthusiastic. For us it’s always like coming home when we come to play to Mexico. We like the colorful sarapes, and the colorful handicrafts; the Mexican airline gave us mango with chili and, of course, tequila, which has already caused us so many headaches!
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R+MX: Mexican culture, being half the world away from Germany, is in some ways, very different. Why then Rammstein is able to generate such a passion in their Mexican fans?
Paul Landers: Amazingly, there is a strong bond between Mexicans and Germans; you can’t explain it so easily. No idea what may have happened thousands of years ago...
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R+MX: In terms of music, how much has Rammstein changed between 2001 and 2011?
Paul Landers: We always try to remain true to the tightrope walk between the classic and the evolved. There are both conservative and very unconventional forces in the band. Each of us gives an opinion on this or takes that role. Our potential is far from being exhausted. I would imagine that the next album as clear as AC-DC, so cool and groovy like Ministry, as hard as Slipknot or as transparent as Rihanna.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: After 17 years of history as a band, what does Rammstein mean in your life now? How has changed your perspective on the group, since its origins?
Paul Landers: At first we were friends who really just wanted to make trouble. Eventually, we have become more relaxed by the unexpected worldwide success and can enjoy it just about anywhere in the world to give a concert. We, as a band, perceive it as a great happiness that we have won. When the six of us are together, we create something special. We trust the oracle. I had to make my own life, and I never worried about my everyday life, not even today. If I’ve had to obey any contact with authorities, that’s been reduced to visa applications. This life I’ve got is thanks to the Band, and I am eternally grateful for it.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: What is the main driving force that keeps you together? Bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden or Nightwish have changed their line-up several times. Would this work for you?
Paul Landers: A good question. We are very fortunate because we’re still together the way we started. Maybe it's the fact that the group of the six of us is over the individual, that sometimes tends to lose the ground under the feet; that allows us to get back to Earth. No idea.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: You have reached very high levels, musically and visually speaking. Do you feel like you’ve gone the highest possible, or can you reach any further? What do you feel you’re missing to do?
Paul Landers: In terms of the music, we definitely have some reserves, since there are increasing opportunities to improve the quality of the songs. As for the show, there are also lots of ideas and projects…. Wait and see.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: The German government, censored LIFAD because its supposedly “morally incorrect” lyrics in the song “Ich tu dir weh”. After a process, you won the combat and this song’s video won the ECHO “Best National Video” award. Did you feel this like revenge? Something like “a fine insult”?
Paul Landers: No, ‘cause the people who censored the song had nothing to do with those who award the prize. There is no "up there" where everything is determined. There are only people who make it as good as they can.
Anyone who provokes must expect that the hurting society’s backbite some day. We never had dreamed it could be all about this song. We always look to test the boundaries of good taste, because we have joy when we do. But we need no prohibition in order to feel great and maladjusted; we just do what we like and can’t take it regardless of any feelings. We would wind up being ourselves. We see ourselves as artists. If no one talks about us, we have failed. That would be really boring.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: After 6-studio and 2-live albums, is this the right moment to release a “Greatest Hits” album?
Paul Landers: No, by no means, but the record company insists we are getting the money for a long time and could not hold them back for more to bring out a best of album. Damn.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: All modesty aside, do you consider yourselves the greatest German band of all times?
Paul Landers: No, take for example KRAFTWERK, a true musical influence on the world. We are miles away from that.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: How do you manage all the fame? The legions of fans, even a planet with your name… It might be difficult to keep both feet on the ground, isn’t it?
Paul Landers: So far we have mostly managed to get us to each other again on the Earth.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: What do you like to do on your “everyday life”? Not everything is Rammstein, so do you have any other hobbies?
Paul Landers: Schneider likes motorcycling, Flake operates a vintage car rental, Till likes to hunt, Oli and I love windsurfing and Richard works on his solo project.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: Usually, between every album release, Rammstein takes its time. How much will we have to wait before having a new album in our hands?
Paul Landers: Quite right, after the tour of the Best, we will again take a “short break”.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: What’s the legacy that Rammstein will give to the world? What is the heritage left for all the people you’ve touched with your music?
Paul Landers: Hmmm, is this all even possible on this Earth? Listen to your heart! Peace! Too dumb? So, hmmm... maybe our music and our videos, that’s probably our heritage.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: What’s next for Rammstein? Are there any future plans for the band?
Paul Landers: We might release an orchestral album, but not with band and orchestra, but only an orchestra in which we play. So, let’s say Rammstein / Wagner without electric guitars.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: Do you have any special memory of your past times in our country? How important is Mexico for you?
Paul Landers: We consider the Mexican fans as the most enthusiastic. For us it’s always like coming home when we come to play to Mexico. We like the colorful sarapes, and the colorful handicrafts; the Mexican airline gave us mango with chili and, of course, tequila, which has already caused us so many headaches!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++
R+MX: Mexican culture, being half the world away from Germany, is in some ways, very different. Why then Rammstein is able to generate such a passion in their Mexican fans?
Paul Landers: Amazingly, there is a strong bond between Mexicans and Germans; you can’t explain it so easily. No idea what may have happened thousands of years ago...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: In terms of music, how much has Rammstein changed between 2001 and 2011?
Paul Landers: We always try to remain true to the tightrope walk between the classic and the evolved. There are both conservative and very unconventional forces in the band. Each of us gives an opinion on this or takes that role. Our potential is far from being exhausted. I would imagine that the next album as clear as AC-DC, so cool and groovy like Ministry, as hard as Slipknot or as transparent as Rihanna.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: After 17 years of history as a band, what does Rammstein mean in your life now? How has changed your perspective on the group, since its origins?
Paul Landers: At first we were friends who really just wanted to make trouble. Eventually, we have become more relaxed by the unexpected worldwide success and can enjoy it just about anywhere in the world to give a concert. We, as a band, perceive it as a great happiness that we have won. When the six of us are together, we create something special. We trust the oracle. I had to make my own life, and I never worried about my everyday life, not even today. If I’ve had to obey any contact with authorities, that’s been reduced to visa applications. This life I’ve got is thanks to the Band, and I am eternally grateful for it.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: What is the main driving force that keeps you together? Bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden or Nightwish have changed their line-up several times. Would this work for you?
Paul Landers: A good question. We are very fortunate because we’re still together the way we started. Maybe it's the fact that the group of the six of us is over the individual, that sometimes tends to lose the ground under the feet; that allows us to get back to Earth. No idea.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: You have reached very high levels, musically and visually speaking. Do you feel like you’ve gone the highest possible, or can you reach any further? What do you feel you’re missing to do?
Paul Landers: In terms of the music, we definitely have some reserves, since there are increasing opportunities to improve the quality of the songs. As for the show, there are also lots of ideas and projects…. Wait and see.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: The German government, censored LIFAD because its supposedly “morally incorrect” lyrics in the song “Ich tu dir weh”. After a process, you won the combat and this song’s video won the ECHO “Best National Video” award. Did you feel this like revenge? Something like “a fine insult”?
Paul Landers: No, ‘cause the people who censored the song had nothing to do with those who award the prize. There is no "up there" where everything is determined. There are only people who make it as good as they can.
Anyone who provokes must expect that the hurting society’s backbite some day. We never had dreamed it could be all about this song. We always look to test the boundaries of good taste, because we have joy when we do. But we need no prohibition in order to feel great and maladjusted; we just do what we like and can’t take it regardless of any feelings. We would wind up being ourselves. We see ourselves as artists. If no one talks about us, we have failed. That would be really boring.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: After 6-studio and 2-live albums, is this the right moment to release a “Greatest Hits” album?
Paul Landers: No, by no means, but the record company insists we are getting the money for a long time and could not hold them back for more to bring out a best of album. Damn.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: All modesty aside, do you consider yourselves the greatest German band of all times?
Paul Landers: No, take for example KRAFTWERK, a true musical influence on the world. We are miles away from that.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: How do you manage all the fame? The legions of fans, even a planet with your name… It might be difficult to keep both feet on the ground, isn’t it?
Paul Landers: So far we have mostly managed to get us to each other again on the Earth.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: What do you like to do on your “everyday life”? Not everything is Rammstein, so do you have any other hobbies?
Paul Landers: Schneider likes motorcycling, Flake operates a vintage car rental, Till likes to hunt, Oli and I love windsurfing and Richard works on his solo project.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: Usually, between every album release, Rammstein takes its time. How much will we have to wait before having a new album in our hands?
Paul Landers: Quite right, after the tour of the Best, we will again take a “short break”.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: What’s the legacy that Rammstein will give to the world? What is the heritage left for all the people you’ve touched with your music?
Paul Landers: Hmmm, is this all even possible on this Earth? Listen to your heart! Peace! Too dumb? So, hmmm... maybe our music and our videos, that’s probably our heritage.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
R+MX: What’s next for Rammstein? Are there any future plans for the band?
Paul Landers: We might release an orchestral album, but not with band and orchestra, but only an orchestra in which we play. So, let’s say Rammstein / Wagner without electric guitars.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++
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