What is the Rammstein Row Zero exactly?
Rammstein, the band currently making headlines due to allegations of abuse against their lead singer Till Lindemann, is scheduled to perform at the Munich Olympic Stadium on June 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Green Party faction in the city council is considering action against the band’s ‘Row Zero’ initiative.
What exactly is Rammstein ‘s ‘Row Zero’?
The ‘Row Zero’ system offers a select group of female fans an exclusive concert experience. These chosen fans are given the opportunity to stand at the very front of the concert, right before the stage. Interestingly, the selection process for ‘Row Zero’ is not conducted by the band itself but is handled weeks in advance by a (female) casting director.
The casting director contacts potential ‘Row Zero’ attendees via social media and, upon their agreement, adds them to a WhatsApp group. The ‘Row Zero’ experience begins long before the actual concert, with a pre-party where attendees are led into a separate area to spend time with the band, including frontman Till Lindemann.
While alcohol is present at these parties, there is no evidence of drug use. At the end of the party, attendees are offered a lift to the hotel with the band, with no obligation however.
The primary goal of this ‘Row Zero’ initiative is actually pure marketing; ‘Row Zero’ attendees are encouraged to post about their experiences on social media during the concert and the subsequent after-party, which they share with VIP concert-goers.
Green Party wants to forbid ‘Row Zero’
The Greens, who form the largest faction in the Munich city council in alliance with the Rosa Liste, are now preparing a motion to be introduced on Monday, today that is. They are calling for the district administration department to investigate “whether and at which concerts a so-called ‘Row Zero’ should be prohibited for safety reasons”. They also propose the creation of safe spaces at concerts and the mandatory implementation of awareness teams and the ‘SafeNow’ app, all at the expense of the organisers.
The concerts in Munich are held at the Olympic Stadium, a city-owned venue. The city profits from the concerts through Olympiapark GmbH, a municipal subsidiary. Olympiapark GmbH currently expects the four Rammstein concerts at the Olympic Stadium to proceed as planned and emphasises that it is merely the stadium’s landlord, with the concert organiser responsible for security and backstage access.
The motion, titled “Safe Concerts for All”, is being submitted in collaboration with the Left and ÖDP factions, with potential support from the CSU. Mona Fuchs, the parliamentary group leader of the Greens, states, “Just as the presumption of innocence applies to the alleged perpetrator, the allegations of the affected women must also be heard and taken seriously.” She emphasises the need for political structures that prevent sexual assaults and provide swift assistance to those affected, stating, “We still see a need for action here.”
The political parties would want to see all afterparties canceled. Bild now also reports that Propeller, the concert organizer, would already have decided to cancel both the Row Zero possibility and also the afterparties.
Rammstein’s performances at the Munich Olympic Stadium on June 7, 8, 10, and 11 are expected to draw an audience of 240,000 fans.
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