Rammstein's Flake: Sensitive Sounds and the True Power of Music

Rammstein's Flake: Sensitive Sounds and the True Power of Music

Christian “Flake” Lorenz, the iconic keyboardist of the band Rammstein, is often seen as the mild one within the group. In the latest video interview for the “Rockcraft On Tour” series on the “Magenta Musik” platform, Lorenz comments on various aspects of music. Born on November 16, 1966 in East Berlin, he not only has an eventful musical past, but also deals intensively with philosophical questions about music.

In the interview, Flake describes himself as a sensitive music philosopher. He particularly emphasizes his passion for playing his Casio keyboard. An interesting detail is his preference for playing with weak batteries, as the tones take on an unusual note in this state. Additionally, in the episode “Flake Part 2,” he talks about the fundamental aesthetic questions in music, covering topics such as the difference between noise and song and the appeal of genres like techno and reggae to audiences.

The origins of Christian Lorenz

Flake was previously a member of the East German punk band Feeling B, which was formed in 1983 and was very active in underground circles. This band paved the way for Rammstein, which was formed in 1994 when Lorenz and his colleague Paul Landers joined the new formation. Feeling B became known through the DEFA documentary film “whispering and SCREAMING – A Rock Report”, which illuminated the East German punk scene and published the GDR’s first official punk album, “Hea Hoa”.

During his time in the band, Lorenz, who is also considered Rammstein's main composer, lived in an apartment with Landers and earned money by selling jackets made from cut-up bed sheets on the black market. Although he was initially hesitant to join Rammstein, he finally decided to join Rammstein after the band won a competition to record a demo, which was the beginning of their worldwide success.

The challenges of the career

The history of Rammstein is not only characterized by musical success, but also by challenges. Lorenz was involved in provocative stage performances that led to his and Till Lindemann's arrest in 1998. He has also suffered some injury-related setbacks in recent years. He had to cancel concerts because of Lindemann's injury and mumps.

Despite all adversities, Lorenz remains true to music and has released important albums with Rammstein that have achieved successful placements worldwide. Their albums like “Herzeleid”, “Sehnsucht” and “Mutter” have left a lasting mark on the music scene. Rammstein is often associated with the “Neue Deutsche Härte” genre and has won numerous international music awards.

In addition, Flake has also taken a critical stance towards various social issues, including his nostalgia for the GDR and his view of the complicated life after reunification. He describes himself as an amateur painter and has a particular fondness for vintage cars, especially Mercedes. Despite his successes, he is known to many of his fans as the mildest and most thoughtful part of Rammstein.

Berlin newspaper, Wikipedia, GDR Museum