Rammstein demos

In 1994, Rammstein released some demos that are currently very rare. Some are original songs and some are also demos that became songs on Rammstein's first album, Herzeleid. These are the most well known demos found across the Internet.^[1]

Herzeleid english demos (1994)

• "White Flesh" (First demo version of Weißes Fleisch with English lyrics, published on their 4-track demo tape.)
• "Seemann" (First demo version of Seemann with English lyrics, published on their 4-track demo tape.)
• "Das Alte Leid" (First demo version of Das alte Leid with English lyrics, published on their 4-track demo tape.)
• "Rammstein" (First demo version of Rammstein with English lyrics, published on their 4-track demo tape.)

The 4-track demo was presented at the Berliner Senatswettbewerb in February of 1994 and the band won a one-week recording session in a studio.

Herzeleid studio demos (1994)

• "Der Riecher" (The Smeller - "Du riechst so gut" demo)
• "Hallo, hallo (Version 1)" (Hello, hello - "Das alte Leid" demo. This demo appeared on Rammstein's demo tapes and a various artists promo CD titled "New Industries")
• "Hallo, hallo (Version 2)" (Hello, hello - "Das alte Leid" demo. This version is much closer to the final version of Das alte Leid, and was released officially by Rammstein)
• "Fleisch" (Flesh - "Weißes Fleisch" demo with slightly different guitars and synths.)
• "Rammstein" (Rammstein - "Rammstein" demo. One version appeared on all of the 1994 demo tapes (4-track 6-track and 8-track) and another was featured on a various artists promo CD titled "Time for a cut", which was released later that year.)
• "Seemann" (Seaman - "Seemann" demo. It is longer than the final version and includes a verse section with whistling for vocals)
• "Schwarzes Glas" (Black Glass - original track. Guitar riff also used in "Der Meister", though it is slightly different there.)
• "Jeder lacht" (Everyone's Laughing - original, some of its lyrics were reused in "Adios". Only 1:40 of the original unedited version has been leaked, but the source is unknown. A fake extended version with added drums was on the fake 8-track demo tape. A possible full version is supposedly featured in a relatively unknown 5-track tape, which is not confirmed to be real.)
• "Die Zeit" (The Time - "Alter Mann" demo. The only known version can briefly be heard in a 1994 video titled "Achtung, wir kommen!" (only second part of 1st verse and chorus). This version of Alter Mann had slower tempo, harder guitars and drums and more synth sounds and effects (choir, strings and something like distorted square wave). In studio demo synths mixed bit rough and out of time, unlike live 1994 version)

Herzeleid live demos (1994–95)

• "Feuerräder" (Wheels of Fire – original. Recorded partially for "Achtung! Wir Kommen", and an audience recording from 31st of December 1994 is also available. A directly recorded and remixed live version has been released on demotapes, "Engel (Fan-Edition)" single and on the Spotify album "Raritäten 1994-2012". The exact concert where this was recorded is unknown.)
• "Wilder Wein" (Wild Wine - original. This demo was officially released and is a live demo, recorded directly from the band's equipment thus cancelling out any audience noise and other disturbances. It appeared on the 2007 bootleg "Kein Engel".)
• "Tier" (Beast - First version of "Tier" played during 1994. A bootlegger dubbed this song as "Biest", but this name has been confirmed wrong afterwards. The song is very different from the studio release on the album Sehnsucht, and is very different to any other Rammstein release. Live audio is available from 31 December 1994, and has been recorded on 3 December 1994.)
• "Fleisch" (Flesh - "Weisses Fleisch" demo which closely resembles the studio demo. Recorded fully for Achtung! Wir Kommen, and is available on the internet.)
• "Weisses Fleisch" (White Flesh - "Weisses Fleisch" demo, resembles the 1995–96 live version, and uses different synths than the earlier live/studio demo. Recorded live 31st of December 1994.)
• "Bringer" (Bringer - "Wollt ihr das Bett in Flammen sehen?" first demo. A possibly extended version which lasted 13 minutes was played in Rostock, on 27 August 1994. The song has very different lyrics compared to later demo versions and the final album version. Recorded live in its entirety for "Achtung, wir kommen!".)
• "Bringer (V2)" (Bringer - "Wollt ihr Das Bett in Flammen Sehen?" second and final (known) demo version played during late 1994 and possibly early 1995. This demo is nearly the same as the album version, though it is longer, has slightly different synths and lyrics. Recorded live in Saalfeld, 31 December 1994/1 January 1995.)
• "Die Zeit" (The Time - Live "Alter Mann" demo. Commonly referred to as "Das Wasser soll dein Spiegel sein". Full version of 1994 demo with correct synths)
• "Jeder Lacht" (Everyone's Laughing - The full song was recorded on the concert on the 3 December 1994 (though the recording isn't available to the public), and on 31st of December 1994 (recording available). A proshot recording is said to exist, but almost no-one has info on this.)
• "Herzeleid" (Heartache - "Herzeleid" demo with slightly different lyrics and structure. The song also ends differently. It has been recorded on 3 December 1994.)
• "Herzeleid (V2)" (Heartache - "Herzeleid" second demo version with very slightly different lyrics to the earlier demo. It has been recorded on 31 December 1994.)
• "Glas" (Glass - "Schwarzes Glas" live version played during 1994. Recorded live in its entirety for "Achtung, Wir Kommen!".)
• "Kinski" (Klaus Kinski - "Heirate Mich" live demo played during 1994. The song's structure and lyrics differ from the album version, and it has a different ending. Recorded live on 31st of December 1994.)
• "Der Meister" (The Master - "Der Meister" demo played during 1994. The song's lyrics differ somewhat from the album version, and it has a different intro. Recorded live on 31st of December 1994.)
• "Tiefer Gelegt" (Drop Lower - A song only known due to Flake's book "Heute Hat Die Welt Geburtstag"; the title refers to the direction given to the band members to drop the pitch of the song lower. The song existed before Flake joined the band. A song called "Tiefer" has been seen on a setlist from 15 December 1995, but it is unknown whether it is related to "Tiefer Gelegt", as the concert was not recorded. Some fans speculate the song to be an early version of "Spiel Mit Mir".)
• "Du Riechst so Gut" (You Smell So Good - Du Riechst so Gut live demo played during 1994, probably as "Der Riecher". The song isn't very different from the album version, but it has slightly different synths. Recorded live in its entirety for "Achtung! Wir Kommen!". An audience recording from 31st of December 1994 is also available.)
• The unreleased film "Achtung Wir Kommen" is believed to contain many proshot recordings of Rammstein such as songs like "Bringer" and "Jeder Lacht", as well partial recordings of other songs from the studio.

Sehnsucht live demos (1995–1997)

• "Afrika" (Africa - "Sehnsucht" demo performed live in late 1995 as 'Afrika', and early 1996 as 'Sehnsucht'. The second version of the "Sehnsucht" demo can be heard on the "Live Der Arena 1996" concert.)
• "Spiel mit mir" (Play With Me - "Spiel Mit Mir" demo from Sehnsucht performed live throughout 1996. Also had different versions when played live.)
• "Bestrafe mich (Punish Me - "Bestrafe Mich" demo from Sehnsucht performed live throughout 1996. Sounds like album version, but with different synth bridge.)
• "Alter Mann" (Old Man - "Alter Mann" demo from Sehnsucht performed live throughout 1996. Unlike 1994 version this same as album version, but had another synth effects, another bridge, longer synth intro)
• "Schwarzes Glas" (Black Glass - original track. This version is known from a bootleg from October 1996. This version uses the main guitar riff and synths of "Eifersucht", and the lyrics and structure are slightly different compared to the 1994 demo.)
• "Du hast" (You Have - First live performance was in Amsterdam, Melkweg. The song's structure is longer and Till sings An instead of In, in the last chorus.)
• "Feuerräder" (Wheels of Fire - Another version of Feuerräder with slightly altered lyrics and structure, played during 1995–1997. This version is known from audience recordings and was not featured on demotapes or the Spotify-exclusive album "Raritäten 1994-2012".)
• "Sonne" (Sun - Unknown song that was played 15 December 1995, possible working title for "Feuerräder" but this is unconfirmed. Not to be confused with the 2001 version.)

Mutter live demos (2000)

These demos were played at "Knaack Klub" in Berlin on April 16, 2000. The number of viewers at the event was limited, however, an undisclosed source used a tape recorder in order to capture a majority of the songs on audio.

Here are all of the songs played during Rammstein's Knaack Attack performance in chronological order:

• "5/4" (5/4 - "5/4" demo, that is much abridged. The final song itself only made it on to one of the singles as a B-side and on the 2007 bootleg "Kein Engel".)
• "Rein raus" (In, out - "Rein raus" demo)
• "Adios" (Adios - "Adios" demo with much darker lyrics.)
• "Klitschko" (Vitalij Klitschko - "Sonne" demo. In this version, the first chorus consists only of a count up to 10, without the lyrics "Hier kommt die Sonne".)
• "Spieluhr" (Music box - "Spieluhr" demo with slightly different lyrics mostly in the chorus.)
• "Mutter" (Mother - "Mutter" demo with the only difference being the last word of the song. Till says "Oh gib mir Gift!" instead of "Oh gib mir Kraft!".)
• "Sandmann" (Sandman - "Mein Herz Brennt" demo with alternate lyrics)
• "Links" (Left - "Links 2-3-4" demo)
• "Flake Blues" ("Zwitter" demo)
• "Punk" ("Feuer Frei" demo)
• "Ohne dich" (Without you - "Ohne dich" demo. It is said that the song sounded much like the 'Beta version' on the Ohne dich single. The song itself only appeared on the album after Mutter.)

Note: "Flake Blues", "Punk" and "Ohne Dich", were not recorded.

Mutter/Reise Reise/Rosenrot studio demos (2000–2004)

This section covers all three albums from 'Mutter' to 'Rosenrot' inclusive, since the songs for all of the given albums were realized and demoed in a parallel fashion. Many songs on the two albums after Mutter were taken from the selection of Mutter songs that didn't make the cut initially.

• "Hallelujah" (Hallelujah - Demo version of "Halleluja" (note the removal of the letter 'h' in the finalized track name). This demo version differs a bit from the actual in that it doesn't have an ambient effect during the intro section, and that the bass line in the last verse is different. The final version of the song (Halleluja) appeared the band's single CD titled "Links 2-3-4", whereas the demo version (Hallelujah) was featured in the Resident Evil official soundtrack and also made an appearance as a secret track after a few minutes of silence at the end of the Japanese edition of "Mutter". "Halleluja" also appeared on the 2007 bootleg "Kein Engel".
• "Eisenmann" (Ironman - Original music/lyrics. This demo leaked into the general circulation on the internet near the end of 2010, as a result of an unsuccessful demo trade. The song is referenced in another song, "Ramm4".)
• "Stirb nicht vor mir" (Don't Die Before I Do - Demo version of "Stirb nicht vor mir (Don't Die Before I Do)" from "Rosenrot". This version had altered lyrics, entirely in German, and had no female vocals. This track leaked onto the internet in 2008 and is actually an unfinished recording of the song that was made during the Mutter era.)
• "Ohne dich" (Without you - Beta version of "Ohne Dich" that was officially included in the single of the same name. Although the song (and its single) belong to the "Reise, Reise" LP group, this beta version was actually recorded during the Mutter sessions.)
• "Sonntag bei Omi" (Sunday with Granny - original, recorded during the sessions for Reise, Reise (demo not available, but said to exist). The song has not been released in any form, and it is only known from interviews with Jacob Hellner (Making of Reise, Reise), and Paul Landers said that it is "something disgusting Till came up with". The song was also said to be too heavy even for a Rammstein release.)

Liebe ist für alle da studio demos (2007–2009)

These were found on a 9-Track demo CD:

• Donaukinder (Children of Danube - Instrumental demo of "Donaukinder")
• Legion (Legion - "Ich tu dir weh" demo which uses the bridge that appears in the final version as a filler section for two verses.)
• Augen zu (Eyes shut - "Liebe ist für alle da" demo with some of the verse lyrics being from "Wiener Blut")
• Panterra (Pantera - Full English version of "Pussy" sung to the instrumental track that was later used for "Gib mir deine Augen".)
• Ramm-Mix (Ramm-Mix - "Rammlied" demo with no lyrics for the verses.)
• Roter Sand (Red sand - Demo version of "Roter Sand")
• Waidmann (Hunter - "Waidmanns Heil" Instrumental Demo)
• Was ich liebe (What I love. Original lyrics about one person killing everything he loves. Music is an early version of "Pussy".) †

These demos were leaked and appear to be unfinished versions from the recording sessions of the album:

• Donaukinder (Children of Danube Beta version of "Donaukinder". Sounds like the final version, yet mixed a bit differently and lacks a guitar solo.)
• Mein Land (Instrumental) (My country - Instrumental demo of "Mein Land". This is the earliest demo version known.) †
• Mein Land (Demo Version) (My country - Another demo of "Mein Land", with keyboard solo) †
• Mein Land (Beta Version) (My country - "Mein Land" beta version, leaked around mid-2011) †
• Sirene (Version 1) (Sirens - early demo version of "Gib mir deine Augen" with completely different lyrics in the verses.) †
• Sirene (Version 2) (Sirens - early demo version of "Gib mir deine Augen" with completely different lyrics in the verses.) †
• Sirene (Version 2 Extended) (Sirens - early demo version of "Gib mir deine Augen" with completely different lyrics in the verses. In this version, the piano outro which has been removed in Version 2 returns.) †
• Gib mir deine Augen (Instrumental) (Give me your eyes - Instrumental demo of "Gib mir deine Augen", with an all-new bridge, something that the Sirene demo lacked.) †
• Gib mir deine Augen (Give me your eyes - demo of "Gib mir deine Augen") †
• Pussy (Pussy - Another demo of "Pussy". Same lyrics as "Panterra", over an instrumental that sounds more like the final version of the track.)
• Seid bereit (Be ready - "Wiener Blut" (Viennese blood) beta version with a harder synthesizer chorus mix, piano sound intro and slap bass in the second verse. Not to be confused with the early Mutter recording "Seid bereit", which is a song about dancing vampires)
• Ich tu dir weh (Version 1) (I cause you pain - A demo of "Ich tu dir weh" after "Legion")
• Ich tu dir weh (Version 2) (I cause you pain - The last demo of "Ich tu dir weh", with an almost completed sound.)
• Mehr (More - "Mehr" demo, in which lead singer Till Lindemann performs medium growls at the beginning.)
• Rammlied (Ramm-song - "Rammlied" demo, without any of the orchestral strings or choirs)
• Waidmanns Heil (Hunter's Salute - "Waidmanns Heil" demo, with extra lyrics in the bridge)
• Frühling in Paris (Spring in Paris - "Frühling in Paris" demo)
• Bückstabü (No translation. Demo version of "B********")
• Haifisch (Shark - "Haifisch" demo version)
• Halt (Stop - "Halt" demo, with alternate intro)
• Liebe ist für alle da (Love is there for everyone - "Liebe ist für alle da" beta version. Close to the final version, apart from the shorter solo.)
• Führe mich (Lead me - "Führe mich" demo)

† Some demos didn't make it into the 2009 album's release, but may or have appear(ed) in later singles, compilations or other albums. These demos were still, however, made during the LIFAD recording sessions.

Untitled 7th album live demos (2016-17)

• Ramm4/Rammvier (Played as the setlist opener in their Summer tour concerts. Lyrics consist of older Rammstein songs, and a brand new chorus. Possible working title.)

Untitled 7th album demos (2018)

• Hare Krishna (Audio of a supposedly new song leaked onto Youtube in 2018, Hare Krishna is also the name of one of Till Lindemann's poems, though it is unknown if this will be the title on the album.)

References