Rammstein demos

During their career, Rammstein has produced many demos of their songs, some being extremely rare and some being common. Many songs had been revised, and released later on their albums, while other songs were abandoned and not released at all. 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.)

The 4-track demo was presented at the Berliner Senatswettbewerb in February 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.)
• "Das alte Leid" (The Old Sorrow - "Das alte Leid" demo. The only version with a full non-fading ending, this version appeared on the 5-track tape, misspelled as "Das alte Lied". This demo is now available for the public.)
• "Weisses Fleisch" (White Flesh - "Weisses Fleisch" demo with slightly different guitars and synths. Commonly also known as just "Fleisch".)
• "Rammstein" (Rammstein - "Rammstein" demo. The same version is found on most 1994 and 1995 demotapes, though varying in length and slightly different mixing. Earliest version is on the 5-track demo.)
• "Seemann" (Seaman - "Seemann" demo. It is longer than the final version and includes a verse section with whistling for vocals.)
• "Schwarzes Glas (Version 1)" (Black Glass - original track. This version of Schwarzes Glas was found in earlier 1994 demotapes, with a length of 4:50. The song was recorded live in the studio, similar to "Feuerräder". The song also featured Richard Kruspe's vocals during the chorus.)
• "Schwarzes Glas (Version 2)" (Black Glass - original track. This demo was released later, and had a length of 4:04, and the song fades out during the guitar solo. The verse's guitar riff was later changed and reused in "Der Meister".)
• "Jeder lacht" (Everyone's Laughing - original, some of its lyrics were re-used in "Adios". This track was released on the 5-and 6-track demotapes, with a length of 4:01. The track also features samples citing the word "Tier", which aren't found on the live version.)
• "Alter Mann" (Old Man - "Alter Mann" demo. The only known version can briefly be heard in a 1994 video titled Achtung! Wir kommen, though only the second part of the 1st verse and chorus. This version of "Alter Mann" had slower tempo, harder guitars and drums and more synth sounds and effects like choir, strings and something like distorted square waves. In this studio demo, the synths are mixed a bit rough and out of time, unlike the 1994 live version.)
• "Wilder Wein" (Wild Wine - original track. Recorded in August 1994, this demo did not appear on any known demotapes. It was released only on the "Engel (Fan-Edition)"-single and in other compilations. A finished live version was played during 1997 and 1998 and appeared in "Live aus Berlin".)
• "Mutter" (Mother - This demo appears on their exclusive 6-track demo tapes released in 1994. Although it is not explicitly stated, it is considered to be a demo of their song Mutter off their 2001 album of the same name, due to the usage of the baby sample as well as similar picking patterns between the two songs. Richard, when asked about this song, said he wrote the song for a wedding. Elements of the song were recycled in Emigrate's song "We Are Together".)

Herzeleid live demos (1994–95)

• "Feuerräder" (Wheels of Fire – original. Recorded partially for Achtung! Wir kommen, and audience recordings from 3rd of December 1994 and 31st of December 1994 are available. The song had a different intro compared to the supposed live version released on demo tapes.)
• "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 1997 single "Engel (Fan-Edition)".)
• "Tier" (Animal - First version of "Tier" played during 1994. A bootlegger dubbed this song as "Biest", but this name has been confirmed wrong afterwards by various sources, including Paul Landers and Christian Lorenz themselves. According to them, this was the first version of "Tier" played during 1994, which was changed over time to the very much different "Tier" released on the album Sehnsucht. Live audio is available from 3rd of December 1994 and 31st of 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. The song had differing synths between each recording, some resembling the studio demo and some resembling the album version. Recorded live 3rd of December 1994 and 31st of December 1994.)
• "Der Bringer" (The Bringer - "Wollt ihr das Bett in Flammen sehen?" early version. 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.)
• "Der Bringer (V2)" (The 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, 31st of December 1994.)
• "Alter Mann" (Old Man - Live "Alter Mann" demo. Commonly referred to as "Das Wasser soll dein Spiegel sein" or "Die Zeit" . Full version of 1994 demo with correct synths)
• "Jeder lacht" (Everyone's Laughing - The full song was recorded on the concerts on the 3rd of December 1994, and on 31st of December 1994, with both having slightly different lyrics. A pro shot 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 3rd of December 1994.)
• "Herzeleid (V2)" (Heartache - "Herzeleid" second demo version with very slightly different lyrics to the earlier demo. It has been recorded on 31st of December 1994.)
• "Glas" (Glass - "Schwarzes Glas" live version played during 1994. Confirmed to be the same as the studio demo. 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 3rd of December 1994 and 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" (Dropped 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.)
• "Laichzeit" (Spawning Time - Laichzeit demo played during late 1994 and possibly early 1995. The song had slightly different synths, lyrics and structure.)

• The documentary, "Achtung! Wir kommen.", has full soundboard audio from an early Rammstein concert dating back to 27th of August 1994, and partial audio from studio recordings. Currently only snippets of songs like "Der Bringer", "Rammstein", and "Du riechst so gut" are available from the live performance. Only the "Fleisch" demo's full performance is available.

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 in 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 the 1994 version, this one is closer to the album version, but has different synths, a different bridge and a longer 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 Melkweg, Amsterdam. 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.)
• "Bück dich" (Bend Over - "Bück dich" live demo played during mid-to-late 1996 with slightly different lyrics, synths and riffs.)

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" (Vitali 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.)
• "Absinth" (Absinthe - Unknown song, which got its working title from the synthesizer "Absynth". It is yet unknown if this song was released with another name.)
• "Holz" (Wood - original song. Rumors say that this song was a heavy ballad, and its lyrics described the life of a tree, which a cross was made from. The song was found in 2004 on the GEMA database.)

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

These were found on a 9-Track demo CD:

• Donaukinder (Children of the 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 the 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 hurt you - A demo of "Ich tu dir weh" after "Legion")
• Ich tu dir weh (Version 2) (I hurt you - 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. According to band members, the song will be released on their 8th album, sometime in the future.)

References

1. Subsets of these can sometimes be found packaged as their own album. See for instance this copy.