Rammstein are suing the German government for a 2009 ruling which made it illegal for any retailer to advertise their album Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da in the country.
The band filed a lawsuit against the German government at Bonn Regional Court this week, looking for €66,000 in damages which they say was caused by the Federal Department for Media Harmful To Young Persons ‘indexing’ the album in 2009.
According to Deutsche Welle, the governmental agency ruled that the song Ich Tu Dir Weh – along with image sin the record’s booklet – were “brutalising” and “immoral.”
When an artwork is indexed, it cannot be advertised and can only be sold under strict conditions. The indexing on Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da was overturned after six months when a Cologne court said the classification was unlawful.
But the band say they had to destroy or store 85,000 copies of the record in that six month period, impacting on sales numbers.
Rammstein have a number of tour dates lined up for 2016, including a headline appearance at Download.
Last year, the band teased fans with a studio picture, suggesting work had begun on the follow-up to Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da.
Rammstein 2016 tour dates
Jun 02: Monza Gods Of Metal, Italy
Jun 03: Rock In Vienna, Austria
Jun 04: Allmend Rockt, Switzerland
Jun 10: Download Festival, UK
Jun 10-12: Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands
Jun 12: Download Paris, France
Jun 17: Hellfest, France
Jun 19: Moscow Maxidrom Festival, Russia
Jun 23: Odense Tinderbox, Denmark
Jun 24-26: Southside Festival, Germany
Jun 24-26: Hurricane Festival, Germany
Jun 30-Jul 02:Seinajoki Provinssi, Finland
Jun 30-Jul 02: Norrkoping Bravalla, Sweden
Jun 30-Jul 03: Rock Werchter, Belgium
Jul 15: Chicago Open Air, IL
Jul 17: Quebec Festival, QC
Jul 23: Hell & Heaven Metal Festival, Mexico
Aug 19: Highfield Festival, Germany
