Ah, Richard Z. Kruspe—the man with a burning desire. Not for love or fame, but for fire. Seriously, when he’s up there with Rammstein, you’d think the stage might melt. And if you’re unlucky enough to be near the front, you might even burn your eyebrows off, thanks to his scorching riffs that sound like they emerged from the depths of a hellish foundry.
Feel free to pick a Rammstein track—be it “Tier,” “Du Riechst So Gut,” or “Asche Zu Asche” (because why not?). It’s as if he’s been feeding factory sounds into a metal blender and hitting pulse until we’re slammed with anthems of industrial metal goodness. Who knew a conversation about welding could be so rhythmically addictive?
Of course, every blacksmith, or in this case, every metal virtuoso, needs their tools. Kruspe has recently blessed us with the newest addition to his signature guitar lineup: the RZK-III. It comes in two delightful flavors: the ESP Custom Shop and the budget-friendly LTD from Korea. Perfect for those who dream of making their neighbors think they’re in the middle of a heavy metal concert while actually just attempting to tune their guitar.
So, unlike his previous models that tried to channel the essence of a Strat/SG hybrid or Les Paul, this time he’s gone for the majestic ESP Phoenix shape. Because, why not? It’s not like we have enough guitar shapes that look like they were designed by people who ate too many acid-induced bad burritos. When asked about this new direction, he cheekily recalled, “Back in 2021, I made a video for my Emigrate project called ‘Freeze My Mind.’ I was just looking for something different. Who doesn’t want to jam on a guitar that resembles a majestic bird?”
The guitar was so manly it practically had muscles and a beard—if only guitars could join gym subscriptions. “It wanted to be played hard!” he laughs, likening it to a date that aggressively wants to make a lasting impression. “There’s definitely synergy between the instrument and the player,” he adds, probably while staring dreamily into space.
And speaking of dreams, let’s dive into the riveting world of the guitar’s killswitch. Unlike the American version, which just kills the sound, his German-style antenna of rock genius reverses this; silence until the perfect moment, making it sound profound… or just confusing. It’s akin to a German efficiency seminar, but with a dash of rock ‘n’ roll flair. “It’s like when I press the button, the sound comes alive! It does the opposite of killing,” Kruspe clarifies, which sounds more like the makings of a Broadway musical than a heavy metal concert.
In a world where guitars can cost more than a small car, Kruspe has decided to downsize his collection. “I’ve been trying to minimize,” he assures us, which sounds more like a new-age mantra than an actual guitar collection strategy. Ever fantasized about owning a 1962 Strat that costs $28,000? Spoiler alert: that kind of cash might just buy you an entire vintage guitar shop… and a couple of therapy sessions for when that impulse buy looms large. “I want to play, not collect paintings!” he concludes, likely while eyeing his savings account nervously.
As Kruspe reflects on his journey, he shares insights about the influences behind his sound—like that of John Frusciante, whose ability to elicit emotion through simplicity is the envy of every guitarist cramming notes into a solo. “He gets so much out of three notes,” he marvels. Perhaps we’ve all been doing it wrong; instead of shredding, we should be focusing on our inner minimalist rock star.
So, what’s next for Rammstein? Well, not even Kruspe is willing to bet on that one, saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans!” And honestly, with a fire-spitting guitarist like him, God might need some earplugs. If that’s not the essence of rock ‘n’ roll, I don’t know what is.
