Oliver Riedel — born in Schwerin, East Germany, on 11 April 1971 — has been Rammstein's bassist since the group was founded in 1994. Before that he played in The Inchtabokatables, a Berlin band that combined classical string instruments with punk energy — a context far removed from the industrial metal he went on to practise. His function is the least visible and one of the most determining. Rammstein's sound depends on the foundation striking as a single block: bass, guitars and kick drum attacking exactly together, with no slack, no swing, no breath. Riedel plays with that absolute discipline, almost without melodic variation, because any extra movement would break the mechanical effect the band pursues. He is the most reserved member of the group, rarely gives interviews and stands motionless onstage while everything around him catches fire — a contrast the band itself exploits.
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