Did Eric ever mention how he first heard of KMFDM & Rammstein?

For KMFDM, my best guess has always been that he saw Mortal Kombat or Bad Boys (or both) and liked what he heard on the soundtrack, but did he ever talk about it explicitly?
Rammstein puzzles me, as it seems like he was into them from the beginning of their career. Assuming he got into both bands around 1995 (although on one of the 11K interviews, I believe one of his former friends mentions Eric got into "German music" in junior year, so '97 - '98?) the internet was still in its infancy, and Denver wasn't exactly a mecca of international culture.

Though, KMFDM was based in Chicago at the time; so proximity might've been the reason. But hey, I grew up in NYC in the 1990s and always loved rock music---but I didn't even know who Talking Heads were until 2016!

I have often assumed they may have found them through movie soundtracks as well. Possibly (although the movie was mentioned by Dylan not Eric) Rammstein was featured on the Lost Highway soundtrack.

KMFDM and Rammstein were popular in America (at least as far as underground-ish industrial rock/metal is concerned) and the two were active internet users. Also they both, Eric especially, had a fascination for German culture which I'm sure pointed them in the right direction, as they were already interested in Industrial music (Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails did the Quake soundtrack).

So I feel it was a mixture of exposure through various forms of media such as movies, computer games, internet and probably through their friends as well. It seems quite a few of the other Columbine students were into Rammstein. I believe the bands may have toured the U.S. and passed their location as they mention seeing KMFDM live once.

As a side note, Rammstein were very popular where I am from (mystery location) in the late 90s to mid 2000s, same with Nine Inch Nails and quite a few of the other bands they liked, but I'd never heard of KMFDM until I found out about Columbine.

Don't forget MTV. Back then they still showed music and not terrible teen mom and catfish reality shows.

Them getting into Rammstein in '97 lines up well with Du Hast.

Was it not from the concert with Rammstein where they first heard of KMFDM? Also I think Eric took 4 years of German.

AdamnLanza wrote:

I have often assumed they may have found them through movie soundtracks as well. Possibly (although the movie was mentioned by Dylan not Eric) Rammstein was featured on the Lost Highway soundtrack.

They both mentioned it actually. Dylan several times, but Eric once I think in the diversion files or marine application or something, as a film he liked, and in Dylan's yearbook.