Richard Z. Kruspe

Richard Zven Kruspe
Kruspe in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Richard Zven Kruspe
Also known as	Richard Kruspe-Bernstein
Born	June 24, 1967 (1967-06-24) (age 44) Wittenberge, East Germany
Origin	Wittenberge, Germany
Genres	Neue Deutsche Härte, industrial rock, industrial metal, alternative metal
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Years active	1991–present
Associated acts	Rammstein Emigrate Orgasm Death Gimmick First Arsch
Notable instruments
ESP RZK Series Various ESP Electric Guitars Takamine EF341SC Acoustic Guitar

Richard Zven Kruspe (born 24 June 1967) is a German musician and the lead guitarist of the German industrial metal band Rammstein, as well as the leader of the band Emigrate. He also used to be named "Bernstein", after his South African ex-wife Caron Bernstein. They were together for five years until separating in 2004, filed for divorce, which was finalized in 2006, after which his name reverted to Kruspe.

Personal life

On 10 October 1989, before the fall of the Berlin Wall, he was riding through the subway. When he came above ground, he found himself in the middle of a political demonstration. He was hit on the head and arrested just for being there, and thrown in jail for six days. Once out of jail, he decided to leave East Germany. Because of the Eastern Bloc, he entered West Germany through Hungary. When the Berlin Wall came down, he moved back east of Berlin, Germany.

Rammstein was formed back in the 1980s when Richard, who lived with Oliver and Schneider at the time, was looking for a new band in which to create a new style of music.* He had left his first band, 'Orgasm Death Gimmick' in search of new band mates.

Kruspe married South African (American) actress Caron Bernstein in 1999. The ceremony was Jewish and Kruspe composed the music for it. He took on the name Richard Kruspe-Bernstein during their marriage. Sometime in 2001 he moved from Berlin to New York where he resided to live closer to his now ex-wife Caron. They separated in 2004. His name is now back to its original "Kruspe" as the divorce was finalized. In 2011 he left New York because "it is not the right environment for the next part of my life" and moved back to Berlin.^[1]

He speaks fluent English and sings in English for Emigrate.

Equipment

The dates show when Richard used his equipment (and studio dates) during his Rammstein Tours, in exception to the ESP Emigrate Eclipse.

Guitars ^[2]

Richard's main instruments for touring are ESP guitars, but has used different guitars in the past.

• ESP RZK-1 Richard Kruspe Signature Electric Guitar. (Titanium, Olympic White, Satin Black, and custom "Burnt" finish) Dropped C tuning during the Reise Reise tour, Standard, Dropped D, and Dropped C tuning for the Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da tour (2004–2005, 2008–2010) Richard also has another RZK model that has a custom paint job for the video of Ich Tu Dir Weh. This guitar also was also featured in the LIFAD 2009-2010 tour.
• ESP/LTD RZK-600 The LTD version of the RZK-1. Richard possibly does not use this one, but it is a more affordable model of the RZK-1.
• ESP RZK-2 (2009–2010) Titanium and custom "Burnt" finish. Seen in the music video for Pussy, Based on the ESP RZK-1, with an USA Eclipse body, and 24.75 inch neck, (Dropped C tuning and Standard E tuning)
• ESP KH-2 Kirk Hammett Signature Electric Guitar (Black, Standard and Dropped D tuning) (1997–2000)
• ESP KH-2 Kirk Hammett Signature Electric Guitar With KH-4 pick guard customization (Black with Pearl Pickguard [also a model with a mirror pickguard] Dropped C tuning before using the RZK-1, Standard, Dropped D) (2001–2005)
• ESP EC-1000 Electric Guitar (See-thru Black Cherry, Dropped D) (2001–2002, 2004–2005)
• ESP Custom Emigrate Eclipse Electric Guitar (2007, Dropped C) (Can be seen in the music video for My World, Possibly a modded ESP Truckster)
• ESP Eclipse CTM1 Electric Guitar (Vintage Black, Dropped C) (2004–2005)
• ESP Custom Maverick Guitar (Silver with Pearl Pickguard, Dropped D) (2002, 2004–2005)
• ESP 901 (Red Sunburst and Tobacco Sunbust) (1994 - 1998 [Cherry Sunburst] Standard/Dropped D) (1997 [Tobacco Sunburst] Standard)
• ESP AW-500 Kozi Signature Electric Guitar [2] (2002, Dropped D)
• Fender Stratocaster (Tobacco Sunburst) (1996, Standard)
• Takamine EF341SC Acoustic Guitar (2004–2005, Dropped C)
• Gibson J-200 (2009–2010), Standard D)
• Gretsch White Falcon Used for cleans on Emigrate and prop guitar in the video for "Mein Land"

Amplifiers/Effects/Misc Most of the rackmounted units and pedals he uses are not listed

• Rath-Amp Amplifiers (Before 1995/1996)
• Mesa/Boogie 2-Channel Dual Rectifier Heads (With Voodoo Amps Platinum Mods) (1995/1996{?}- 2005, 2008–2010) <Note> He owns five (5) Voodoo Amps Modified 2-Channel Dual Rectifier Heads. Earliest known footage of him using Mesa/Boogie Equipment is during a Rammstein performance at the 1996 Bizarre Festival, where a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier 4x12 speaker cabinet can be seen behind him, on top of a Marshall 4x12 speaker cabinet. He also owns 2 Pre-500 blackface Dual Rectifiers, which are used for recording purposes.
• Marshall And Mesa/Boogie 4x12 Cabinets. Can be seen using a wall of Mesa Boogie 4x12 Cabinets on the music video for Pussy.
• Soldano Decatone head (??? - ???)
• Soldano Avenger 100 Head. (??? - ???)
• Unknown Marshall head. (??? - ???)
• TC Electronic Nova Delay
• Digitech Whammy(?) (Can be heard in the tracks Stein Um Stein, Zerstören and Liebe ist für alle da, possibly also provides the detune from Drop D to Drop C during live performances of Rammlied.)
• Roland JC-120 Combo (??? - 2008) (Used in the studio.)
• Dunlop Crybaby DCR-2SR Rack Wah with DCR-1FC foot controller
• SIT Richard Z Kruspe Signature Strings ^[3]

Note: Richard does not use a Tech 21 PSA-1.

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ http://en.rammstein-europe.com/rammstein-equipment/richard-kruspe/
3. ^ http://sitstrings.com/strings/electric/Richard_Z_Kruspe_SS

External links

• Richard Kruspe at the Internet Movie Database
• Emigrate @ RammImages.com
• (English) Rammstein Official Website
• (German) Rammstein Official Website
• (English) Emigrate Official Website
• (German) Emigrate Official Website
• (Turkish) Turkey Fun Website

Persondata
Name	Kruspe, Richard Zven
Alternative names
Short description	American rock musician
Date of birth	June 24, 1967
Place of birth	Manhattan, New York
Date of death
Place of death