Paul Landers

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Landers was born in East Berlin, East Germany, son of Anton and Erika Hiersche. His mother comes from Lyck in Masuria, today Ełk, Poland. His father is from Böhmisch Kahn, today Velké Chvojno, Czech Republic. Both parents had to leave their home after the Second World War and met during their studies in Halle (Saale). Landers briefly lived in Moscow as a child and can speak some Russian. In 1983, at the age of 18, Landers became part of the East German punk band Feeling B, which was founded by singer Aljoscha Rompe and guitarist Paul Landers (with others). Keyboardist Christian 'Flake' Lorenz was a member but not a founder. Feeling B had various temporary drummers in their line-up, including Christoph Schneider later in their career. Landers also played in a number of other bands, such as Die Magdalene Keibel Combo and Feeling B (he was not in Die Firma). In the late 1980s, Landers met Richard Kruspe through mutual friends, and through Kruspe he was introduced to Till Lindemann. Landers would later play guitar in Lindemann and Kruspe's band First Arsch. In 1992, that band released their only album, Saddle Up. In 1994, Lindemann, Kruspe, Schneider, and bassist Oliver Riedel formed a new band called Templeprayers. They won the Berlin Senate Metrobeat Contest in 1994, but by that time the band had already changed its name to Rammstein. Landers and Flake soon joined the band.

In Their Own Story

Landers married his first wife, Nikki Landers, in 1984 at the age of 20. He subsequently took his wife's surname, having already switched his middle and first name, making his full name Paul Landers. Landers has two children, a son and a daughter.

Reader's Guide

Paul Landers is the rhythm guitarist of Rammstein, a band that has released eight studio albums: Herzeleid (1995), Sehnsucht (1997), Mutter (2001), Reise, Reise (2004), Rosenrot (2005), Liebe ist für alle da (2009), Rammstein (2019), and Zeit (2022). He also played on Feeling B albums Hea Hoa Hoa Hea Hea Hoa (1989), Wir kriegen Euch alle (1991), and Die Maske des Roten Todes (1993), and on First Arsch's only album Saddle Up (1992). Landers uses a variety of guitars including a Gibson Paul Landers Signature Satin Ebony with silver binding, a Gibson Les Paul Studio, Music Man Axis and Van Halen Signature models, an ESP Eclipse I CTM Paul Landers Signature, a Sandberg Custom Plasma Guitar, an Ibanez AXS32, and a Fender Jazzmaster. His amp setup includes a Fractal Axe-FX into Rocktron Velocity 300 power amp and a Bogner Uberschall. He also uses his signature PL1 Tech 21 Flyrig multi-effect pedal.

Did You Know?

• Paul Landers was born Heiko Paul Hiersche and changed his surname to Landers before marrying his first wife Nikki Landers in 1985, taking the name from a friend.
• He briefly lived in Moscow as a child and can speak some Russian.
• Landers met Till Lindemann through Richard Kruspe, not at a film screening.
• Contrary to some claims, there is no official Gibson signature model for Paul Landers, and the assertion that he is the first German to have one is unsubstantiated.
• Landers sold his no-brand guitar on eBay in 2003, which was resold in May 2011.