From the get-go Rammstein achieved fame for their over-the-top stage show, featuring extensive use of pyrotechnics fans have coined the motto, "Other bands play, Rammstein burns!" to (a quip at Manowar's "Kings of Metal" lyric, "...other bands play, Manowar kills"). Following an accident at the 27 September 1996 performance in Berlin where some burning decorative parts fell, the band started using professionals to handle the pyrotechnics. Lindemann would later become a qualified licensed pyrotechnic technician; he often now spends entire songs engulfed head-to-toe in flames. He has suffered multiple burns on his ears, head and arms, as a result however.
The band took a break in 2006 for a year. The recording process for the follow-up reportedly took two years. In July 2009, the title track of that new album, Liebe ist für alle da was leaked onto the internet, along with promotional materials. This led 'Universal Music' (owners of 'Polygram') to take action against certain fan sites. The resulting 11 track album, Liebe ist für alle da would arrive in 2009.
On 5 November 2009, that sixth studio album, Liebe ist für alle da, was placed on the "Index of the Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien or BPjM" (Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons), making it illegal in Germany to make the album accessible to minors or display it where it can be seen by people underage, effectively banning it from stores. According to the official statement of the BPjM, the depiction of lead guitarist Richard Kruspe holding a woman wearing only a mask over his knee and lifting his hand to strike her back side has given cause for offense, as well as the lyrics to the Ich tu dir weh track itself, which supposedly assist to spread "dangerous" BDSM techniques. Furthermore, the advisory board has taken into consideration the alleged promotion of unprotected sexual intercourse in the lyrics to the track Pussy.
In 2010, the band settled out of court against Apocalyptica's former record label 'Sony Music Entertainment GmbH' as the successor of the by now defunct affiliated label 'Gun Records' for using Rammstein's logo in marketing Apocalyptica's 2007 album Worlds Collide, which featured a duet with singer Lindemann. The legal action apparently did no harm to the relationship between the bands, since Apocalyptica were seen on stage with Rammstein during the song Mein Herz brennt in February 2012 at Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland.
Rammstein released the greatest hits album, Made in Germany 1995-2011 in 2011. Among its listing was two previously unreleased track, Mein Land which was released as a single a month earlier, as well as Vergiss uns nicht, that was released at a later date.
Rammstein, minus Lindemann, performed The Beautiful People with Marilyn Manson at the Echo Awards on 22 March 2012.
On 22 November 2012, Rammstein announced via Facebook that they would release a video collection featuring all music videos entitled Videos 1995-2012. Untitled (2019) followed.