It’s not that often when metal creeps its way into mainstream pop culture. So when metal/hard rock acts do actually pop up in beloved sitcoms, dramatic films, cartoons or even reality series, it’s kind of awesome. So in the weekly column Remember When, Metal Insider recalls the most random instances of metal’s elite appearing in front of the camera.

On paper, Rammstein appearing in a film called xXx makes sense… until you realize that xXx is an action spy film starring Vin Diesel, and not a porno… though Rammstein has basically done that too…

Anyways, the German industrial metal outfit actually appear in the first few minutes of the 2002 film (which followed an extreme stuntman turned spy assigned to infiltrate a group of Russian terrorists in Central Europe). Rammstein are seen playing “Feuer Frei” in a club in Prague when the film’s Russian villain orders his henchman to kill a spy trying to escape through the crowd….because every European bad guy loves hanging out at industrial metal shows. “Feuer Frei” was also the lead single from the film’s soundtrack, with its official music video essentially being one big plug for xXx (it was also helmed by the film’s director Rob Cohen).

Rammstein may be playing only one festival in the U.S. this year. However, they’ve been teasing big plans for 2017 by playing a brand new song at European festivals. And 2017 will also mark Vin Diesel’s return to the xXx series, with xXx: The Return of Xander Cage slated for a January release. Maybe Rammstein will pop in again?

For now, check out Rammstein’s cameo in xXx below.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKI2ne3Vpw0[/youtube]