1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?
I think drugs are an escape for Ickarus along with the lifestyle. But in addition to helping him escape reality, I believe he uses them as a recreation. However later in his career as a MC he may have become dependent on them because he begins to believe he must take them to be creative or to get into the same mental state as his audience. Either way I believe it started as a recreation and a way to enhance an experience and then took control of him.  

2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?
It seems to he they focus on hallucinogens and many endorphin releasing drugs. I believe I saw cocaine, they talked about LSD, and I wouldn't doubt that some fans are on acid. Ecstasy is another drug that is popular in raves. Most of these are inhaled or snorted but others are placed directly into your bloodstream.
  
3. While we can see that his drug habits get him ill and into a psychosis, and while we witness his relapse and inability to work successfully, why does the subculture Ickarus is in focus on drugs?
Drugs help you experience the music and atmosphere in new ways. Some drugs can make you sense the music using other sensors that normally wouldn’t have to do with sound and others release pleasure endorphins making you feel good. Others can be taken to enhance your senses and then some are taken to hallucinate. No matter what you pick though I would guess that drugs go hand in hand with raves because alot of times this particular kind of music has great affect upon your "trip". So one way would be you go to a rave to make your trip special, another would be you take drugs to make the rave special. Either way you end up taking drugs and going to a rave.

4. Compare the standards you know from your home society with the people you see depicted in this movie. Which are the stark differences and contrasts?
The first thing I noticed is that the German healthcare system took care of Ickarus. From my knowledge I would assume that Ickarus most likely would not have recovered unless he himself decided to enroll in a help course. Another thing I noticed is the lack of law enforcement upon dealing with drugs. Though I would not say drugs are hard to find in the US, from what I saw in the movie there wasn't much fear of getting busted with the drugs. I know that drugs are still pretty common in raves here in Minnesota but from what I have seen most drugs are taken privately then you go out onto the floor. Depending upon the club you may even be kicked out if they believe you are under the influence of something.  

5. Germany is considered a strong industrial nation the world over. Do you think that the youth culture as depicted here could change that? How about work ethics of Ickarus and of Alice, the label director who fires and then re-signs him?
I do not believe that this generation will be much different than the previous. Though there might be larger gathering of that culture, trends tend to come and go. When it comes down to finding a job even someone who is completely addicted to that lifestyle can become a professional if they want to. If there is no money to be made in something people are bound to move onto something else.  

6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?
I do not recall seeing any US "cult movies". However I don't know that I would have even considered this movie a "cult" movie. All people have a certain lifestyle and all movies portray some sort of lifestyle, the rave scene is just another. I would say that this movie just focus more upon the lifestyle than other movies.