There’s an irony to interviewing Tokio Hotel in a Toronto hotel suite on a snowy February. The band, originally called Devilish, re-named itself after what they thought their first home would look like. “We love big cities, modern cities, energetic cities,” says singer Bill Kaulitz, 18, speaking in German through a translator. “We imagined ourselves, if we could make it, (a Tokio Hotel) would be one of our first homes.” (“Tokyo” in German is spelled “Tokio.”)
Despite the fact that the members of Tokio Hotel, like many teens, could not agree on musical influences, they agreed on their vision of the band and stuck to it. “We were all so different. We couldn’t agree on a favorite band but we could agree on Tokio Hotel. We knew how we wanted to sound,” says Kaulitz, “and out music came from there.”
The band formed when the twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz met Georg Listing and Gustav Schafer in their early teens. “Gustav and I knew each other from music school and we decided to help them out. We decided to look for a drum player and bass player and we decided to take them. We decided to take the best guys from our town, out of Magdeburg, and that was them,” says Kaulitz, joking that since the town was so small, they really didn’t have much choice. The twins were only 13 when they made their first record, Schrei. They are the highest-placing German band ever in the French charts, and their second album, Zimmer 483 (about a house in Spain where their second album was recorded), went gold in its first week.
The band signed with Universal in May 2005 and has since sold over three million albums and DVDs in Germany alone. The guys insist that their English debut, Schrei, be a one-to-one translation so the lyrics would retain their meanings across languages. Says Bill: “We wanted everyone to understand our lyrics, to understand the emotions in our songs. We didn’t want to lose anything from the German original, from the emotion, from the base.”
They have become teen heart-throbs of late, particularly in Europe, however they insist their looks are not modeled on anyone. Bill sports tight-fitting jeans, teased hair, and makeup that makes Pamela Anderson look understated. His brother Tom, with his dreadlocks and baggy pants and shirts, looks like he would be at home in a hip hop club, while Georg and Gustav look like the typical teen metalheads.
The touching ballad “Sacred” is an album standout, where Kaulitz tells someone who if obviously very special to him “to me, you’ll be forever sacred.” While he stay mum on who is the subject of the song, Bill says, “For this song we looked for a word that’s bigger than love. You can fall in love so many times, but some people have this standing forever. You wanted to show how big this relationship is.”
Kim Edwards
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tokio Hotel WW162 (Tokio Hotel chat and Bild.de article)
Tokio Hotel VIP chat!
The Tokio Hotel VIP chat has been announced! The band will take part in a special chat in the VIP section of the U.S. homepage. To become a VIP member and access the chat, use the code provided with the U.S. standard version of "Scream". The chat will begin at 4:00 PM EST on Monday June 30th and will last for 30 minutes. Don't miss it!
Alarm In Paris
Tokio Hotel play in open air for 30.000 fans
(by Martina Kleinke, bild.de)
Saturday evening in Paris. At 20.30p.m. Bill, Tom, Gustav and Georg, from “Tokio Hotel,” stormed the stage, accompanied by lots of fireworks at the “Parc des Princes” stadium. 30,000, nearly all female, fans totally freak out; screeching their souls out of their body and screaming in German: “Bill, I want to have a child with you!” Complete “Tokio Hotel” alarm in the French capital. BILD.de has exclusive pictures and footage of the amazing gig.
The special thing about this concert: “Tokio Hotel” sings all their songs in German. Thousands of French fans wrote the record company and media saying that they really want to hear the four boys sing in German. Tom tells BILD.de, grinning: “There were also angry letters from parents that had protested to the French record company, because their children have dropped English in school in order to take German classes instead.”
The four Magdeburgers for 90 minutes rocked Paris, with many fans singing along every line of text. Gustav says about the mega performance to BILD.de: “It’s awesome to stand in front of such a mass of fans.” Bill continues: “When such a whole stadium sings along to all of your songs, you most certainly get goosebumps.”
Their concert will take place on the 6th of July in Rome.
The Tokio Hotel VIP chat has been announced! The band will take part in a special chat in the VIP section of the U.S. homepage. To become a VIP member and access the chat, use the code provided with the U.S. standard version of "Scream". The chat will begin at 4:00 PM EST on Monday June 30th and will last for 30 minutes. Don't miss it!
Alarm In Paris
Tokio Hotel play in open air for 30.000 fans
(by Martina Kleinke, bild.de)
Saturday evening in Paris. At 20.30p.m. Bill, Tom, Gustav and Georg, from “Tokio Hotel,” stormed the stage, accompanied by lots of fireworks at the “Parc des Princes” stadium. 30,000, nearly all female, fans totally freak out; screeching their souls out of their body and screaming in German: “Bill, I want to have a child with you!” Complete “Tokio Hotel” alarm in the French capital. BILD.de has exclusive pictures and footage of the amazing gig.
The special thing about this concert: “Tokio Hotel” sings all their songs in German. Thousands of French fans wrote the record company and media saying that they really want to hear the four boys sing in German. Tom tells BILD.de, grinning: “There were also angry letters from parents that had protested to the French record company, because their children have dropped English in school in order to take German classes instead.”
The four Magdeburgers for 90 minutes rocked Paris, with many fans singing along every line of text. Gustav says about the mega performance to BILD.de: “It’s awesome to stand in front of such a mass of fans.” Bill continues: “When such a whole stadium sings along to all of your songs, you most certainly get goosebumps.”
Their concert will take place on the 6th of July in Rome.
Tokio Hotel WW161(TH news)
Triumph in America
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Tokio Hotel from Germany!” A deafening cheer breaks out in the TV studio. The girls scream, wave banners and some even have tears in their eyes. US talk-show host Conan O’Brian has never experienced so much enthusiasm for a German band in his late night show before. He mumbles “Incredible,” and shakes his head. Fans had already camped outside the studio building three days before the show. For the record, the queue grew until it was two house blocks long. But only 120 fans were lucky and managed to get tickets for the show.
America in TH fever! Whether it’s entrances, signings or radio interviews, the scene is similar – hysterical teenagers, clogged streets, a state of emergency! Bill, Tom, Georg and Gustav have really done something none of them imagined – Tokio Hotel has taken America by storm! They even decorate front pages of newspapers, have a load of celebrity fans (e.g. Jay-Z and Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls) and are going on tour together with the Jonas Brothers in autumn – an ideal start in the land of endless possibilities! As a child, singer Bill Kaulitz (18) couldn’t imagine all this in his wildest dreams. “Before, I sat in my room in front of my Nena posters and imagined what it would be like to be a popstar. The fact that we’ve come so far is unbelievable!”
However, international success has downsides too – in their homeland Germany, Tokio Hotel is increasingly losing popularity. The critics are increasing, many supporters are disappointed about them moving away and the first fanclubs have dissolved. And Tokio Hotel is doing little to win their old followers back. A new single or album isn’t in sight whatsoever. Instead, making it abroad has priority; above all in America. A new Tokio Hotel album won’t appear until the beginning of 2009 – too late for many fans!
Other tour dates :
European Tour dates, official.
27.06.08 - España - Barcelona (Palau Sant Jordi)
28.06.08 - Rock in Rio - Madrid/España
29.06.08 - Portugal - Lisboa (Atlantico Pavilon) 05.07.08 - Monaco Live 2008 - Port Hercule de Monaco
06.07.08 - Italy - Rome (Ippodromo Capannelle)
11.07.08 - Italy - Modena (Parco Novi Sad)
12.07.08 - Switzerland - Geneva (Stade de Geneve)
13.07.08 - Werchter Boutique Fest (Brussels/Belgium)
North America
09.08.08 - Festival des Mongolfières – Montreal/Canada
200 out of the 8000 fans who needed to be reimbursed for the canceled concert in Geneva (the one that was planned for the 21st of March) still have to be reimbursed.
MTV Apology to Tokio Hotel Fans transcript for those who can't watch the vid.
Man:
Hey guys! When digital producer, Sara Muller, wrote on mtvnews.com that her friends thought Tokio Hotel were lame and an embarrassment, you guys responded vehemently. For instance, Raikiri wrote: "Well, lame and embarrassed are the perfect words to talk about anyone who wrote this." Sara, do you have anything you’d like to say?
Sara:
Dear fans of Tokio Hotel, I regret referring to your number one band, Tokio Hotel, as lame and an embarrassment. I was obviously mistaken. Tokio Hotel is an awesome four-some full of amazing musicians who really know how to rock out. They will surely be around for a long time to come.
Man:
Keep those comments coming on mtvnews.com!
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Tokio Hotel from Germany!” A deafening cheer breaks out in the TV studio. The girls scream, wave banners and some even have tears in their eyes. US talk-show host Conan O’Brian has never experienced so much enthusiasm for a German band in his late night show before. He mumbles “Incredible,” and shakes his head. Fans had already camped outside the studio building three days before the show. For the record, the queue grew until it was two house blocks long. But only 120 fans were lucky and managed to get tickets for the show.
America in TH fever! Whether it’s entrances, signings or radio interviews, the scene is similar – hysterical teenagers, clogged streets, a state of emergency! Bill, Tom, Georg and Gustav have really done something none of them imagined – Tokio Hotel has taken America by storm! They even decorate front pages of newspapers, have a load of celebrity fans (e.g. Jay-Z and Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls) and are going on tour together with the Jonas Brothers in autumn – an ideal start in the land of endless possibilities! As a child, singer Bill Kaulitz (18) couldn’t imagine all this in his wildest dreams. “Before, I sat in my room in front of my Nena posters and imagined what it would be like to be a popstar. The fact that we’ve come so far is unbelievable!”
However, international success has downsides too – in their homeland Germany, Tokio Hotel is increasingly losing popularity. The critics are increasing, many supporters are disappointed about them moving away and the first fanclubs have dissolved. And Tokio Hotel is doing little to win their old followers back. A new single or album isn’t in sight whatsoever. Instead, making it abroad has priority; above all in America. A new Tokio Hotel album won’t appear until the beginning of 2009 – too late for many fans!
Other tour dates :
European Tour dates, official.
27.06.08 - España - Barcelona (Palau Sant Jordi)
28.06.08 - Rock in Rio - Madrid/España
29.06.08 - Portugal - Lisboa (Atlantico Pavilon) 05.07.08 - Monaco Live 2008 - Port Hercule de Monaco
06.07.08 - Italy - Rome (Ippodromo Capannelle)
11.07.08 - Italy - Modena (Parco Novi Sad)
12.07.08 - Switzerland - Geneva (Stade de Geneve)
13.07.08 - Werchter Boutique Fest (Brussels/Belgium)
North America
09.08.08 - Festival des Mongolfières – Montreal/Canada
200 out of the 8000 fans who needed to be reimbursed for the canceled concert in Geneva (the one that was planned for the 21st of March) still have to be reimbursed.
MTV Apology to Tokio Hotel Fans transcript for those who can't watch the vid.
Man:
Hey guys! When digital producer, Sara Muller, wrote on mtvnews.com that her friends thought Tokio Hotel were lame and an embarrassment, you guys responded vehemently. For instance, Raikiri wrote: "Well, lame and embarrassed are the perfect words to talk about anyone who wrote this." Sara, do you have anything you’d like to say?
Sara:
Dear fans of Tokio Hotel, I regret referring to your number one band, Tokio Hotel, as lame and an embarrassment. I was obviously mistaken. Tokio Hotel is an awesome four-some full of amazing musicians who really know how to rock out. They will surely be around for a long time to come.
Man:
Keep those comments coming on mtvnews.com!
Tokio Hotel WW160 (Tokio Hotel Mania: A-Z)
Tokio Hotel Mania: A-Z
The concert on Saturday evening, at the Parc des Princes, undoubtedly marks the dedication of these young rockers: Tokio Hotel has never been so high…from Trabendo to the Parc des Princes in only two years, is only one of the many records and achievements Tokio Hotel has done. Managing to make a whole generation sing in German, even after Kraftwerk renounced the idea, knowing how to managed guitars at a time when people thought they were overwhelmed by synths, they explode all the sales records and rekindle the flickering flame of “mania,” just like the good old days of the Beatlesmania, all of that is just some of Tokio Hotel accomplishments.
And only a “two year” existence, and despite – or thanks to –their German rock, the Magdeburg twins’ band, this year, has beaten all records of sales and popularity. In this furious TokioHotelmania, here’s “A” for German (well it’s ‘Allemand’ in French…) to “Z” like “Zimmer 483," here’s a lexicon of anything necessary to know about Bill, Tom, Georg, and Gustav.
A: German (Allemand, in French)
From their very first concert in Trabendo, in Paris, last Summer, it was already a crazy; all the French fans sang the songs in German, they knew them all by heart, even if some didn’t know a word of German.
German contributes to the Tokio Hotel phenomenon…even with the French accent!
Bill: “We did not expect that at all, even in our wildest dreams! I had never imagined such a success, having so many French fans, who, in addition, sing our songs in German. It was very surprising, and it warmed our hearts.
B: Bill
Bill Kaulitz, singer and twin of guitarist, Tom, is just 18 years old. His hair is streaked in several places (not anymore) his makeup, his fragility, his ambiguity, and his ‘neo-goth’ look, ranging between Robert Smith and Marilyn Manson, contributes greatly to the phenomenal success of the group.
By the way, like Cure and Manson, a portion of the fans have adopted and reproduced, as closely as possible, Bill’s style.
C: Compositions
Bill: “All our songs are written in cooperation with our producers, and it would never suit us to sing things written by others, who have nothing to do with us. In a song, there must be something personal about it, in order to sing it how it should be sung. Often the producers have ideas, but it’s usually us. We unite and work together.
And after that the rights are shared, something that depends on titles, the importance of each one’s job in it.
D: Destroy
In their very first clip “Schrei,” we see the boys destroying a villa. But in real life, the boys are rather cool.
Bill: “It was a house that was going to be destroyed, it was going to be pulled down two weeks after the shooting of the clip. But that doesn’t resemble what happens during our concerts. I would not hate to destroy a hotel room. Obviously, it would please me! But on the other hand, I’m too stingy, I would not want to pay for the repairs after. So anyway, I wouldn’t do that.”
E: Recording (Enregistrement, in French)
According to our information, the recording of the last CD could have perhaps been an excuse to party. (?)
Bill: “We recorded our album in the countryside.”
Tom: “We must say that there’s an apartment above the studio where we lived, and it was such a mess! Every week there was a housekeeper who’d pass and clean up everything!”
F: Fans
Bill: “We are always amazed at what our fans are capable of doing for us. From time to time, it’s very impressive, but it makes us very happy, sometimes we even find it hard to believe!”
Tom: “Personally, I’m very happy when the girls scream my name!” (laughs)
G: Georg and Gustav
Georg: “In fact, Bill and Tom have been doing rock together since a long time, since they were 7. With Gustav, we met at a music school and we quickly started to play together. One night we saw Bill and Tom playing in this club “Gröninger Bad” and just from hearing, we knew that they needed a hand. We went to see them backstage, and that’s how the group was born.”
H: Nina Hagen
About Nena, the one who sang the immortal “99 Luftbaloons” in the early 80’s, Nina Hagen is one of the rare German influences on Tokio Hotel.
Whimsical and frosty character, she was able to make the whole planet dance with her “African Reggae.”
Bill: “Nina Hagen was really brilliant. Nena too, even if she was more pop than rock. Personally for me, I am totally a fan of Nena and Nina, ever since the age of 8.”
I: Island
When the album promo and the tour will be ended, what are they dreaming of?
A paradise island…and pretty girls!
Tom: “I dream of a remote island with plenty of sunshine, a dream beach with white sand, clear turquoise water, and long naps. And pretty girls! For me the summer often means going out with one or more chicks. With Bill and my parents, we spent most of our summers in the south of Spain. There was a such a big concentration of pretty girls, that it wasn’t hard to seduce some of them.”
J: Twins (Jumeaux, in French)
Bill and Tom are born 10 minutes apart.
Bill: “I stayed a little longer, because I turned over in my mom’s stomach, so that lasted a bit longer. Normally there isn’t more than a two or three minute interval.
It’s great to have a twin brother. We do everything together, it’s true, and we started making music at the same time. We have the same interests, so it’s not a calamity, to the contrary.”
Tom: “Often brothers and sisters don’t get along very well, and don’t understand each other. But we are twins. And since we have the same kind of interests, it’s great to work togther.”
L: LaFee
With her powerful rock, her charms and perfect German, the beautiful LaFee seems to be the feminine answer to the group from Magdeburg. But with her 17 years of age, is she a threat to Tokio Hotel’s power?
With her fiery eyes, the “Belle Christina Klein” excels in any case with her second CD “Jeztz Erst Recht.”
M: Magdeburg
Bill: “In fact, Magdeburg isn’t such a great city. On that, we all agree. It’s true that we all grew up there, we still live there, but we can’t imagine ourselves living there forever. Seriously, it’s not such a city you’d want to visit if you’re a tourist in Germany. It’s a boring hole, especially for young people.”
N: Next
The next step for Tokio Hotel, with the release of “Scream,” their first English album, is the conquest of England and the new world: America. (Not so new anymore)
Bill: “We will tour and tour and tour. We will go to as many countries as possible, where we have not yet been, and do some promo. At the moment, we concentrate on the UK, because it’s such a great step forward for a German band to succeed there.” (It’s not me who said it…)
P: Parents
The parents of Georg and Gustav have affirmed to be the more fervent supporters of the band.
Bill: “Our mother is an artist, and she paints on canvas. Our parents are divorced. And our stepfather is a musician. He plays acoustic guitar and it was he who led us to music. He made everything available to us. And at home, he had all the equipment needed.”
Tom: “For me, he put the guitar and amplifier in my room, and it was great. It was he who helped me learn music.”
R: Rock
Tom: “Our music is fast and powerful. It is also emotional. It’s good German rock. We’ve always tried to create our own original style. Ever since the beginning of the group, 7 years ago, we always composed our own music. So far we’ve only sung a single cover, it was “Instant Karma” by John Lennon and it was a sample for the benefit of “Amnesty International” where you could also see U2 and Green Day.”
Bill: “Doing our own thing, creating our own style and sound, has always been our priority.”
S: Spring Nicht
Bill: “We have always listened to our hearts, because last year we received lots of mail and e-mails from fans, we’ve also been on Internet forums and we saw that suicide is something lots of people think about, not always seriously, but some really think about doing it. It’s something that is present quite early in the heads of some teenagers. It’s happens as a result of first failures, breakups, loss of a loved one, and you don’t know what else life has to offer you. It’s an issue we wanted to deal with.”
T: Tom
Tom Kaulitz, Bill’s twin, is the guitarist of the group. He look is light years away from that of his brother’s. Far from neo-gothic, he has his cool locks and wide clothes, Tom belongs to the galaxy of riders, surfers, and skaters.
Tom: “Music is my biggest passion, my childhood dream. And today I have the privilege to accomplish this dream in the best conditions. I wake up with music and I go to sleep with music, I play in front of a great public, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
U: Universal
With global success, Tokio hotel is aimed at teens from many nations: rock has become universal and surpasses the language barrier.
V: Videos
Ever since the first clip, Schrei, Tokio Hotel has used the advantage of the offensive weapon, music clips, to capture new sonic territories.
W: Wir sterben niemals aus
Bill: “This song does not only talk about staying together for the rest of our lives. It rather answers the question: what will become of us after our death? I have thought a lot about it, and for me, each person is on earth to leave some trace behind. I can’t imagine that everything is finished after death, and there’s nothing left of us. I think every person, famous or not, leaves something behind the day they die.”
(Dunno what happened to X and Y!)
Z: Zimmer 483
Tom: “The idea of the title comes from our vacations in Spain last year, when we decided to rest and write songs at the same time. We rented a little dilapidated house in Spain which had the number 483, and that’s where we wrote the first song of our second album “Wir sterben niemals aus.” We thought it characterized this new album quite well.”
(Source: hitmusemag)
The concert on Saturday evening, at the Parc des Princes, undoubtedly marks the dedication of these young rockers: Tokio Hotel has never been so high…from Trabendo to the Parc des Princes in only two years, is only one of the many records and achievements Tokio Hotel has done. Managing to make a whole generation sing in German, even after Kraftwerk renounced the idea, knowing how to managed guitars at a time when people thought they were overwhelmed by synths, they explode all the sales records and rekindle the flickering flame of “mania,” just like the good old days of the Beatlesmania, all of that is just some of Tokio Hotel accomplishments.
And only a “two year” existence, and despite – or thanks to –their German rock, the Magdeburg twins’ band, this year, has beaten all records of sales and popularity. In this furious TokioHotelmania, here’s “A” for German (well it’s ‘Allemand’ in French…) to “Z” like “Zimmer 483," here’s a lexicon of anything necessary to know about Bill, Tom, Georg, and Gustav.
A: German (Allemand, in French)
From their very first concert in Trabendo, in Paris, last Summer, it was already a crazy; all the French fans sang the songs in German, they knew them all by heart, even if some didn’t know a word of German.
German contributes to the Tokio Hotel phenomenon…even with the French accent!
Bill: “We did not expect that at all, even in our wildest dreams! I had never imagined such a success, having so many French fans, who, in addition, sing our songs in German. It was very surprising, and it warmed our hearts.
B: Bill
Bill Kaulitz, singer and twin of guitarist, Tom, is just 18 years old. His hair is streaked in several places (not anymore) his makeup, his fragility, his ambiguity, and his ‘neo-goth’ look, ranging between Robert Smith and Marilyn Manson, contributes greatly to the phenomenal success of the group.
By the way, like Cure and Manson, a portion of the fans have adopted and reproduced, as closely as possible, Bill’s style.
C: Compositions
Bill: “All our songs are written in cooperation with our producers, and it would never suit us to sing things written by others, who have nothing to do with us. In a song, there must be something personal about it, in order to sing it how it should be sung. Often the producers have ideas, but it’s usually us. We unite and work together.
And after that the rights are shared, something that depends on titles, the importance of each one’s job in it.
D: Destroy
In their very first clip “Schrei,” we see the boys destroying a villa. But in real life, the boys are rather cool.
Bill: “It was a house that was going to be destroyed, it was going to be pulled down two weeks after the shooting of the clip. But that doesn’t resemble what happens during our concerts. I would not hate to destroy a hotel room. Obviously, it would please me! But on the other hand, I’m too stingy, I would not want to pay for the repairs after. So anyway, I wouldn’t do that.”
E: Recording (Enregistrement, in French)
According to our information, the recording of the last CD could have perhaps been an excuse to party. (?)
Bill: “We recorded our album in the countryside.”
Tom: “We must say that there’s an apartment above the studio where we lived, and it was such a mess! Every week there was a housekeeper who’d pass and clean up everything!”
F: Fans
Bill: “We are always amazed at what our fans are capable of doing for us. From time to time, it’s very impressive, but it makes us very happy, sometimes we even find it hard to believe!”
Tom: “Personally, I’m very happy when the girls scream my name!” (laughs)
G: Georg and Gustav
Georg: “In fact, Bill and Tom have been doing rock together since a long time, since they were 7. With Gustav, we met at a music school and we quickly started to play together. One night we saw Bill and Tom playing in this club “Gröninger Bad” and just from hearing, we knew that they needed a hand. We went to see them backstage, and that’s how the group was born.”
H: Nina Hagen
About Nena, the one who sang the immortal “99 Luftbaloons” in the early 80’s, Nina Hagen is one of the rare German influences on Tokio Hotel.
Whimsical and frosty character, she was able to make the whole planet dance with her “African Reggae.”
Bill: “Nina Hagen was really brilliant. Nena too, even if she was more pop than rock. Personally for me, I am totally a fan of Nena and Nina, ever since the age of 8.”
I: Island
When the album promo and the tour will be ended, what are they dreaming of?
A paradise island…and pretty girls!
Tom: “I dream of a remote island with plenty of sunshine, a dream beach with white sand, clear turquoise water, and long naps. And pretty girls! For me the summer often means going out with one or more chicks. With Bill and my parents, we spent most of our summers in the south of Spain. There was a such a big concentration of pretty girls, that it wasn’t hard to seduce some of them.”
J: Twins (Jumeaux, in French)
Bill and Tom are born 10 minutes apart.
Bill: “I stayed a little longer, because I turned over in my mom’s stomach, so that lasted a bit longer. Normally there isn’t more than a two or three minute interval.
It’s great to have a twin brother. We do everything together, it’s true, and we started making music at the same time. We have the same interests, so it’s not a calamity, to the contrary.”
Tom: “Often brothers and sisters don’t get along very well, and don’t understand each other. But we are twins. And since we have the same kind of interests, it’s great to work togther.”
L: LaFee
With her powerful rock, her charms and perfect German, the beautiful LaFee seems to be the feminine answer to the group from Magdeburg. But with her 17 years of age, is she a threat to Tokio Hotel’s power?
With her fiery eyes, the “Belle Christina Klein” excels in any case with her second CD “Jeztz Erst Recht.”
M: Magdeburg
Bill: “In fact, Magdeburg isn’t such a great city. On that, we all agree. It’s true that we all grew up there, we still live there, but we can’t imagine ourselves living there forever. Seriously, it’s not such a city you’d want to visit if you’re a tourist in Germany. It’s a boring hole, especially for young people.”
N: Next
The next step for Tokio Hotel, with the release of “Scream,” their first English album, is the conquest of England and the new world: America. (Not so new anymore)
Bill: “We will tour and tour and tour. We will go to as many countries as possible, where we have not yet been, and do some promo. At the moment, we concentrate on the UK, because it’s such a great step forward for a German band to succeed there.” (It’s not me who said it…)
P: Parents
The parents of Georg and Gustav have affirmed to be the more fervent supporters of the band.
Bill: “Our mother is an artist, and she paints on canvas. Our parents are divorced. And our stepfather is a musician. He plays acoustic guitar and it was he who led us to music. He made everything available to us. And at home, he had all the equipment needed.”
Tom: “For me, he put the guitar and amplifier in my room, and it was great. It was he who helped me learn music.”
R: Rock
Tom: “Our music is fast and powerful. It is also emotional. It’s good German rock. We’ve always tried to create our own original style. Ever since the beginning of the group, 7 years ago, we always composed our own music. So far we’ve only sung a single cover, it was “Instant Karma” by John Lennon and it was a sample for the benefit of “Amnesty International” where you could also see U2 and Green Day.”
Bill: “Doing our own thing, creating our own style and sound, has always been our priority.”
S: Spring Nicht
Bill: “We have always listened to our hearts, because last year we received lots of mail and e-mails from fans, we’ve also been on Internet forums and we saw that suicide is something lots of people think about, not always seriously, but some really think about doing it. It’s something that is present quite early in the heads of some teenagers. It’s happens as a result of first failures, breakups, loss of a loved one, and you don’t know what else life has to offer you. It’s an issue we wanted to deal with.”
T: Tom
Tom Kaulitz, Bill’s twin, is the guitarist of the group. He look is light years away from that of his brother’s. Far from neo-gothic, he has his cool locks and wide clothes, Tom belongs to the galaxy of riders, surfers, and skaters.
Tom: “Music is my biggest passion, my childhood dream. And today I have the privilege to accomplish this dream in the best conditions. I wake up with music and I go to sleep with music, I play in front of a great public, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
U: Universal
With global success, Tokio hotel is aimed at teens from many nations: rock has become universal and surpasses the language barrier.
V: Videos
Ever since the first clip, Schrei, Tokio Hotel has used the advantage of the offensive weapon, music clips, to capture new sonic territories.
W: Wir sterben niemals aus
Bill: “This song does not only talk about staying together for the rest of our lives. It rather answers the question: what will become of us after our death? I have thought a lot about it, and for me, each person is on earth to leave some trace behind. I can’t imagine that everything is finished after death, and there’s nothing left of us. I think every person, famous or not, leaves something behind the day they die.”
(Dunno what happened to X and Y!)
Z: Zimmer 483
Tom: “The idea of the title comes from our vacations in Spain last year, when we decided to rest and write songs at the same time. We rented a little dilapidated house in Spain which had the number 483, and that’s where we wrote the first song of our second album “Wir sterben niemals aus.” We thought it characterized this new album quite well.”
(Source: hitmusemag)
Tokio Hotel WW159 (Save Tokio Hotel!)
A blog to save Tokio Hotel
While the German group played at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, four young French girls have an ambition: to give rest to the band, which they consider overworked. Their blog has received 13 500 visits in less than two months.
Are the members of Tokio Hotel risking a burnout? Four high-school students have scrutinized dozens of videos, many photos, and are persuaded and confident that the German quartet is at the end of their tether. “They are tired, it obvious, they no longer have the little flame they had at the beginning.” Say Flora, Solene, Laeticia, and Cloe, all 15 years old. There is first all the singer’s past voice problems, concerts being canceled, and more recently, one concert where Bill had to lip sync to a soundtrack. Without forgetting the band’s lyrics, the admirers say to themselves: “We have to go a thousand oceans wide, then we’ll be free!
So Universal will receive dozens of petitions, concerning concerts all over the world, the fans are mobilizing and asking Universal to give them…vacations. Since two months, the blog the girls have created in order to “make the fans more responsible” has received 13 501 visits and hundreds of comments have been posted. Some offer assistance, such as Lyly: “My parents are, in what you would call, high places. I will go see if they have contacts at Universal.” Others like Nana are more worried, “Have you thought about what this could do? You could put their careers in danger!” (I highly doubt that XD)
Universal in sight
Upon returning from school, Flora, Solene, Laetitia, and Cloe have taken the habit of writing letters to the band, their agents, and their record label. “We want to warn Tokio Hotel of our initiative. They have to know that we want to inscribe them permanently in the history of music. We don’t want them to sink away, always wanting to do more,” summed up Solene.
But, they aren’t the only ones concerned with Tokio Hotel’s fate. German fans have launched a petition on Internet, with the theme “Save Tokio Hotel.” Associated to this petition, the four French girls have another ambition; make as many fans as possible sign the petition. They also plan reunions in many French cities, and in Canada, Spain and the USA. The girls’ blog receives visitors from all over the world, some of whom have offered to translate their texts into Portuguese, German, and Spanish. “With 30 000 signatures, Universal will have no other choice but to listen to us fans. They will release some of their pressure on the band,” the young girls assure us.
“We don’t even have enough time to open all Tokio Hotel’s fan mail,” is the reply from Universal. “We often send letters to people directly in Germany.”
As far as gigs, the record label is formal enough: “Nothing in their contracts obliges them to have dates and tours. So this doesn’t concern us directly.”
(Source: tf1.lci.fr)
While the German group played at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, four young French girls have an ambition: to give rest to the band, which they consider overworked. Their blog has received 13 500 visits in less than two months.
Are the members of Tokio Hotel risking a burnout? Four high-school students have scrutinized dozens of videos, many photos, and are persuaded and confident that the German quartet is at the end of their tether. “They are tired, it obvious, they no longer have the little flame they had at the beginning.” Say Flora, Solene, Laeticia, and Cloe, all 15 years old. There is first all the singer’s past voice problems, concerts being canceled, and more recently, one concert where Bill had to lip sync to a soundtrack. Without forgetting the band’s lyrics, the admirers say to themselves: “We have to go a thousand oceans wide, then we’ll be free!
So Universal will receive dozens of petitions, concerning concerts all over the world, the fans are mobilizing and asking Universal to give them…vacations. Since two months, the blog the girls have created in order to “make the fans more responsible” has received 13 501 visits and hundreds of comments have been posted. Some offer assistance, such as Lyly: “My parents are, in what you would call, high places. I will go see if they have contacts at Universal.” Others like Nana are more worried, “Have you thought about what this could do? You could put their careers in danger!” (I highly doubt that XD)
Universal in sight
Upon returning from school, Flora, Solene, Laetitia, and Cloe have taken the habit of writing letters to the band, their agents, and their record label. “We want to warn Tokio Hotel of our initiative. They have to know that we want to inscribe them permanently in the history of music. We don’t want them to sink away, always wanting to do more,” summed up Solene.
But, they aren’t the only ones concerned with Tokio Hotel’s fate. German fans have launched a petition on Internet, with the theme “Save Tokio Hotel.” Associated to this petition, the four French girls have another ambition; make as many fans as possible sign the petition. They also plan reunions in many French cities, and in Canada, Spain and the USA. The girls’ blog receives visitors from all over the world, some of whom have offered to translate their texts into Portuguese, German, and Spanish. “With 30 000 signatures, Universal will have no other choice but to listen to us fans. They will release some of their pressure on the band,” the young girls assure us.
“We don’t even have enough time to open all Tokio Hotel’s fan mail,” is the reply from Universal. “We often send letters to people directly in Germany.”
As far as gigs, the record label is formal enough: “Nothing in their contracts obliges them to have dates and tours. So this doesn’t concern us directly.”
(Source: tf1.lci.fr)
Tokio Hotel WW158 (Tom interview: Bill is my soul mate!)
“Bill is my soul mate!”
Tom is the more playful of the Kaulitz twins, but there’s still one thing that he’s deadly serious about: the closeness and the love for his brother. Also read about, how Tom’s dream girl should be and why he got his current hair-do.
Facts about Tom Kaulitz
Age: 18 years.
Born: Leipzig, Germany.
Job: Plays guitar in Tokio Hotel.
Eyecolor: Brown.
Favorite Dish: Pasta.
Interests: Parties, skateboard, graffiti.
Other: He always buys his clothes in size XXL.
Right now: The band is on their 1000 Hotels European Open Air Tour. Tom said that he is totally ready to get back into the studio and record new material, so the fans will already have something to listen to this winter, so keep your fingers crossed!
Tom performed for the first time at the age of 5 in the German tv-series “Verrückt Nach Dir” (means: Crazy About You), where he starred with Bill. But it wasn’t only the tv-carrier the got Tom’s attention. As a kid he actually dreamed about becoming a cowboy! But all that changed when his stepdad gave him a guitar, at the age of 9. The music has been the most important thing for Tom since then and he started writing his own songs right away. Later on when he and Bill started Tokio Hotel, everything else in life was pushed aside, including school.
Style and image: Tom’s style is inspired by rap and he loves caps and big pants. One of his biggest idols is the German hip hop-star Samy Deluxe, who was also Tom’s first concert. A trademark that a lot of people connect to Tom is his dreadlocks, which he got at the age of 12.
“I thought it was cool. When I was younger, I had short hair, but I got tired of always having to style it. I wanted a hair-do that was easy to take care of and looked the way it was supposed to, when I woke up in the morning. That’s why I let my hair grow and got dreadlocks.”
Tom thinks Bill dresses a little weird in his tight pants, but Tom thinks it’s really important that everybody looks the way that they feel comfortable with.
"I don’t want to change anything about myself. I think that everybody should be the way that they want to be and no-one needs to change anything about themselves.”
Brother and soul mate: While Bill is seen as the kinda shy type, when answering questions, Tom is the loud joker who loves to be the center of attention and joke around. But when it comes to his relationship with his twin brother, Tom is always pretty serious.
“I can’t live without Bill. We do everything together, we tell each other everything, we are inseparable.” Like a lot of other identical twins, Tom feels that he has a special bond with Bill and knows how he feels, without having to talk to him.
“We don’t look like twins, but we’re soul mates. When I look at Bill, I know right away how he thinks. I can feel if he’s having problems, even if I’m not with him.”
Serious about love: Tom is known as a real player and even though a lot of people are crazy about Bill, Tom is not that far behind. Like the other guys in the band, there’s a lot of rumors about Tom having a girlfriend, but he denies right away at mention of the topic. He even says that he doesn’t think that he will ever trust a girl as much as he trusts Bill. So even though he seems like a player, love is important to him and not something you should joke about.
“I’ve been in love, but I don’t think I’ve ever loved someone. Love is something rare and beautiful. But it can also suck, if the other person doesn’t love you.”
Tom’s opinion about:
Money: It’s a great bonus, but it’s not everything in life.
Friendship: Friends are super awesome to have. You need friends, even though it’s hard to find some who aren’t fake.
The Dream girl: She needs to be extremely spontaneous and fun. I need to be able to have fun with her, and it would be awesome if she wore cool clothes. It’s important that we’re able to be on the same level and of course I have to like the way she looks.
Tom in numbers:
-He owns over 350 caps!
-The 4 words that Tom thinks describes him are: laid back, spontaneous, smart and sloppy.
-He started wearing baggy-jeans at the mere age of 9.
-He is 184 cm tall.
-He's got 1 piercing in his lip.
Tom is the more playful of the Kaulitz twins, but there’s still one thing that he’s deadly serious about: the closeness and the love for his brother. Also read about, how Tom’s dream girl should be and why he got his current hair-do.
Facts about Tom Kaulitz
Age: 18 years.
Born: Leipzig, Germany.
Job: Plays guitar in Tokio Hotel.
Eyecolor: Brown.
Favorite Dish: Pasta.
Interests: Parties, skateboard, graffiti.
Other: He always buys his clothes in size XXL.
Right now: The band is on their 1000 Hotels European Open Air Tour. Tom said that he is totally ready to get back into the studio and record new material, so the fans will already have something to listen to this winter, so keep your fingers crossed!
Tom performed for the first time at the age of 5 in the German tv-series “Verrückt Nach Dir” (means: Crazy About You), where he starred with Bill. But it wasn’t only the tv-carrier the got Tom’s attention. As a kid he actually dreamed about becoming a cowboy! But all that changed when his stepdad gave him a guitar, at the age of 9. The music has been the most important thing for Tom since then and he started writing his own songs right away. Later on when he and Bill started Tokio Hotel, everything else in life was pushed aside, including school.
Style and image: Tom’s style is inspired by rap and he loves caps and big pants. One of his biggest idols is the German hip hop-star Samy Deluxe, who was also Tom’s first concert. A trademark that a lot of people connect to Tom is his dreadlocks, which he got at the age of 12.
“I thought it was cool. When I was younger, I had short hair, but I got tired of always having to style it. I wanted a hair-do that was easy to take care of and looked the way it was supposed to, when I woke up in the morning. That’s why I let my hair grow and got dreadlocks.”
Tom thinks Bill dresses a little weird in his tight pants, but Tom thinks it’s really important that everybody looks the way that they feel comfortable with.
"I don’t want to change anything about myself. I think that everybody should be the way that they want to be and no-one needs to change anything about themselves.”
Brother and soul mate: While Bill is seen as the kinda shy type, when answering questions, Tom is the loud joker who loves to be the center of attention and joke around. But when it comes to his relationship with his twin brother, Tom is always pretty serious.
“I can’t live without Bill. We do everything together, we tell each other everything, we are inseparable.” Like a lot of other identical twins, Tom feels that he has a special bond with Bill and knows how he feels, without having to talk to him.
“We don’t look like twins, but we’re soul mates. When I look at Bill, I know right away how he thinks. I can feel if he’s having problems, even if I’m not with him.”
Serious about love: Tom is known as a real player and even though a lot of people are crazy about Bill, Tom is not that far behind. Like the other guys in the band, there’s a lot of rumors about Tom having a girlfriend, but he denies right away at mention of the topic. He even says that he doesn’t think that he will ever trust a girl as much as he trusts Bill. So even though he seems like a player, love is important to him and not something you should joke about.
“I’ve been in love, but I don’t think I’ve ever loved someone. Love is something rare and beautiful. But it can also suck, if the other person doesn’t love you.”
Tom’s opinion about:
Money: It’s a great bonus, but it’s not everything in life.
Friendship: Friends are super awesome to have. You need friends, even though it’s hard to find some who aren’t fake.
The Dream girl: She needs to be extremely spontaneous and fun. I need to be able to have fun with her, and it would be awesome if she wore cool clothes. It’s important that we’re able to be on the same level and of course I have to like the way she looks.
Tom in numbers:
-He owns over 350 caps!
-The 4 words that Tom thinks describes him are: laid back, spontaneous, smart and sloppy.
-He started wearing baggy-jeans at the mere age of 9.
-He is 184 cm tall.
-He's got 1 piercing in his lip.
Tokio Hotel WW157 (Doubts...)
Tokio Hotel's summer turns to panic?
Just a few months ago, for the German rock band, Tokio Hotel, lead by Bill Kaulitz, live was beautiful and good. Everything Tokio Hotel touched turned to gold, and of course, also for their producers...
But in just three months, and ill wind rose up like an evil shadow over the heads of Tom and Bill Kaulitz and their comrades, Georg and Gustav.
While Tokio Hotel returns from a triumphant tour in New York and Los Angeles, the problems reappear for Bill's health because of his lack of care for his vocal chords. The singer does not take special care of his vocal chords, inspite of his doctor's advice. He sings and then sings again. Fatigue hits the group, and you can feel that in the tension which now surrounds the news you hear about Tokio Hotel: canceled concerts, change of venues because there aren't enough seats sold, the sound is sometimes wrong which then forces them to do playback...
Is the wheel of fortune spinning in the wrong direction for Bill Kaulitz and Tokio Hote? Maybe the media exaggerates and is just a bird of ill omen. But it's the same, there is always a bit of truth in rumors.
The fans will play a big role this summer, by supporting Tokio Hotel. They would have to start with being many to attend the concerts, in Paris and Geneva. Are you fans still there?
(source: staragora)
Edit:
Win backstage at Monaco!
Are you a total Tokio Hotel fan and is your dream to meet the band especially on their next concert in Monaco on July 5th? Your dream could come true! Fnac gives you the opportunity to step backstage and meet the band. All you have to do is buy a ticket at Fnac.com and film a message for the band. Two winners will be chosen from the entries sent in before June 29th. They will be able to step into the VIP area and meet the band.
TH’s Popularity: Some Real Live Germans Weigh In
(By Sarah Muller)
For twentysomething Germans, the love might not extend past the Hoff.
Three friends from Hamburg recently came to New York for a visit. (Lovely bunch of people. Very open-minded, always up for anything.) One night during dinner — and somewhat out of the blue — their chief pop-culture export of the moment came up: Tokio Hotel.
On this side of the Atlantic, the boy band has been gathering both
buzz and rabid, tween young fans. (Hey, we already apologized for that one!) But my friends aren’t buying into the hair, the eyeliner or the hype.
Words like “embarrassment” and “lame” were thrown around a lot. One woman said Tokio Hotel only appeal to “kids and teenagers between 6 and 12 years old” or those “too young to realize what kind of stupid phonies these boys are.” My guy friend begged Americans like myself to “take them off our hands.” He added, simply, “They suck.”
I’ll be the first to admit this was not exactly a scientific poll, though they could represent a bigger backlash to come. Is this band just part of a prepubescent phase, or are fans onto something big?
Just curious. Tell us what you think.
Just a few months ago, for the German rock band, Tokio Hotel, lead by Bill Kaulitz, live was beautiful and good. Everything Tokio Hotel touched turned to gold, and of course, also for their producers...
But in just three months, and ill wind rose up like an evil shadow over the heads of Tom and Bill Kaulitz and their comrades, Georg and Gustav.
While Tokio Hotel returns from a triumphant tour in New York and Los Angeles, the problems reappear for Bill's health because of his lack of care for his vocal chords. The singer does not take special care of his vocal chords, inspite of his doctor's advice. He sings and then sings again. Fatigue hits the group, and you can feel that in the tension which now surrounds the news you hear about Tokio Hotel: canceled concerts, change of venues because there aren't enough seats sold, the sound is sometimes wrong which then forces them to do playback...
Is the wheel of fortune spinning in the wrong direction for Bill Kaulitz and Tokio Hote? Maybe the media exaggerates and is just a bird of ill omen. But it's the same, there is always a bit of truth in rumors.
The fans will play a big role this summer, by supporting Tokio Hotel. They would have to start with being many to attend the concerts, in Paris and Geneva. Are you fans still there?
(source: staragora)
Edit:
Win backstage at Monaco!
Are you a total Tokio Hotel fan and is your dream to meet the band especially on their next concert in Monaco on July 5th? Your dream could come true! Fnac gives you the opportunity to step backstage and meet the band. All you have to do is buy a ticket at Fnac.com and film a message for the band. Two winners will be chosen from the entries sent in before June 29th. They will be able to step into the VIP area and meet the band.
TH’s Popularity: Some Real Live Germans Weigh In
(By Sarah Muller)
For twentysomething Germans, the love might not extend past the Hoff.
Three friends from Hamburg recently came to New York for a visit. (Lovely bunch of people. Very open-minded, always up for anything.) One night during dinner — and somewhat out of the blue — their chief pop-culture export of the moment came up: Tokio Hotel.
On this side of the Atlantic, the boy band has been gathering both
buzz and rabid, tween young fans. (Hey, we already apologized for that one!) But my friends aren’t buying into the hair, the eyeliner or the hype.
Words like “embarrassment” and “lame” were thrown around a lot. One woman said Tokio Hotel only appeal to “kids and teenagers between 6 and 12 years old” or those “too young to realize what kind of stupid phonies these boys are.” My guy friend begged Americans like myself to “take them off our hands.” He added, simply, “They suck.”
I’ll be the first to admit this was not exactly a scientific poll, though they could represent a bigger backlash to come. Is this band just part of a prepubescent phase, or are fans onto something big?
Just curious. Tell us what you think.
Tokio Hotel WW156 (Concert news)
Tokio Hotel: is their concert at Parc des Princes being threatened?
The ticket competitions have been many, but Tokio Hotel has difficulty in filling the Parc des Princes concert, on June 21. Have Bill Kaulitz and his band been aiming too high, or are they losing momentum? (Actually, you will find out that this week, lots of French students are having exams and all, and perhaps that is the cause.)
It's a question that the media might start asking: "Is the phenomenon, Tokio Hotel being blown away, just like other boy bands?"
It must be said that the band, so popular a few months ago (LOL, they still are!) have the greatest difficulty in filling the Parc des Princes concert, the peak of their tour in France. Suddenly, tickets are being sold off at good prices.
However, let's not stray too far from another case, which will surely be favored by most fans. The concert, right in the middle of exams and takes place at the end of the school year, is perhaps a bad choice done by the organizers?
A little re-cap before the big day (Parc des Princes concert, Paris, takes place this Saturday!)
-- The balloon project
-- The black hearts project
-- The joining and raising hands project during the song "Vergessene Kinder."
First goal, bringing balloons to the concert, so that we can make the German flag during the song "Ich bin da." The fans will raise their balloons, there will be three different colors (yellow for people on the lawn, red for people in the red stands, and black for people situated on the blue bleachers).
The releasing of the balloons will take place on the last refrain of the last song, not necessarily after "ich bin da."
Second goal: bring white sheets of paper with a black heart in the middle. These papers should be lifted during the song "Wir sterben niemals aus."
Third project: take your neighbors' hands and lift them in the air, during the song "Vergessene Kinder"; that's one of Bill's dreams! (I thought it was during "Hilf mir fliegen" that Bill wanted to see everyone's arms up...but anyhow.)
The Tokio Hotel concert at the Geneva stadium, on the 12th of July has been transferred to an arena. The new concert, the arena one, will take place on the 12th, at 19:30, and it's sold-out! Only tickets bearing the date "12th of July" will be valid for the arena concert. The tickets from the Geneva stadium are still valid for the arena concert. The people with tickets granting seats for the would-have-been stadium concert, will also have seats in the arena concert.
Source: lmprod.ch
Tokio Hotel concert, transferred from the Geneva stadium to the arena
Scheduled at the Geneva stadium on July the 12th, the Tokio Hotel concert has been transferred to the arena; the organizer from Live Music Production revealed to us. The German group will play before 10,000 fans. No less than 8000 tickets will be refunded.
Tokio Hotel was supposed to take place on the 21st of March at the arena, but was canceled because of Bill's successful op.
This concert is now rescheduled for the 12th of July. Because of the success of all the tickets sold, they decided to have the concert at the stadium, which can take up to 25,000 people.
"But we have transferred the concert to the arena, since 8,000 tickets from the orginal concert have still not been reimbursed." said the Michael Drieberg, the director of Live Music Production. "One month away from the concert, we can't take the risk of not filling the place."
Fan's pressure
It's possible that some people who have tickets have not understood that they are supposed to be reimbursed or make an exchange of their tickets. It is now impossible to exchange the tickets, because only the tickets sold for the stadium concert are valid for the arena concert.
For Michael Drieberg, it is obvious that the Tokio Hotel fans wanted to cause some pressure. "We have received hundreds of letters. Some fans worry that they will be too far from the stage, other feared that such a place is dangerous for the teens."
Three ambulances
The director stresses that Tokio Hotel will only play once in Geneva, and that all the tickets have been sold. The holders of 8,000 tickets have not been reimbursed, and have up till the 12th of July to be re-payed.
"Tokio Hotel will play in front of 10,000 fans on the 12th of July, which is the maximum capacity the arena can hold. The security staff will be the largest ever to have been in charge of this arena." said Drieberg. "There will be 200 people assigned to this task, plus a score of nurses and Samaritans. Three ambulances will also be on the spot.
Because of their fans, Tokio Hotel will play at the Arena
"What is happening with Tokio Hotel is incredible," says Michael Drieberg, from Live Music Production, instigator of the coming of the band to Geneva. "We had sold all the tickets for their two concerts, which were originally scheduled on March 21st and July 12 at the Arena. Around 20,000 seats, more or less, the Geneva stadium could hold. When Bill fell sick, the first date was canceled and could not be replaced due to their overloaded agenda, it seemed appropriate to transfer the concert to the 12th of July, in a bigger place.
A bad idea. Because apart from the fans already in possession of the tickets for the concert on the 12th of July at the Arena, not many people have come to get refunds for their tickets, in order to get new ones.
"The fans want to see the band in a hall. They don't want a stadium where the scene is like 150 meters away from them." argued Drieberg. He continue with "It's really a pity. This would have been one of the last German concerts from Tokio Hotel. Their English album has been released, and next tour will be in the States, in English. We could have made 20,000 fans here, happy. Instead we will only have 10,000."
Note that they don't want any camping in front of the arenas or stadiums.
The ticket competitions have been many, but Tokio Hotel has difficulty in filling the Parc des Princes concert, on June 21. Have Bill Kaulitz and his band been aiming too high, or are they losing momentum? (Actually, you will find out that this week, lots of French students are having exams and all, and perhaps that is the cause.)
It's a question that the media might start asking: "Is the phenomenon, Tokio Hotel being blown away, just like other boy bands?"
It must be said that the band, so popular a few months ago (LOL, they still are!) have the greatest difficulty in filling the Parc des Princes concert, the peak of their tour in France. Suddenly, tickets are being sold off at good prices.
However, let's not stray too far from another case, which will surely be favored by most fans. The concert, right in the middle of exams and takes place at the end of the school year, is perhaps a bad choice done by the organizers?
A little re-cap before the big day (Parc des Princes concert, Paris, takes place this Saturday!)
-- The balloon project
-- The black hearts project
-- The joining and raising hands project during the song "Vergessene Kinder."
First goal, bringing balloons to the concert, so that we can make the German flag during the song "Ich bin da." The fans will raise their balloons, there will be three different colors (yellow for people on the lawn, red for people in the red stands, and black for people situated on the blue bleachers).
The releasing of the balloons will take place on the last refrain of the last song, not necessarily after "ich bin da."
Second goal: bring white sheets of paper with a black heart in the middle. These papers should be lifted during the song "Wir sterben niemals aus."
Third project: take your neighbors' hands and lift them in the air, during the song "Vergessene Kinder"; that's one of Bill's dreams! (I thought it was during "Hilf mir fliegen" that Bill wanted to see everyone's arms up...but anyhow.)
The Tokio Hotel concert at the Geneva stadium, on the 12th of July has been transferred to an arena. The new concert, the arena one, will take place on the 12th, at 19:30, and it's sold-out! Only tickets bearing the date "12th of July" will be valid for the arena concert. The tickets from the Geneva stadium are still valid for the arena concert. The people with tickets granting seats for the would-have-been stadium concert, will also have seats in the arena concert.
Source: lmprod.ch
Tokio Hotel concert, transferred from the Geneva stadium to the arena
Scheduled at the Geneva stadium on July the 12th, the Tokio Hotel concert has been transferred to the arena; the organizer from Live Music Production revealed to us. The German group will play before 10,000 fans. No less than 8000 tickets will be refunded.
Tokio Hotel was supposed to take place on the 21st of March at the arena, but was canceled because of Bill's successful op.
This concert is now rescheduled for the 12th of July. Because of the success of all the tickets sold, they decided to have the concert at the stadium, which can take up to 25,000 people.
"But we have transferred the concert to the arena, since 8,000 tickets from the orginal concert have still not been reimbursed." said the Michael Drieberg, the director of Live Music Production. "One month away from the concert, we can't take the risk of not filling the place."
Fan's pressure
It's possible that some people who have tickets have not understood that they are supposed to be reimbursed or make an exchange of their tickets. It is now impossible to exchange the tickets, because only the tickets sold for the stadium concert are valid for the arena concert.
For Michael Drieberg, it is obvious that the Tokio Hotel fans wanted to cause some pressure. "We have received hundreds of letters. Some fans worry that they will be too far from the stage, other feared that such a place is dangerous for the teens."
Three ambulances
The director stresses that Tokio Hotel will only play once in Geneva, and that all the tickets have been sold. The holders of 8,000 tickets have not been reimbursed, and have up till the 12th of July to be re-payed.
"Tokio Hotel will play in front of 10,000 fans on the 12th of July, which is the maximum capacity the arena can hold. The security staff will be the largest ever to have been in charge of this arena." said Drieberg. "There will be 200 people assigned to this task, plus a score of nurses and Samaritans. Three ambulances will also be on the spot.
Because of their fans, Tokio Hotel will play at the Arena
"What is happening with Tokio Hotel is incredible," says Michael Drieberg, from Live Music Production, instigator of the coming of the band to Geneva. "We had sold all the tickets for their two concerts, which were originally scheduled on March 21st and July 12 at the Arena. Around 20,000 seats, more or less, the Geneva stadium could hold. When Bill fell sick, the first date was canceled and could not be replaced due to their overloaded agenda, it seemed appropriate to transfer the concert to the 12th of July, in a bigger place.
A bad idea. Because apart from the fans already in possession of the tickets for the concert on the 12th of July at the Arena, not many people have come to get refunds for their tickets, in order to get new ones.
"The fans want to see the band in a hall. They don't want a stadium where the scene is like 150 meters away from them." argued Drieberg. He continue with "It's really a pity. This would have been one of the last German concerts from Tokio Hotel. Their English album has been released, and next tour will be in the States, in English. We could have made 20,000 fans here, happy. Instead we will only have 10,000."
Note that they don't want any camping in front of the arenas or stadiums.
Tokio Hotel WW155 (News, articles...etc)
TOKIO HOTEL ROCKS IN RIO, LISBOA - LOSTIEMPOS.COM
The latin press increasingly brings news of the boys so this time so do the "Universal of Mexico."
Tokio Hotel is rapidly emerging as a global youth idols.
The British musician Rod Stewart successfully closed the first weekend music festival Rock in Rio Lisbon, on a day which also performed in the Portuguese capital Joss Stone and his compatriot the German group Tokio Hotel.
The thousands who attended the "City of Rock" followed with enthusiasm the performance of veteran British rock.
Rod Stewart got everyone's heart w/ his classics to a public which was already veteran that replaced the young people that few hours ago where invading the City of Rock to see their idol Tokio Hotel
The soloist of the group made jump the Portuguese youth with Monsoon, a night in which it also performed a song in his native German.
SCREAMING GIRLS - PHENOMENA TOKIO HOTEL
“After they caused a lot of noise in Europe, the 4 Magdeburg boys are also putting the hearts overseas into a rage!
But actually we all know this already: screaming girls all over the place, everywhere the brothers Kaulitz and their two band members show up. Not only does this Phenomenon take place in Stuttgart, Köln or Paris, it is also happening now in the US and Canada. Just about couple of weeks ago, Tokio Hotel was totally unknown, but now all hell is breaking loose with their CD release of “Scream” – their English speaking album. They are non-stop on the music channels, fans that are waiting in huge lines that go around the block, just to see the boys live on stage. And of course, broken teenage hearts are on the agenda.
And a new Phenomenon came up: Not only can the fans sing the lyrics now in English, that they have learned by heart...they are also able to sing the German versions...as we have noticed when they were performing in Avalon/Hollywood. Some of that recording will be available on “MSN Concerts” starting June 12th at 8pm.”
Tokio Hotel: Fan demonstration in Ostrava;
The teenagers want their idols to come back for a concert in the Czech Republic
Ostrava/Prague - Several dozen female fans of the German boy band, Tokio Hotel, demonstrated in the city of Ostrava, in hopes of ensuring a concert there this year.
The teenagers hope for this campaign to win the attention of the managers and the band, which will perhaps lead to a concert in the Czech Republic.
Last year in April, Tokio Hotel had two concerts in the Czech Republic; one in Prague and then one in Ostrava. However, the crowd was below the expectations of the organizers.
On the Masaryk Square in Brno, it started out with about 30 girls, many of them with posters and banners, centered around the twins, Bill and Tom. Then later during the afternoon, the number of fan-demonstrators, rose to a total of about 60 young Czech fans.
(Source Tschechien Online)
Tokio Hotel
Wow, what a scam!
EXCLUSIVE - Has Bill Kaulitz really recovered from his recent vocal chord operation? At their concert in Germany last Friday, fans were shocked: it was playback.
Playback helps economize. The problem is that the song needs to start at the right time. Last Friday at Dortmund, Germany, during Vergessene Kinder the refrain had already started, while the verse had not yet begun. Even worse, Bill's micro did not work ... and yet, you can hear him sing. Does this spell a scam? The fans were not very happy, neither were we. We remind you that Saturday, the Germans will play live at the Parc des Princes in Paris. It must not be playback!
(Source: voici.fr)
Tokio Hotel did not do play-back
You've probably heard of or read the rumor of a playback at the concert in Dortmund on 13 June 2008: it is a false rumor picked up and spread by sites who didn't bother checking out their sources.
Th-tokiohotel.com found the video of the song Vergessene Kinder and has made inquiries with reliable sources: it is actually just a poorly set soundtrack...
The latin press increasingly brings news of the boys so this time so do the "Universal of Mexico."
Tokio Hotel is rapidly emerging as a global youth idols.
The British musician Rod Stewart successfully closed the first weekend music festival Rock in Rio Lisbon, on a day which also performed in the Portuguese capital Joss Stone and his compatriot the German group Tokio Hotel.
The thousands who attended the "City of Rock" followed with enthusiasm the performance of veteran British rock.
Rod Stewart got everyone's heart w/ his classics to a public which was already veteran that replaced the young people that few hours ago where invading the City of Rock to see their idol Tokio Hotel
The soloist of the group made jump the Portuguese youth with Monsoon, a night in which it also performed a song in his native German.
SCREAMING GIRLS - PHENOMENA TOKIO HOTEL
“After they caused a lot of noise in Europe, the 4 Magdeburg boys are also putting the hearts overseas into a rage!
But actually we all know this already: screaming girls all over the place, everywhere the brothers Kaulitz and their two band members show up. Not only does this Phenomenon take place in Stuttgart, Köln or Paris, it is also happening now in the US and Canada. Just about couple of weeks ago, Tokio Hotel was totally unknown, but now all hell is breaking loose with their CD release of “Scream” – their English speaking album. They are non-stop on the music channels, fans that are waiting in huge lines that go around the block, just to see the boys live on stage. And of course, broken teenage hearts are on the agenda.
And a new Phenomenon came up: Not only can the fans sing the lyrics now in English, that they have learned by heart...they are also able to sing the German versions...as we have noticed when they were performing in Avalon/Hollywood. Some of that recording will be available on “MSN Concerts” starting June 12th at 8pm.”
 | |||
| Review, originally posted by Chayenne7 @ THA: Hi, this is my first comment here, but I thought you'd like to have a quick summary of the concert. And I wont only tell you about the good parts... So first off, the screaming: this is a sound that you can't, I repeat, you simply can't describe to someone who has not been to a TH concert. (It was my first one) I have never ever heard anything like it my whole life. They were screaming so loud that I thought my eardrums would start bleeding any minute. I'm not joking here. You could barely hear the music or Bill's singing. It was an amazing concert and Bill was in top form, his voice is totally back, and I was so relieved to hear him singing the high notes perfectly, so the guys were doing an amazing job. It's just that this screaming drowned out everything. They had to put on the volume to the max and it almost made it impossible to enjoy. The cutest moment undoubtedly was when Bill introduced the others. I hope there will be videos of the big screens where you can see his facial expressions, because he simply was adorable. And yes, they f***ed up "Vergessene Kinder". I think there was some problem with the bass, it was so loud that the whole arena was literally shaking plus I'm sure Tom f***ed it up with his intro and for a moment Bill and Tom and the Georg were completely out of sync, people noticed too, they stopped screaming and singing, but then they sort of found each other again, but really this song was terrible, all you could hear was this booming sound. And it was not playback. Neither was ADS, there was just some additional vocal which they added to the song. Gustav's solo and the way he riled the audience up was just great. And now for the really really bad part. I know a lot of people won't agree with me, but despite the teasing between Bill and the others, there was just something off here. I missed the interaction during "In die Nacht", Tom barely acknowledged Bill, after ADS the boys didn't come forward and bowed together, Bill simply dashed off stage, he was gone in like 5 seconds, Tom didn't come forward to ADS when the glitter was blown in the air only like half a minute later which was very strange...These are small things, but they made the whole experience really strange for me. Plus, I missed Bill's bringing a fan up to the stage and generally he didn't speak too much with the audience. It was a quick succession of songs after one another. Oh, and you couldn't hear the first two lines of "Ich brech aus," because Bill's mic wasn't switched on. I hope you don't mind that this summary is not all like 'How amazing! Perfect!' I tried to be realistic here. I will never forget this night and it was great, and Bill was great, but these things happened. I traveled there from Hungary just to see them, so I was a bit pissed off with the screaming people. I could have enjoyed this a lot more if I had heard more of Bill and the music than of the audience. Okay, now tear me into tiny little pieces... | |||
Tokio Hotel: Fan demonstration in Ostrava;
The teenagers want their idols to come back for a concert in the Czech Republic
Ostrava/Prague - Several dozen female fans of the German boy band, Tokio Hotel, demonstrated in the city of Ostrava, in hopes of ensuring a concert there this year.
The teenagers hope for this campaign to win the attention of the managers and the band, which will perhaps lead to a concert in the Czech Republic.
Last year in April, Tokio Hotel had two concerts in the Czech Republic; one in Prague and then one in Ostrava. However, the crowd was below the expectations of the organizers.
On the Masaryk Square in Brno, it started out with about 30 girls, many of them with posters and banners, centered around the twins, Bill and Tom. Then later during the afternoon, the number of fan-demonstrators, rose to a total of about 60 young Czech fans.
(Source Tschechien Online)
Tokio Hotel
Wow, what a scam!
EXCLUSIVE - Has Bill Kaulitz really recovered from his recent vocal chord operation? At their concert in Germany last Friday, fans were shocked: it was playback.
Playback helps economize. The problem is that the song needs to start at the right time. Last Friday at Dortmund, Germany, during Vergessene Kinder the refrain had already started, while the verse had not yet begun. Even worse, Bill's micro did not work ... and yet, you can hear him sing. Does this spell a scam? The fans were not very happy, neither were we. We remind you that Saturday, the Germans will play live at the Parc des Princes in Paris. It must not be playback!
(Source: voici.fr)
Tokio Hotel did not do play-back
You've probably heard of or read the rumor of a playback at the concert in Dortmund on 13 June 2008: it is a false rumor picked up and spread by sites who didn't bother checking out their sources.
Th-tokiohotel.com found the video of the song Vergessene Kinder and has made inquiries with reliable sources: it is actually just a poorly set soundtrack...
| |||
| Is Bill deceiving the fans? Bill's stylist, Melli (20) is arm in arm with Bill. Are they a couple? I am opening your eyes with this photo. On the picture, Georg and Tom are there, next to Bill, who is arm in arm with a blonde girl. It is his stylist. Both often stick together, and they were even seen kissing before. Bill always says that the fans will be the first to know if he has a girlfriend. But he could also say that it is a private matter, something he doesn't need to notify us about. So he is lying to us! We know that bands are often dishonest, since things could alter their image. But for us fans, honesty is most important. Tokio Hotel owes us an explanation. | |||
Tokio Hotel WW154 (More articles)
WHAT THE FANS HAVE PREPARED
The Parc des Princes concert (in Paris) will be filmed for a future DVD and a TV broadcast. The fans themselves are organizing their welcome for the boys, who will be staying at the hotel, Park Hyatt Paris Vendome.
It will be difficult for the more fierce fans to squat around the stadium, because it is strictly forbidden to sleep in front of the venue. The police, as well as the “brigade des mineurs” will be there to make sure all is in order (like the last concert at Bercy in April). Especially, for the first time, the activist fans have agreed together to prepare 2 special moments during the concert.
-The first one, is that each person come with a balloon, to create the German flag in the stadium: those in the blue tribunes will have black balloons, those in the red tribunes will have red balloons, and those on the lawn will have yellow. Everyone will stand up in the last song, "Ich bin da", and will release the balloons at the end of the song.
-The second ‘event’ is that each fan come along with paper with a big heart on and will hold it up on the song, "Wir sterben niemals aus" (it is even advised to bring more than one heart for those who don’t have). Blogs even propose models to print out, and some ‘super fans’ will be at the entrance to distribute some to those who have forgotten…
(That will be amazing! I can’t wait to see it on TV!)
Festival des Mongolfières
Tokio Hotel will be back in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu at the Festival des Mongolfières August 9 at 9:30PM. So far we don't have any other information about this, please don't email me about it.
Any dates in other Canadian cities are not yet known - please don't contact me about it.
Tokio Hotel in the International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
The International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu this year celebrates its 25 years. The event will take place from 9 to 17 August. In addition to admiring the many balloons, the public may once again attend several concerts. The band Tokio Hotel will also kick off the festivities.
On August 9, the "show au profit du Club des petits déjeuners" will feature Tokio Hotel. The bands, Creature and Hedley, will precede the young Germans on stage
On 10 August, Philippe Berghella and Stéphane Rousseau will be attending the festival. The next day, Marc Dupré will show a presentation. On 12, Sylvain Cossette will offer his "70's" show. It will be preceded by the group Cherry Sweden.
Here's a little Gusti info :
Name: Gustav Schaefer
Band: Tokio Hotel
Drumming since: 1993
With MEINL since: 2006
Birthday: September 08, 1988
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Place of Birth: Magdeburg
Currently living in: Hotels and Nightliner
Favorite Food: Wiener Schnitzel (Bahahah, the famous Schnitzel!!!)
Favorite Drink: Cola
Matched Grip or Traditional Grip: Matched Grip MEINL
Cymal series used: Mb20, Byzance
Favorite MEINL cymbal: Mb20 Heavy Crashes
Car that you currently drive: Nightliner
Not counting on drums, what do you do for fun: Riding my bike
Teacher: Learning by doing
Drumtech: Tammo Vollmers
Highlight of your career so far: My first tour and simply everything I have experienced so far with my band Tokio Hotel
Drumming strengths: Power
Drumming means to me: Everything
Advice for up and coming drummers: Have fun and play what you like.
How would you describe yourself: I dont like to describe myself...hang on...here is somebody who can do it: Nice, outgoing, ambitious and sometimes a little impatient.
When I look back on my life one day, I would like to be able to say: I am too young to answer this question
.
Just some pieces of a French article.
The 60,000 tickets were bought in several hours. 34,000 were sold in 50 minutes. Dozens of fans were there early in the morning, in the winter-like-cold, in order to get the best places. Production agents even had to bring blankets to some of the fans, in order to protect them from the cold. Finally, their hours of waiting, are later rewarded. Their idols arrive in Bercy. The girls and boys get up with a jump and start screaming, crying to welcome Bill, Tom, Gustav, and Georg. On this subject Tom says "As soon as we arrive for a concert, there are fans running towards us. I am proud of their "vocal qualities," they know how to create an atmosphere, and build up the event. Thanks to them, it (can't read what it says) and it makes us more important."
Next comes the tour in Nantes, Marseille, Montpellier, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille, Amneville, Nice, Toulon, all the biggest cities in France have heard of the Tokio Hotel craze. Toulon was the closing of the tour in 2007 in France. If our idols don't do concerts in France, it's the other countries in Europe who will have to start the 'tornado'. The French public is very fond of the band (I must agree). The public is asking for more. The fans are awaiting the second part of the tour, so they can live their passions 100%.
6 March 2008, it was Strasbourg, the place chosen to launch the second part of the tour. On the menu, guitars, wide-view show, and of course, our four Stars. The whirlpool has begun again. The spectacle is taken at stride, and the boys take to being live on stage like fish do to water.
(It just goes on and on about different concerts they had in France...won't bother making a translation to that.)
(A page is missing)
In spite of it all, they manage to make one friend, Andreas, who they meet with at the cafeteria between classes. The other students see Bill as "sick" or "crazy." And it doesn't get better. The more prestigious the boys become, the more amplified becomes the jealousy. The foundation of this "hate" is due to the fact that more and more girls start to act like real "groupies" towards the twins, and other boys think the twins are rich. Which is far from being the case, because all they got from their mother was 50 euros allowance per month. (I read it was per week, somewhere else...but anyhow.) The remarks made against them become more violent day by day, and one day, a student comes to the school with a t-shirt on which is inscribed "I will kill Bill und den Rest der Fuckband auch!" Because of the extent of the situation and their professional obligations (TV appearances, photo sessions, interview, concerts...), Bill realizes that he and his brother will have to stop school as soon as possible. That's what happens in the autumn of 2005. From that time on, they took private courses whenever they had time. After several laborious scholastic years, Bill and his brother finally receive their diploma. (The article compares their diploma to the "Brevet" - French exams taken after 9th grade - which isn't the same thing as a High School diploma, it's a bit lower.) Even if they were never good students, they managed anyhow to pass this exam. Passing it three years late, they are still happy to have done it. (Okay, so from what this article says, they aren't done high school?? It says they took the exam three years late, when actually, kids do finish school at 18 years old in Germany, so that means they aren't done high school...?) They also passed it with flying colors, having an average of 17/20, but it wasn't without trouble that they passed it; they had to double their efforts. Waking up at 6 in the morning, reviewing at night, they ended up being worn out, but happy nevertheless.
The boys were so happy to have finished their studies, that as soon as they received their diploma, they went and burned all their school books.
Finally free from school's grasp, Bill and Tom can now devote themselves entirely to their music.
Character-wise, Bill is more sensitive and gets anxious and worked up easily. Being more solitary, he can stay alone for long moments and not ever get bored. Starting in nursery school, he took refuge in little houses in the courtyard, wanting peace. He admits to being selfish, and wishes to think a little more of others. Leader of the band, he is very close to Gustav and Georg who are his best friends. With Tom, it's different, a very close bond unites them. Together they share their secrets, and communicate through telepathy. If Bill's motto is "Leb die Sekunde" (Live every second), he adds: "Inspite of the success, I stay myself; ambitious, lazy, happy, and a little selfish. What others think of me, doesn't mean much. The most important things in my life are my mother, my brother and our band, Tokio Hotel."
The Parc des Princes concert (in Paris) will be filmed for a future DVD and a TV broadcast. The fans themselves are organizing their welcome for the boys, who will be staying at the hotel, Park Hyatt Paris Vendome.
It will be difficult for the more fierce fans to squat around the stadium, because it is strictly forbidden to sleep in front of the venue. The police, as well as the “brigade des mineurs” will be there to make sure all is in order (like the last concert at Bercy in April). Especially, for the first time, the activist fans have agreed together to prepare 2 special moments during the concert.
-The first one, is that each person come with a balloon, to create the German flag in the stadium: those in the blue tribunes will have black balloons, those in the red tribunes will have red balloons, and those on the lawn will have yellow. Everyone will stand up in the last song, "Ich bin da", and will release the balloons at the end of the song.
-The second ‘event’ is that each fan come along with paper with a big heart on and will hold it up on the song, "Wir sterben niemals aus" (it is even advised to bring more than one heart for those who don’t have). Blogs even propose models to print out, and some ‘super fans’ will be at the entrance to distribute some to those who have forgotten…
(That will be amazing! I can’t wait to see it on TV!)
Festival des Mongolfières
Tokio Hotel will be back in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu at the Festival des Mongolfières August 9 at 9:30PM. So far we don't have any other information about this, please don't email me about it.
Any dates in other Canadian cities are not yet known - please don't contact me about it.
Tokio Hotel in the International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
The International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu this year celebrates its 25 years. The event will take place from 9 to 17 August. In addition to admiring the many balloons, the public may once again attend several concerts. The band Tokio Hotel will also kick off the festivities.
On August 9, the "show au profit du Club des petits déjeuners" will feature Tokio Hotel. The bands, Creature and Hedley, will precede the young Germans on stage
On 10 August, Philippe Berghella and Stéphane Rousseau will be attending the festival. The next day, Marc Dupré will show a presentation. On 12, Sylvain Cossette will offer his "70's" show. It will be preceded by the group Cherry Sweden.
Here's a little Gusti info :
Name: Gustav Schaefer
Band: Tokio Hotel
Drumming since: 1993
With MEINL since: 2006
Birthday: September 08, 1988
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Place of Birth: Magdeburg
Currently living in: Hotels and Nightliner
Favorite Food: Wiener Schnitzel (Bahahah, the famous Schnitzel!!!)
Favorite Drink: Cola
Matched Grip or Traditional Grip: Matched Grip MEINL
Cymal series used: Mb20, Byzance
Favorite MEINL cymbal: Mb20 Heavy Crashes
Car that you currently drive: Nightliner
Not counting on drums, what do you do for fun: Riding my bike
Teacher: Learning by doing
Drumtech: Tammo Vollmers
Highlight of your career so far: My first tour and simply everything I have experienced so far with my band Tokio Hotel
Drumming strengths: Power
Drumming means to me: Everything
Advice for up and coming drummers: Have fun and play what you like.
How would you describe yourself: I dont like to describe myself...hang on...here is somebody who can do it: Nice, outgoing, ambitious and sometimes a little impatient.
When I look back on my life one day, I would like to be able to say: I am too young to answer this question
.Just some pieces of a French article.
The 60,000 tickets were bought in several hours. 34,000 were sold in 50 minutes. Dozens of fans were there early in the morning, in the winter-like-cold, in order to get the best places. Production agents even had to bring blankets to some of the fans, in order to protect them from the cold. Finally, their hours of waiting, are later rewarded. Their idols arrive in Bercy. The girls and boys get up with a jump and start screaming, crying to welcome Bill, Tom, Gustav, and Georg. On this subject Tom says "As soon as we arrive for a concert, there are fans running towards us. I am proud of their "vocal qualities," they know how to create an atmosphere, and build up the event. Thanks to them, it (can't read what it says) and it makes us more important."
Next comes the tour in Nantes, Marseille, Montpellier, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille, Amneville, Nice, Toulon, all the biggest cities in France have heard of the Tokio Hotel craze. Toulon was the closing of the tour in 2007 in France. If our idols don't do concerts in France, it's the other countries in Europe who will have to start the 'tornado'. The French public is very fond of the band (I must agree). The public is asking for more. The fans are awaiting the second part of the tour, so they can live their passions 100%.
6 March 2008, it was Strasbourg, the place chosen to launch the second part of the tour. On the menu, guitars, wide-view show, and of course, our four Stars. The whirlpool has begun again. The spectacle is taken at stride, and the boys take to being live on stage like fish do to water.
(It just goes on and on about different concerts they had in France...won't bother making a translation to that.)
(A page is missing)
In spite of it all, they manage to make one friend, Andreas, who they meet with at the cafeteria between classes. The other students see Bill as "sick" or "crazy." And it doesn't get better. The more prestigious the boys become, the more amplified becomes the jealousy. The foundation of this "hate" is due to the fact that more and more girls start to act like real "groupies" towards the twins, and other boys think the twins are rich. Which is far from being the case, because all they got from their mother was 50 euros allowance per month. (I read it was per week, somewhere else...but anyhow.) The remarks made against them become more violent day by day, and one day, a student comes to the school with a t-shirt on which is inscribed "I will kill Bill und den Rest der Fuckband auch!" Because of the extent of the situation and their professional obligations (TV appearances, photo sessions, interview, concerts...), Bill realizes that he and his brother will have to stop school as soon as possible. That's what happens in the autumn of 2005. From that time on, they took private courses whenever they had time. After several laborious scholastic years, Bill and his brother finally receive their diploma. (The article compares their diploma to the "Brevet" - French exams taken after 9th grade - which isn't the same thing as a High School diploma, it's a bit lower.) Even if they were never good students, they managed anyhow to pass this exam. Passing it three years late, they are still happy to have done it. (Okay, so from what this article says, they aren't done high school?? It says they took the exam three years late, when actually, kids do finish school at 18 years old in Germany, so that means they aren't done high school...?) They also passed it with flying colors, having an average of 17/20, but it wasn't without trouble that they passed it; they had to double their efforts. Waking up at 6 in the morning, reviewing at night, they ended up being worn out, but happy nevertheless.
The boys were so happy to have finished their studies, that as soon as they received their diploma, they went and burned all their school books.
Finally free from school's grasp, Bill and Tom can now devote themselves entirely to their music.
Character-wise, Bill is more sensitive and gets anxious and worked up easily. Being more solitary, he can stay alone for long moments and not ever get bored. Starting in nursery school, he took refuge in little houses in the courtyard, wanting peace. He admits to being selfish, and wishes to think a little more of others. Leader of the band, he is very close to Gustav and Georg who are his best friends. With Tom, it's different, a very close bond unites them. Together they share their secrets, and communicate through telepathy. If Bill's motto is "Leb die Sekunde" (Live every second), he adds: "Inspite of the success, I stay myself; ambitious, lazy, happy, and a little selfish. What others think of me, doesn't mean much. The most important things in my life are my mother, my brother and our band, Tokio Hotel."
Tokio Hotel WW153 (Articles)
Fun TV broadcasts a documentary on the quartet's (Tokio Hotel) ascension.
In France, the "young" press still supports the group. "Tokio Hotel is not a flash in the pan, or a commercial operation," said Nicolas Toutain, from One Magazine. Unknown two years ago, they will fill the Parc (the prestigious Parc des Princes...aw, I wish I could attend!). There is less talk of them because their new album was released a year ago, but they're pros, they are investing in song-writing, interviews, photo sessions/shoots...
The end of the hysteria is not coming soon. "The same account is being told from the chief editor of Star Ac' Mag. Ludovic-Jerome Gombault: "They are here to stay, and they deserve it! They are real musicians."
Piece of interview with Bill:
In addition to the Parc des Princes concert, what other concerts are expected?
Bill: We will spend a big part of July in Europe, notably in Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, and the Eastern European countries. We wanted to return to those countries before Summer, but we had to cancel dates for the reason which everyone knows. It is likely that, after, we will return to the States. And in the middle of all that, we are recording an album which will be released at the end of the year.
It is said that in Germany, new groups are appearing, such as, Nevada Tan. Even to the point that Universal was going to drop you to sign with other groups...
Bill: This is absolutely false, each band follows its own path. Nevada Tan is going well, but in terms of replacing us, it hasn't come to that. Not only Universal supports us, but also the record company gives us the means to succeed elsewhere than in our own country. More recently, we haven't been much in Germany, and we were focused mainly on the rest of Europe and the States. We can't be everywhere at once...
RockMagazine
OKIO HOTEL
AMERIKA IST WUNDERBAR
Since his release from the University Clinic in Hamburg, Eppendorf, April 15, Bill had appointments with his speech therapist, to ensure his return on scene on May 3rd, the Bamboozle Festival in USA. Mission accomplished. Like how Rammstein sang: Amerika ist wunderbar (America is wonderful…sarcastically of course, if you’ve heard the song).
After 10 days of total silence, followed by a series of care, including inhalations and a voice program, Bill wanted to reassure everyone by accepting a filmed interview for Bild.de, on April 29. He appeared fit, with his playful tone of voice once again. Tokio Hotel was then ready for the US 2 days later, to back up the release of the anticipated Scream, May 6.
Back on stage…
On May 3rd, Tokio Hotel is finally back in New Jersey for the Bamboozle Festival. It will be a short show with 3 songs (Monsoon, Ready, Set, Go! and Break away) as Bill’s health obliged it not to be too long.
Before 4000 fans who all sing in unison to the choruses, the singer quickly dispels any fears that we might have following his surgery. The New York Times talks about Bill, while finding the rest of the concert not very exciting; while Rolling Stone welcomes the frontman’s charisma, and stresses his technical limitations. And Scream lands 39th place in US charts, only 15 days after its release.
USATTACK
Until the 19th of May, Tokio Hotel moved on through promos and events. On the 5th, Bill, Tom, Georg, and Gustav had an interview with MTV, while on the 6th – the day of the release of Scream – one could even see them twice in the same day at New York. At 1:30 pm, they sang Ready, Set, Go! for the MTV TRL session, then at 6:00 pm at the Virgin Megastore Times Square, one could attend a performance and an autograph session.
2 days after, the boys returned to the Virgin Megastore for a showcase and provided an interview with a radio station in New York. On the 9th, it was Conan O’Brien’s turn to receive them on his famous Late Night Show, before the band left to Philadelphia for a dedication to Main Street Music Store, then Hollywood on the 12th for a similar agenda organized by Hot Music. That same day, the even of their concert in the Avalon at Los Angeles, the 4 boys took a break from their interviews and all the action, and payed a small semi-official appearance in a restaurant called, The Ivy. (The photographers were told in advance.)
In this “marathon”, Bill said, speaking of the concert the next day: “Of course we’re stressed because of all the excitement. We are always nervous, but this time, it’s worse than usual!”
On the 13th however, Tokio hotel returns to the Avalon in Los Angeles in front of an audience acquired for their cause. The hysteria is once again taking place, like how it did at the Bamboozle festival, and all the English songs are sung in unison, even though their album had been released only a week earlier.
After the concert, they left to the Foxtail club for an alcohol wash down, they met Nicole, from Pussycat Dolls. (Bahaha, she was stalking them) It was a moment of relaxation in the middle of their tight agenda, as their promo tour continues on with an interview with Rolling Stone magazine the next day, and their departure for Canada.
First in Toronto they had an interview on the 15th on Much on Demand, followed by a show at Sound Academy on the 16th, then Montreal, with a concert at the Uniprix stadium, the 19th. For their first attack in the US, this seems pretty convincing. It seems like Tokio Hotel has already planned to offer North America another tour after the summer festivals in Europe. A new offensive that would take place just before their next studio entrance, since it’s been said that the Germans would be releasing their 3rd album (in two versions, English and German, for a worldwide release) sometime around Christmas.
In France, the "young" press still supports the group. "Tokio Hotel is not a flash in the pan, or a commercial operation," said Nicolas Toutain, from One Magazine. Unknown two years ago, they will fill the Parc (the prestigious Parc des Princes...aw, I wish I could attend!). There is less talk of them because their new album was released a year ago, but they're pros, they are investing in song-writing, interviews, photo sessions/shoots...
The end of the hysteria is not coming soon. "The same account is being told from the chief editor of Star Ac' Mag. Ludovic-Jerome Gombault: "They are here to stay, and they deserve it! They are real musicians."
Piece of interview with Bill:
In addition to the Parc des Princes concert, what other concerts are expected?
Bill: We will spend a big part of July in Europe, notably in Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, and the Eastern European countries. We wanted to return to those countries before Summer, but we had to cancel dates for the reason which everyone knows. It is likely that, after, we will return to the States. And in the middle of all that, we are recording an album which will be released at the end of the year.
It is said that in Germany, new groups are appearing, such as, Nevada Tan. Even to the point that Universal was going to drop you to sign with other groups...
Bill: This is absolutely false, each band follows its own path. Nevada Tan is going well, but in terms of replacing us, it hasn't come to that. Not only Universal supports us, but also the record company gives us the means to succeed elsewhere than in our own country. More recently, we haven't been much in Germany, and we were focused mainly on the rest of Europe and the States. We can't be everywhere at once...
RockMagazine
OKIO HOTEL
AMERIKA IST WUNDERBAR
Since his release from the University Clinic in Hamburg, Eppendorf, April 15, Bill had appointments with his speech therapist, to ensure his return on scene on May 3rd, the Bamboozle Festival in USA. Mission accomplished. Like how Rammstein sang: Amerika ist wunderbar (America is wonderful…sarcastically of course, if you’ve heard the song).
After 10 days of total silence, followed by a series of care, including inhalations and a voice program, Bill wanted to reassure everyone by accepting a filmed interview for Bild.de, on April 29. He appeared fit, with his playful tone of voice once again. Tokio Hotel was then ready for the US 2 days later, to back up the release of the anticipated Scream, May 6.
Back on stage…
On May 3rd, Tokio Hotel is finally back in New Jersey for the Bamboozle Festival. It will be a short show with 3 songs (Monsoon, Ready, Set, Go! and Break away) as Bill’s health obliged it not to be too long.
Before 4000 fans who all sing in unison to the choruses, the singer quickly dispels any fears that we might have following his surgery. The New York Times talks about Bill, while finding the rest of the concert not very exciting; while Rolling Stone welcomes the frontman’s charisma, and stresses his technical limitations. And Scream lands 39th place in US charts, only 15 days after its release.
USATTACK
Until the 19th of May, Tokio Hotel moved on through promos and events. On the 5th, Bill, Tom, Georg, and Gustav had an interview with MTV, while on the 6th – the day of the release of Scream – one could even see them twice in the same day at New York. At 1:30 pm, they sang Ready, Set, Go! for the MTV TRL session, then at 6:00 pm at the Virgin Megastore Times Square, one could attend a performance and an autograph session.
2 days after, the boys returned to the Virgin Megastore for a showcase and provided an interview with a radio station in New York. On the 9th, it was Conan O’Brien’s turn to receive them on his famous Late Night Show, before the band left to Philadelphia for a dedication to Main Street Music Store, then Hollywood on the 12th for a similar agenda organized by Hot Music. That same day, the even of their concert in the Avalon at Los Angeles, the 4 boys took a break from their interviews and all the action, and payed a small semi-official appearance in a restaurant called, The Ivy. (The photographers were told in advance.)
In this “marathon”, Bill said, speaking of the concert the next day: “Of course we’re stressed because of all the excitement. We are always nervous, but this time, it’s worse than usual!”
On the 13th however, Tokio hotel returns to the Avalon in Los Angeles in front of an audience acquired for their cause. The hysteria is once again taking place, like how it did at the Bamboozle festival, and all the English songs are sung in unison, even though their album had been released only a week earlier.
After the concert, they left to the Foxtail club for an alcohol wash down, they met Nicole, from Pussycat Dolls. (Bahaha, she was stalking them) It was a moment of relaxation in the middle of their tight agenda, as their promo tour continues on with an interview with Rolling Stone magazine the next day, and their departure for Canada.
First in Toronto they had an interview on the 15th on Much on Demand, followed by a show at Sound Academy on the 16th, then Montreal, with a concert at the Uniprix stadium, the 19th. For their first attack in the US, this seems pretty convincing. It seems like Tokio Hotel has already planned to offer North America another tour after the summer festivals in Europe. A new offensive that would take place just before their next studio entrance, since it’s been said that the Germans would be releasing their 3rd album (in two versions, English and German, for a worldwide release) sometime around Christmas.
Tokio Hotel WW152 (fan meetup in France)
A fan meet up in France (this isn't the first, there have been plenty)
Article l:
Around sixty Tokio Hotel fans met up, Saturday, at the Place Napoléon, to share their passion.
They will be 45,000 at the concert on the 21st of June in Paris (Parc des Princes concert). "So glad to meet you!" Johanna sighed with relief, when she joined her fellow Tokio Hotel fans at the reunion, Saturday afternoon, at a pavilion at the Place Napoléon. It wasn't easy to find them, with the brocante (secondhand market) at Casimir, which took up most of the space. The admirers (there was only one boy) of the German musicians went a little unnoticed, relegated in one corner of the area. Everyone was "well behaved" (I guess they mean, not too crazy
), and the meet up was rather "successful" according to Marion, the organisor, who had only anticipated ten or twenty people. It went up to a good 60. "The goal is not to organize a concert here," said a young high school student, 18 years old. "In fact à La Roche, it's not possible, we don't have any concert hall."
"Rendez-vous in Paris"
Adeline, 18 years old: "Marion is a friend of mine. It was through her, that I found out that we could all meet up at La Roche-sur-Yon. I wanted to meet other people, to share this passion of mine for the band. Internet is good, but it's nicer to get to see each other." Johanna, 21 years old, from Challans, is intereted in Tokio Hotel, "since not too long ago." She had heard of them, and had asked herself whether the singer was a girl or a boy: "But we don't judge by the looks, we judge them by their music. Everywhere I go, I meet people who really like the band. On the 21st of June, I will go see Tokio Hotel au Parc des Princes." With friends? "No, with other Paris fans. We will be 45 000."
On Saturday, on the pavilion steps, Johanna was looking at a photo album of the band, accompanied by Quentin, 10 years old, from Clouzeaux, and accompanied by his mother. It was through a newspaper that the young boy heard about this meet-up. The 1st of March, he had been to a friend's birthday part at La Roche. He listened to German albums. He enjoyed it, and after, he even went a bought 2 albums. Quentin is also a tecktonik amateur. Will he go see Tokio Hotel? "Why not?" said Nathalie, his mother, who prefers Cali's concerts. "I understand that people want to go listen to bands that they like. I don't find Tokio Hotel's music unpleasant. It's nicer to listen to than the punk or hard rock from my days, like 25 years ago." And what was your kind of music? "It was U2 and it still is!"
larochesuryon.maville.com
Article ll:
La Roche, the capital (for one day) of Tokio Hotel's groupies
About thirty young people (contrary to the last article), a majority of girls, met up yesterday (Saturday) in front of the pavilion, Place Napoléon. What they all have in common: they're all Tokio Hotel fans.
Yesterday afternoon, it wasn't hard to recognize the young fans of Tokio Hotel, the teens' new "heartthrob". In general, they wear black and t-shirts imprinted with the image of their idols.
This meet up, is all thanks to Marion, Gazeau, 18 years old, a young "Sablaise" with whom it was "love at first sight of Tokio Hotel, two years ago." And thanks to the internet, the message was passed on (about the meet up) "to the many fans in Vendée."
"We can relate to their lyrics"
Among all the fans, Eva, Yonnaise, 17 years old: "It's a passion" she declared. Her three friends, also from La Roche, had met at another meet up last March, give their assent. Whether it's Marion, Eva, or the others, they all agree to the same thing. "We can relate to their lyrics: parents' divorce, suicide, drugs, love affairs..."
And to be able to understand them, Eva even takes German courses. Clara, 14 years old, will go see them on the 21st of June, au Parc des Princes. "I'm so impatient!" she said. What about the parents? "Our parents will accompany us but won't come into the hall with us," she clarifies.
Quentin, 10 years old, the youngest fan (of the meet up).
Quentin's mother is ready to bring her son, one of the rare masculine representatives and the youngest of the meet up.
He has the complete Tokio Hotel outfit, which was given to him from one of his friends on his birthday. "He even has a quilt cover. He sleeps in Tokio Hotel," his mother says ironically. He was intimidated at first, but he progressively got closer to the other fans.
That's what the goal of this meet up was: "to meet other Tokio Hotel fans," is Marion's explanation.
larochesuryon.maville.com
Article l:
Around sixty Tokio Hotel fans met up, Saturday, at the Place Napoléon, to share their passion.
They will be 45,000 at the concert on the 21st of June in Paris (Parc des Princes concert). "So glad to meet you!" Johanna sighed with relief, when she joined her fellow Tokio Hotel fans at the reunion, Saturday afternoon, at a pavilion at the Place Napoléon. It wasn't easy to find them, with the brocante (secondhand market) at Casimir, which took up most of the space. The admirers (there was only one boy) of the German musicians went a little unnoticed, relegated in one corner of the area. Everyone was "well behaved" (I guess they mean, not too crazy
), and the meet up was rather "successful" according to Marion, the organisor, who had only anticipated ten or twenty people. It went up to a good 60. "The goal is not to organize a concert here," said a young high school student, 18 years old. "In fact à La Roche, it's not possible, we don't have any concert hall.""Rendez-vous in Paris"
Adeline, 18 years old: "Marion is a friend of mine. It was through her, that I found out that we could all meet up at La Roche-sur-Yon. I wanted to meet other people, to share this passion of mine for the band. Internet is good, but it's nicer to get to see each other." Johanna, 21 years old, from Challans, is intereted in Tokio Hotel, "since not too long ago." She had heard of them, and had asked herself whether the singer was a girl or a boy: "But we don't judge by the looks, we judge them by their music. Everywhere I go, I meet people who really like the band. On the 21st of June, I will go see Tokio Hotel au Parc des Princes." With friends? "No, with other Paris fans. We will be 45 000."
On Saturday, on the pavilion steps, Johanna was looking at a photo album of the band, accompanied by Quentin, 10 years old, from Clouzeaux, and accompanied by his mother. It was through a newspaper that the young boy heard about this meet-up. The 1st of March, he had been to a friend's birthday part at La Roche. He listened to German albums. He enjoyed it, and after, he even went a bought 2 albums. Quentin is also a tecktonik amateur. Will he go see Tokio Hotel? "Why not?" said Nathalie, his mother, who prefers Cali's concerts. "I understand that people want to go listen to bands that they like. I don't find Tokio Hotel's music unpleasant. It's nicer to listen to than the punk or hard rock from my days, like 25 years ago." And what was your kind of music? "It was U2 and it still is!"
larochesuryon.maville.com
Article ll:
La Roche, the capital (for one day) of Tokio Hotel's groupies
About thirty young people (contrary to the last article), a majority of girls, met up yesterday (Saturday) in front of the pavilion, Place Napoléon. What they all have in common: they're all Tokio Hotel fans.
Yesterday afternoon, it wasn't hard to recognize the young fans of Tokio Hotel, the teens' new "heartthrob". In general, they wear black and t-shirts imprinted with the image of their idols.
This meet up, is all thanks to Marion, Gazeau, 18 years old, a young "Sablaise" with whom it was "love at first sight of Tokio Hotel, two years ago." And thanks to the internet, the message was passed on (about the meet up) "to the many fans in Vendée."
"We can relate to their lyrics"
Among all the fans, Eva, Yonnaise, 17 years old: "It's a passion" she declared. Her three friends, also from La Roche, had met at another meet up last March, give their assent. Whether it's Marion, Eva, or the others, they all agree to the same thing. "We can relate to their lyrics: parents' divorce, suicide, drugs, love affairs..."
And to be able to understand them, Eva even takes German courses. Clara, 14 years old, will go see them on the 21st of June, au Parc des Princes. "I'm so impatient!" she said. What about the parents? "Our parents will accompany us but won't come into the hall with us," she clarifies.
Quentin, 10 years old, the youngest fan (of the meet up).
Quentin's mother is ready to bring her son, one of the rare masculine representatives and the youngest of the meet up.
He has the complete Tokio Hotel outfit, which was given to him from one of his friends on his birthday. "He even has a quilt cover. He sleeps in Tokio Hotel," his mother says ironically. He was intimidated at first, but he progressively got closer to the other fans.
That's what the goal of this meet up was: "to meet other Tokio Hotel fans," is Marion's explanation.
larochesuryon.maville.com
Tokio Hotel WW151 (Popstar USA and MSN interview)
Popstar USA
Check in with Tokio Hotel!
They've taken over Germany with their catchy pop/rock tunes and Bill, Tom, Georg and Gustav are spreading their universal sound to America!
What to expect!
"In general, I would say (our sound) is rock," Tom describes. "We always tried to create our own style. It's hard to describe, but at the beginning of all our songs you can tell that it is a Tokio Hotel song. It's something you hear in the first chords!"
Hopes and dreams!
"We are not really about goals," Tom tells Popstar! "All we really want is to play live as much as possible."
German fans vs. American fans!
"Every fan is different, but what they all have in common is that they are very engaged, that they are very intense." Bill says. "They live this life with us." Tom has other things in mind, saying, "I personally was very happy to see all the pretty girls in the audience!"
Interview, MSN.
The importance of the internet.
Bill: I think its important for every band to be a part of the internet. For us it was always very important, all the internet stuff, and it was just always this way, First there were fan pages and then in all the countries, we went to all the countries, and so, um, yeah, The internet is very important. And we are very excited and I think we are very nervous (general murmur of agreement), yep, its our second show tonight, our second show in Los Angeles so we are very excited and very nervous.
On what to expect from tonight’s show.
Tom: They can expect a good guitar player ;]
Georg: And an amazing sound, an unbelievable sound.
Bill: (laughs) Well, let’s see. Well I think its a rock show, it’s a little bit smaller because it’s a club tonight, so it’s different from our other stuff. I think we have two DVDs pout in Europe and these were all big venues and twelve or thirteen thousand venues, I think it was twelve or thirteen thousand people, so it’s a bit different tonight. We have a small stage bit I think it’s cool to, you know, play in a little club and you get the atmosphere and the audience, and yeah, I think you can expect a rock show.
Tom: A good show
Bill: Yup ;]
Tom: A loud rock show.
Big vs. Small venues
Tom: We start playing in small venues, and I think three years ago we played in small clubs like, you know, five people, and um, yeah, I mean, we like both.
All: Yeah, both.
Tom: I mean, we played three European tours and it was great. Big venues, seventeen thousand people, your own production, your own stage. You have a big crew, and it was all so great, but we also like the small clubs.
Bill: I like to have my own stage, so you have your own crew and stuff, but I also like the clubs because the audience, the audience is so near to you and yeah. It’s cool.
Fans:
Bill: Our fans are so cool because we never expect so many people. I mean, that’s our second show and you know, we are in the beginning in the States so we just travel and say hi to everybody, and there will be two or three fans, and so we never expected there to be so many people, in front of the venues waiting for us, so it’s really cool. I think our Tokio Hotel fans are the best fans in the world because they are so energetic and they are always there…
Tom: And in the beginning there’s reporters everywhere and in every country, and its great to come in a new country and you already have fans there waiting for you at the airport. And last time we played we played a couple of shows and they also sang the German lyrics with us and that was awesome, that was great.
Musical influences
Bill: I think we had never one band because we are all so different and we listen to different styles of music. And so it was never just one band. We went in the rehearsal room and we um, wrote our own songs and from the beginning it was just Tokio Hotel, it just comes out of us, and we were fine and everybody was agreeing.
Tom: It is never just, um, just one band that we want to sound like that band. Tou know, it’s like, Gorg listens to David Hasslehoff (all laugh) and Gustav likes more the hard stuff, and Bill likes Nena and I listen to German hip hop in my free time, and its really different and as Bill said, we went into the rehearsal room and started to make music, and it just came out of us. I was always just like that.
Bill: Tokio Hotel.
Tom: Yeah….\Tokio hotel.
Forming Tokio Hotel
Bill: In the beginning it was just Tom and me, we were seven years old and we started to make music. I wrote my own songs, and of course in German, because I don’t speak English and my English is very bad (laugh) and so I wrote them in German. My first touch with music was I saw Nena, I saw her on the television and it was a live concert and I saw nena onstage and after that I said ‘Okay I want to do the same, I really want to be onstage‘. So, yeah, we started to make music and we played in little clubs and wedding and stuff, and yeah, then we met Georg and Gustav in a little live club in our hometown Magdeburg…
Tom: They saw us and they said…we have to
Georg: We said someone has to help them!
Tom: They said the performance was awesome and I want to play in your band.
Bill: Yeah, we searched for a drummer and a bass player because I had a keyboard…
Georg: But you were really good at the keyboard
Bill: No, I don’t play and instrument because I was always too lazy to learn, so yeah, we went with Georg and Gustav into the rehearsal room and that was eight years ago…
Tom and Georg: Yeah, eight years ago.
Interviewer: And now, seventeen thousand seats…
Bill: Yeah, at first there were just five people in the clubs and we played and played and played
Tom: In our hometown Magdeburg
Georg: every weekend at the same club because there is no other club
Tom: Just one live club, and after some time, we met a producer , yeah, we met a producer and he said ‘Lets go into my studio and record some stuff
Bill: And then we worked together for two years and our first single came out, we were fifteen.
Tom: August 25th our single came out
Bill: And the n the whole thing started…
On the creative process:
Bill: I think its always different because sometimes I have lyrics ad I go to Tom and sing him a melody or show him the lyrics and he will write the guitar and…yeah. But sometimes Tom has a guitar riff and he comes to me and I write the lyrics, so it’s always different.
Tim: And we work together with the four producers and it’s a good arrangement here.
Bill: And then we go in the rehearsal room and we arrange it all together
Tom: The studio time is great, and more relaxing and -
Bill: But I think its so exciting to show your music, one to one to the audience because you see the reaction and yeah. It’s great, it’s the best thing.
On the language barrier:
Yeah it was really a problem for me because I always sang in German and as I said my English is so band, and I’m a perfectionist…I wanted to sound like a native speaker and not a German who tried to speak English, and yeah. I went in the rehearsal room and in the studio and we translated the songs one to one, and um, we had some help with that, and yeah, it takes a long time. I think it takes a long time to sound natural and I hope It’s good, I mean…
Interviewer: it sounds good
Bill: Thank you, um yeah…it’s really our first English record, and we really want to do more stuff in the future.
Tom: in the future we definitely want to do more stuff in English…we do the song in German and then we do…we do the translation into English.
On ‘Scream’
Bill: Scream is one of our first songs, and you know, it’s about scream for everything you want, scream for your rights and yeah, scream for your life, and you know, there are situations in the school or in the job where you just want to scream, and the song is about…do it, scream! (laughs) Sometimes you have to.
On ‘Ready Set Go’
Bill: Ready Set Go is a bit of our history, a bit of our lives, because we started a new life in one to another day, and we were in a school like normal teenagers, and then our single was out and we started a new life in one to another day. We um, went on tour and stuff, and so it’s about…
Tom: Break your borders…
Bill: Break your borders and don’t be afraid to start a new life
On ‘Monsoon’
Bill: Monsoon is a love song, really, it’s a love song , it was our first single on Germany and it’s a really special song for us because it was always our huge hit in Europe and everybody can sing the song. The audience can sing the song in German and in English, so its really the fans song, it’s the song the fans song they pick -
Tom: It’s really Georg’s song, because he loves me so much, so you know, he wrote the song.
Georg: For you…?
Tom: Yeah, just for me ;]
Interviewer: How sweet.
Tom. (laughs) Yes ;]
Finding fame at a young age
Bill: I think we had a lot of luck, you know, there was a producer and…in Magdeburg it’s strange. I mean, something like that would never happen that there was a producer. And we just had so much luck and he said you know, come in the studio.
Tom: We got the record deal and then…it was just great, especially for a German band because you don’t so often have the chance to go into other countries as a German band and that’s also great. We had a lot of luck in our lives.
Plans for the rest of 2008
Bill: I think after America we’ll travel back to Europe and then um, we play some concerts and some festivals and them, um, we go back in the studio and we want to write more new songs and a new record and yup, that’s the rest of the year, Playing concerts and writing songs.
Little end message ;]
Hey, we are Tokio Hotel, an you are watching MSN in concert!
Check in with Tokio Hotel!
They've taken over Germany with their catchy pop/rock tunes and Bill, Tom, Georg and Gustav are spreading their universal sound to America!
What to expect!
"In general, I would say (our sound) is rock," Tom describes. "We always tried to create our own style. It's hard to describe, but at the beginning of all our songs you can tell that it is a Tokio Hotel song. It's something you hear in the first chords!"
Hopes and dreams!
"We are not really about goals," Tom tells Popstar! "All we really want is to play live as much as possible."
German fans vs. American fans!
"Every fan is different, but what they all have in common is that they are very engaged, that they are very intense." Bill says. "They live this life with us." Tom has other things in mind, saying, "I personally was very happy to see all the pretty girls in the audience!"
Interview, MSN.
The importance of the internet.
Bill: I think its important for every band to be a part of the internet. For us it was always very important, all the internet stuff, and it was just always this way, First there were fan pages and then in all the countries, we went to all the countries, and so, um, yeah, The internet is very important. And we are very excited and I think we are very nervous (general murmur of agreement), yep, its our second show tonight, our second show in Los Angeles so we are very excited and very nervous.
On what to expect from tonight’s show.
Tom: They can expect a good guitar player ;]
Georg: And an amazing sound, an unbelievable sound.
Bill: (laughs) Well, let’s see. Well I think its a rock show, it’s a little bit smaller because it’s a club tonight, so it’s different from our other stuff. I think we have two DVDs pout in Europe and these were all big venues and twelve or thirteen thousand venues, I think it was twelve or thirteen thousand people, so it’s a bit different tonight. We have a small stage bit I think it’s cool to, you know, play in a little club and you get the atmosphere and the audience, and yeah, I think you can expect a rock show.
Tom: A good show
Bill: Yup ;]
Tom: A loud rock show.
Big vs. Small venues
Tom: We start playing in small venues, and I think three years ago we played in small clubs like, you know, five people, and um, yeah, I mean, we like both.
All: Yeah, both.
Tom: I mean, we played three European tours and it was great. Big venues, seventeen thousand people, your own production, your own stage. You have a big crew, and it was all so great, but we also like the small clubs.
Bill: I like to have my own stage, so you have your own crew and stuff, but I also like the clubs because the audience, the audience is so near to you and yeah. It’s cool.
Fans:
Bill: Our fans are so cool because we never expect so many people. I mean, that’s our second show and you know, we are in the beginning in the States so we just travel and say hi to everybody, and there will be two or three fans, and so we never expected there to be so many people, in front of the venues waiting for us, so it’s really cool. I think our Tokio Hotel fans are the best fans in the world because they are so energetic and they are always there…
Tom: And in the beginning there’s reporters everywhere and in every country, and its great to come in a new country and you already have fans there waiting for you at the airport. And last time we played we played a couple of shows and they also sang the German lyrics with us and that was awesome, that was great.
Musical influences
Bill: I think we had never one band because we are all so different and we listen to different styles of music. And so it was never just one band. We went in the rehearsal room and we um, wrote our own songs and from the beginning it was just Tokio Hotel, it just comes out of us, and we were fine and everybody was agreeing.
Tom: It is never just, um, just one band that we want to sound like that band. Tou know, it’s like, Gorg listens to David Hasslehoff (all laugh) and Gustav likes more the hard stuff, and Bill likes Nena and I listen to German hip hop in my free time, and its really different and as Bill said, we went into the rehearsal room and started to make music, and it just came out of us. I was always just like that.
Bill: Tokio Hotel.
Tom: Yeah….\Tokio hotel.
Forming Tokio Hotel
Bill: In the beginning it was just Tom and me, we were seven years old and we started to make music. I wrote my own songs, and of course in German, because I don’t speak English and my English is very bad (laugh) and so I wrote them in German. My first touch with music was I saw Nena, I saw her on the television and it was a live concert and I saw nena onstage and after that I said ‘Okay I want to do the same, I really want to be onstage‘. So, yeah, we started to make music and we played in little clubs and wedding and stuff, and yeah, then we met Georg and Gustav in a little live club in our hometown Magdeburg…
Tom: They saw us and they said…we have to
Georg: We said someone has to help them!
Tom: They said the performance was awesome and I want to play in your band.
Bill: Yeah, we searched for a drummer and a bass player because I had a keyboard…
Georg: But you were really good at the keyboard
Bill: No, I don’t play and instrument because I was always too lazy to learn, so yeah, we went with Georg and Gustav into the rehearsal room and that was eight years ago…
Tom and Georg: Yeah, eight years ago.
Interviewer: And now, seventeen thousand seats…
Bill: Yeah, at first there were just five people in the clubs and we played and played and played
Tom: In our hometown Magdeburg
Georg: every weekend at the same club because there is no other club
Tom: Just one live club, and after some time, we met a producer , yeah, we met a producer and he said ‘Lets go into my studio and record some stuff
Bill: And then we worked together for two years and our first single came out, we were fifteen.
Tom: August 25th our single came out
Bill: And the n the whole thing started…
On the creative process:
Bill: I think its always different because sometimes I have lyrics ad I go to Tom and sing him a melody or show him the lyrics and he will write the guitar and…yeah. But sometimes Tom has a guitar riff and he comes to me and I write the lyrics, so it’s always different.
Tim: And we work together with the four producers and it’s a good arrangement here.
Bill: And then we go in the rehearsal room and we arrange it all together
Tom: The studio time is great, and more relaxing and -
Bill: But I think its so exciting to show your music, one to one to the audience because you see the reaction and yeah. It’s great, it’s the best thing.
On the language barrier:
Yeah it was really a problem for me because I always sang in German and as I said my English is so band, and I’m a perfectionist…I wanted to sound like a native speaker and not a German who tried to speak English, and yeah. I went in the rehearsal room and in the studio and we translated the songs one to one, and um, we had some help with that, and yeah, it takes a long time. I think it takes a long time to sound natural and I hope It’s good, I mean…
Interviewer: it sounds good
Bill: Thank you, um yeah…it’s really our first English record, and we really want to do more stuff in the future.
Tom: in the future we definitely want to do more stuff in English…we do the song in German and then we do…we do the translation into English.
On ‘Scream’
Bill: Scream is one of our first songs, and you know, it’s about scream for everything you want, scream for your rights and yeah, scream for your life, and you know, there are situations in the school or in the job where you just want to scream, and the song is about…do it, scream! (laughs) Sometimes you have to.
On ‘Ready Set Go’
Bill: Ready Set Go is a bit of our history, a bit of our lives, because we started a new life in one to another day, and we were in a school like normal teenagers, and then our single was out and we started a new life in one to another day. We um, went on tour and stuff, and so it’s about…
Tom: Break your borders…
Bill: Break your borders and don’t be afraid to start a new life
On ‘Monsoon’
Bill: Monsoon is a love song, really, it’s a love song , it was our first single on Germany and it’s a really special song for us because it was always our huge hit in Europe and everybody can sing the song. The audience can sing the song in German and in English, so its really the fans song, it’s the song the fans song they pick -
Tom: It’s really Georg’s song, because he loves me so much, so you know, he wrote the song.
Georg: For you…?
Tom: Yeah, just for me ;]
Interviewer: How sweet.
Tom. (laughs) Yes ;]
Finding fame at a young age
Bill: I think we had a lot of luck, you know, there was a producer and…in Magdeburg it’s strange. I mean, something like that would never happen that there was a producer. And we just had so much luck and he said you know, come in the studio.
Tom: We got the record deal and then…it was just great, especially for a German band because you don’t so often have the chance to go into other countries as a German band and that’s also great. We had a lot of luck in our lives.
Plans for the rest of 2008
Bill: I think after America we’ll travel back to Europe and then um, we play some concerts and some festivals and them, um, we go back in the studio and we want to write more new songs and a new record and yup, that’s the rest of the year, Playing concerts and writing songs.
Little end message ;]
Hey, we are Tokio Hotel, an you are watching MSN in concert!
Tokio Hotel WW150 (Rock in Rio)
Tears, fears and lots of beers at Rock in Rio
It was supposed to have been one of the mega-festival’s highest points but when troubled singer Amy Winehouse shakily stepped onto the stage, intoxicated, unsteady, hoarse and over an hour late, not everyone was impressed with the singer’s first live performance in Portugal.
More than ninety thousand people packed out the Parque da Bela Vista on Rock in Rio’s opening night last Friday, most having waited all day to see Amy. Accompanied by six musicians and two back-up singers, the singer cut a worrying figure on stage, drinking, eating, fidgeting with her dress, unstable on her perilously thin legs, forgetting her lyrics, and, on several occasions, almost falling over.
With her hand in a bandage and a bruise on her neck, more than once her on-stage entourage intervened to save the show, taking over at critical moments during the 50 minute-long performance, which consisted of little more than ten songs from Amy Winehouse’s two albums, including the performer’s mass hits, ‘Back to Black’, ‘Tears Dry on Their Own’ and ‘Rehab’.
On stage she admitted she should have cancelled her performance, but thanked fans for being there and at one point, during the song ‘Love is a Losing Game’, broke down in tears as she told the audience her husband Blake, who is currently in prison, would soon be coming home.
Alanis Morissette, Bon Jovi, Lenny Kravitz, Joss Stone and Rod Stewart were other big names that graced the stage last weekend, to equally huge crowds, but it was teenage German boy-band Tokio Hotel that provided a talking point to rival that of Amy Winehouse.
Following the cancellation of their first concert in Portugal in March, due to lead singer Bill Kaulitz’s bout of laryngitis, thousands of Portuguese teenage fans were famously left in hysterics.
Many of these flocked to Rock in Rio despite another concert being scheduled for 29th June in Lisbon’s Atlantic Pavilion, to see one of Germany’s hottest exports at the moment, and were again left in hysterics.
Hundreds of young girls cried as the band’s line up of songs came to an end, a repertoire of vocal talent that older music fans may have described as somewhat lacklustre.
Making up for it was the singer’s extravagant hair-style, heavy make-up and superstar poses, all of which comprised a visually striking performance that will surely see the young crowds once again queue for hours and in their hundreds at The Pavilion later this month.
This weekend’s agreeable weather meant many concert-goers made their way to Bela Vista Park in the early afternoon, relaxing in the countryside, beer in hand, making the most of the sunshine before the first of the evening’s line up kicked off.
With so much to do inside the venue, including a radical sports area, a tent dedicated to fashion and a children’s play area, there is no shortage of pastimes or activities to keep people entertained, though stretching out in the sun and refreshing themselves with a beer seemed to be the occupation of choice for the audience.
This weekend more big names will take to the stage, including Metallica, Muse, Linkin Park and Offspring.
Those wanting to watch from the comfort of their living rooms can see Rock in Rio on Portuguese cable channels SIC Radical or SIC Mulher, or listen to live coverage on radio station RFM.
source: the-news.net
It was supposed to have been one of the mega-festival’s highest points but when troubled singer Amy Winehouse shakily stepped onto the stage, intoxicated, unsteady, hoarse and over an hour late, not everyone was impressed with the singer’s first live performance in Portugal.
More than ninety thousand people packed out the Parque da Bela Vista on Rock in Rio’s opening night last Friday, most having waited all day to see Amy. Accompanied by six musicians and two back-up singers, the singer cut a worrying figure on stage, drinking, eating, fidgeting with her dress, unstable on her perilously thin legs, forgetting her lyrics, and, on several occasions, almost falling over.
With her hand in a bandage and a bruise on her neck, more than once her on-stage entourage intervened to save the show, taking over at critical moments during the 50 minute-long performance, which consisted of little more than ten songs from Amy Winehouse’s two albums, including the performer’s mass hits, ‘Back to Black’, ‘Tears Dry on Their Own’ and ‘Rehab’.
On stage she admitted she should have cancelled her performance, but thanked fans for being there and at one point, during the song ‘Love is a Losing Game’, broke down in tears as she told the audience her husband Blake, who is currently in prison, would soon be coming home.
Alanis Morissette, Bon Jovi, Lenny Kravitz, Joss Stone and Rod Stewart were other big names that graced the stage last weekend, to equally huge crowds, but it was teenage German boy-band Tokio Hotel that provided a talking point to rival that of Amy Winehouse.
Following the cancellation of their first concert in Portugal in March, due to lead singer Bill Kaulitz’s bout of laryngitis, thousands of Portuguese teenage fans were famously left in hysterics.
Many of these flocked to Rock in Rio despite another concert being scheduled for 29th June in Lisbon’s Atlantic Pavilion, to see one of Germany’s hottest exports at the moment, and were again left in hysterics.
Hundreds of young girls cried as the band’s line up of songs came to an end, a repertoire of vocal talent that older music fans may have described as somewhat lacklustre.
Making up for it was the singer’s extravagant hair-style, heavy make-up and superstar poses, all of which comprised a visually striking performance that will surely see the young crowds once again queue for hours and in their hundreds at The Pavilion later this month.
This weekend’s agreeable weather meant many concert-goers made their way to Bela Vista Park in the early afternoon, relaxing in the countryside, beer in hand, making the most of the sunshine before the first of the evening’s line up kicked off.
With so much to do inside the venue, including a radical sports area, a tent dedicated to fashion and a children’s play area, there is no shortage of pastimes or activities to keep people entertained, though stretching out in the sun and refreshing themselves with a beer seemed to be the occupation of choice for the audience.
This weekend more big names will take to the stage, including Metallica, Muse, Linkin Park and Offspring.
Those wanting to watch from the comfort of their living rooms can see Rock in Rio on Portuguese cable channels SIC Radical or SIC Mulher, or listen to live coverage on radio station RFM.
source: the-news.net
Tokio Hotel WW149 (Updates)
They’re playing in Dortmund on June 13th! Be there!
Nearly every bit of news about Tokio Hotel begins with the sentence: “They’ve broken a record again!” And so does this one. Tokio Hotel have won a COMET each in four categories and now hold the absolute record with nine awards altogether. In contrast, we find the Toten Hosen in second place with ‘only’ five awards!
Moreover, they’ve made it into the Top Ten of the American charts and are more successful than ever!
But there will also be time left for the boys to see Germany again. After all, their whole success is thanks to their German fans!
Info about the concert au Parc des Princes, France:
- It is forbidden to sleep around the Parc des Princes area, during the days before the concert.
- The waiting line will be organized starting from the 21st of June, Avenue du Général Sarrail.
- No other waiting line will be authorized.
- The management of the waiting line will be guaranteed by the security service of the Parc des Princes and the Police. No other management organized by the fans will be valid.
- Binoculars (small ones) are authorized for the places in the tribune/stand (where ever that is.)
- The places in the tribune/stand won't give access to the Pelouse (lawn).
- The places on the Pelouse (lawn) don't give access to the tribune/stand.
- The doors of the Parc des Princes will be open from 16h00 for the Pelouse (lawn), and 17h00 for the tribunes/stands.
- The end of the concert is supposed to send at 22h30.
- Parking around the Parc des Princes is forbidden on the 20 and 21st of June. (I guess they mean right around it? I don't know, I've never been there.)
To get to the Parc des Princes
Metro stations: Line 9, Saint-Cloud station, Line 10, station d'Auteuil. Lines 9 and 10.
Bus: Lines 22-62-72-PC (Saint-Cloud) - Lines 52-PC (Porte d'Auteuil)
Source http://www.tokiohotelauparc.com/
The UK fans are amazing. You fill 30% of Sugar magazine's (one of the most popular teen mags) post bag!
Nearly every bit of news about Tokio Hotel begins with the sentence: “They’ve broken a record again!” And so does this one. Tokio Hotel have won a COMET each in four categories and now hold the absolute record with nine awards altogether. In contrast, we find the Toten Hosen in second place with ‘only’ five awards!
Moreover, they’ve made it into the Top Ten of the American charts and are more successful than ever!
But there will also be time left for the boys to see Germany again. After all, their whole success is thanks to their German fans!
Info about the concert au Parc des Princes, France:
- It is forbidden to sleep around the Parc des Princes area, during the days before the concert.
- The waiting line will be organized starting from the 21st of June, Avenue du Général Sarrail.
- No other waiting line will be authorized.
- The management of the waiting line will be guaranteed by the security service of the Parc des Princes and the Police. No other management organized by the fans will be valid.
- Binoculars (small ones) are authorized for the places in the tribune/stand (where ever that is.)
- The places in the tribune/stand won't give access to the Pelouse (lawn).
- The places on the Pelouse (lawn) don't give access to the tribune/stand.
- The doors of the Parc des Princes will be open from 16h00 for the Pelouse (lawn), and 17h00 for the tribunes/stands.
- The end of the concert is supposed to send at 22h30.
- Parking around the Parc des Princes is forbidden on the 20 and 21st of June. (I guess they mean right around it? I don't know, I've never been there.)
To get to the Parc des Princes
Metro stations: Line 9, Saint-Cloud station, Line 10, station d'Auteuil. Lines 9 and 10.
Bus: Lines 22-62-72-PC (Saint-Cloud) - Lines 52-PC (Porte d'Auteuil)
Source http://www.tokiohotelauparc.com/
The UK fans are amazing. You fill 30% of Sugar magazine's (one of the most popular teen mags) post bag!
Tokio Hotel WW148 (Gusti donates blood)
Hi everyone, it's Bill!
We are back in Germany and what can I tell you? We really had an awesome time in North America! Our last show in Montreal was just incredible – such an energetic and excited audience! You guys were so loud during the whole show that we could barely hear ourselves on stage which is exactly how we love it! After coming back to Germany a really big surprise was waiting for us: on Friday night German music channel VIVA hosted their award show COMET! We were nominated for three awards and won four !!! "Best Live Act", "Best Band", "Best Video". Then at the end of the show we even received the so called "Super Comet", which is basically given to the winner of the winners of this show…absolutely TERRIFIC that we got it!!! All the awards were determined by votings so once again you showed how incredible you are and how unbelievable your support is! You really complete us! Everyone must envy us because of you guys – I guess we really have the best fans EVER!!!
Take care everybody!
Bill
Tokio Hotel stormed the Billboard album charts with SCREAM
Tokio Hotel stormed the Billboard album charts with SCREAM, the band’s first U.S. full length to date. Landing at #5 and #6 on the Alternative Albums and Rock Albums charts respectively and in the top 40 of Billboards Top 200 it is safe to say – Tokio Hotel have more than arrived.
In their next step in U.S. domination, Bill, Tom, Georg and Gustav, will find themselves in millions of living rooms as their ballad, “Monsoon,” is released as downloadable content for Rock Band!
“SCM“ is a local handball team from Magdeburg. They’re called “Gladiators”.
“That worked!: ”Gladiador” Christoph Theuerkauf brought Gustav from “Tokio Hotel” along to the university-blood bank. Also Gustav’s blood shall help the SCM-fans to win the “blood-bet” against the FCM-fans. Since weeks the Green-Reds are in front – and at July7th it will be over.
Do the Blue-Whites really want to lose again? “Around 6000 fans of both teams have already donated their blood”, SCM-fan-supporter Gabi Blume says. “We hope to make the 7000 line.”
Before the “tapping” Gustav revealed, that he his a big fan of the Gladiators.
“When I donate blood here, I want to show, that I stand by my town, especially of course for the SCM. Gosh, how have I suffered, when they had their bad phase in spring!”
If a fairy godmother would came to fulfill him three wishes, Gustav Schäfer would wish
(1.) 1000 more wishes,
(2.) a happy and healthy family and
(3.) the title for the Gladiators for the upcoming season.
Always, when he’s in the Magdeburg area and “Theuer”, “Benno” (Bennet Wiegert) or “Tulpe” (Fabian van Olphen) organized a working-card, Gustav is feverish with them in the Bördeland-hall:” My last game was, when they fired the others out of the hall with a difference of 14 goals. But against which team was it?” Christoph Theuerkauf knew it immediately: “That was against Minden at April 25th!”
But from where do the sportsmen and the rocker know each other?
Christoph Theuerkauf: “One year ago DJ Alex Ninow gave me backstage-tickets for a Tokio Hotel-concert. I found the show of the boys just great and behind the stage we took stock of each other. I had a “good wire” to Gustav at once.”
Asked, if the band maybe would play at the final celebration of the blood-bet at July 27th at the Old Market, Gustav said: ”I really don’t know, what is then. I don’t say no, but also not definitely yes.”
“That would be really a big thing, if that would work”, Gabi Blume was already radiant all over her face.
Bill
Tokio Hotel stormed the Billboard album charts with SCREAM
Tokio Hotel stormed the Billboard album charts with SCREAM, the band’s first U.S. full length to date. Landing at #5 and #6 on the Alternative Albums and Rock Albums charts respectively and in the top 40 of Billboards Top 200 it is safe to say – Tokio Hotel have more than arrived.
In their next step in U.S. domination, Bill, Tom, Georg and Gustav, will find themselves in millions of living rooms as their ballad, “Monsoon,” is released as downloadable content for Rock Band!
“SCM“ is a local handball team from Magdeburg. They’re called “Gladiators”.
“That worked!: ”Gladiador” Christoph Theuerkauf brought Gustav from “Tokio Hotel” along to the university-blood bank. Also Gustav’s blood shall help the SCM-fans to win the “blood-bet” against the FCM-fans. Since weeks the Green-Reds are in front – and at July7th it will be over.
Do the Blue-Whites really want to lose again? “Around 6000 fans of both teams have already donated their blood”, SCM-fan-supporter Gabi Blume says. “We hope to make the 7000 line.”
Before the “tapping” Gustav revealed, that he his a big fan of the Gladiators.
“When I donate blood here, I want to show, that I stand by my town, especially of course for the SCM. Gosh, how have I suffered, when they had their bad phase in spring!”
If a fairy godmother would came to fulfill him three wishes, Gustav Schäfer would wish
(1.) 1000 more wishes,
(2.) a happy and healthy family and
(3.) the title for the Gladiators for the upcoming season.
Always, when he’s in the Magdeburg area and “Theuer”, “Benno” (Bennet Wiegert) or “Tulpe” (Fabian van Olphen) organized a working-card, Gustav is feverish with them in the Bördeland-hall:” My last game was, when they fired the others out of the hall with a difference of 14 goals. But against which team was it?” Christoph Theuerkauf knew it immediately: “That was against Minden at April 25th!”
But from where do the sportsmen and the rocker know each other?
Christoph Theuerkauf: “One year ago DJ Alex Ninow gave me backstage-tickets for a Tokio Hotel-concert. I found the show of the boys just great and behind the stage we took stock of each other. I had a “good wire” to Gustav at once.”
Asked, if the band maybe would play at the final celebration of the blood-bet at July 27th at the Old Market, Gustav said: ”I really don’t know, what is then. I don’t say no, but also not definitely yes.”
“That would be really a big thing, if that would work”, Gabi Blume was already radiant all over her face.
Tokio Hotel WW147 (Big fat interview)
Sometimes in life, you get lucky... and sometimes you hit the jackpot. When we snagged the chance to chat to German band 'Tokio Hotel' for the second time this year, we knew we were in for a treat - and we're not talking the Apfel Strudel variety. You see, this is a band that has taken the majority of Europe by storm. After an ear piercing reception at their recent London gig, they are back to promote the release of their debut English album 'Scream', due out on August 27th...
If their eye-catching appearance, impressive album and legions of fans are anything to go by, the future for seventeen-year-old twins Bill and Tom and their fellow band mates Georg and Gustav, will be bigger than Tom's impressive black barnet.
After putting a call out for fans to send in their questions, we received over six hundred burning 'Fragen'. Unfortunately, we didn't have a week with the boys, but Seatwave's Katie Spain and Rhiannon Howe picked out a few of the best ones. The boys looked the part and the ladies attempted to speak the part (yes, the interview was in German). Here's the translated version of what the boys had to say about The Queen, lip piercings, their plans for the future and girl's wobbly bits...
Katie: Now, first of all, last time we spoke you told me to ask the English men to ‘Feed My Pony’ [Boys all laugh] I tried it and the English men don’t seem to understand, so we’ll steer clear of any of that kind of thing. But I do want to know, what have you been up to since you last came to London?
Bill: Oh god that's hard to say. Because we attend one appointment after another. And there so many things around us that we can hardly remember what happened yesterday.
But... um... much. I think we did gigs and we spent lots of time in the recording studio. We working constantly on our material. We did a lot of interviews because all over Europe, where they are releasing our stuff at the moment, so we wanted to visit all the countries. So we are travelling across europe a lot at the moment...
Katie: When will there be a full English tour?
Tom: Nothing is planned yet. But we definitively want to play gigs here.
Katie: If the queen invited you around for tea and cakes, what would you say to her?
Georg: Of course. Tea and cake is always nice.
Bill: What would I say?!
Tom: I would say: Of course. I would also move into your palace...
Katie: What’s the one thing you wish an interviewer would ask you..?
Tom: What does it mean to “Feed my Pony”?
Katie: What did you like best about New York?
Bill: I really liked NYC. Everthing was really nice. I don't know what I liked the most... probably that you can get a taxi everywhere.
Tom: That's a good thing.
Bill: It's really relaxed, you just walk on the street, raise your hand and a taxi pulls up immediately.
That was something new for me and totally fascinating. But of course the whole city is impressive, all the buildings and stuff
Tom: You never get bored there.
And do you understand the New York Accent? It can be difficult.
Bill: It was okay really. Well some of the taxi drivers mumbled but it was okay.
Katie:Have you had any strange experienced on any of your tours?
Bill: Many but I always forget. Well, Georg does something strange everyday.
Georg: We had a gig in France recently and we had a really strange hotel. Like an old castle. We had no running water, no TV, no internet, nothing. We sat there in front of a fireplace and played at cards. We were cut off the outside world. On our own in this castle... like in
in medieval times.
Tom: We didn't like it.
Bill: But it was funny though.
Tom: Drank much alcohol and played at cards.
Georg: What? What did you do?
Katie: You’ve got a big birthday coming up, and the fans have been asking you what you want. This would be a good chance for you to get a sports car.
Bill: I don't want to request a car... but I actually would like to have one. My wishes changed totally over the last two years. We wanted so much materialistically stuff. But it changed so much.
Now it's important to see our families and friends. This why I don't wish more than that. Just to see my family and friends and have a huge party together. We see them all so rarely so it's a big, important thing to see them. And what else, huh. I love surprises so I hope someone will surprise me.
Katie: Without alcohol?
Bill: No, I never drink alcohol
Rhiannon: (Sarcastic) Of course, it’s not legal.
Tom: It's legal in Germany. We're allowed to drink wine, beer, sparkling wine and stuff
Rhiannon: But not here?
Tom: We don't drink it here. We go to Germany by plane drink it and come back directly after drinking it.
Katie: You’ve thought of everything.
Fan Questions:
Katie: I’ve heard that some girls flash at your gigs?
All: Yes, yes!
Tom: Yeah some do it. Especially the girls on my side. I never get bored at gigs, I have always something to look at!
[Cue Tom’s impression of a woman jiggling her chest]
Katie: So, Bill, we know you paint your fingernails, but do you paint your toenails?
Bill: My what? Oh, No, no, no oh god no... well...
Georg: He just bites them sometimes.
Bill: No I don't paint them. Only fingernails.
Rhiannon: Georg, Tom is always beating up on you in interviews, being mean to you and making fun.
Tom: What?
Georg: (Sarcastic) What? That's right.
Would you like to take some revenge?
Georg: You can't do this with Tom in an Interview because Tom reacts a bit weird.
Tom: Yes, I react totally sensitive.. No... the thing is I just don't know what to say. Because they have stolen all my lines and when I would say them it would be boring because everyone else said them before.
[Translator’s note: Three of us, two good German speakers and one German person have tried to work out what Tom is going on about. We have no idea.]
Katie: Is it difficult to kiss a girl with your lip pierced?
Tom: No, definitely not. It's like normal, including kissing girls down below.
[The explosion you hear is Rhiannon spontaneously combusting]
Katie: I’m considering getting one myself. Does it hurt?
Georg (explains): As you were getting it.
Tom: Now I don't notice anything. When it was new I could hardly eat. It def hurt but now it's no problem. Could be difficult when she has piercing at the same place too because they could get caught - but that hasn’t happened so far.
Katie: What is one thing that you always wanted to say to each other?
Georg: Normally we always say directly what we wanna say to each other.
Bill: We are together 24/7 so I just tell them everything
Tom: We just declared that I'm pretty direct so yes we always tell each other things directly
Bill: We are "direct" people amongst ourselves.
Georg: You just have to be careful because Gustav is a little prissy.
Katie: Do you have any plans to go to Australia, my homeland.
Bill: There are no plans right now. Like I said, we do always like step by step. Well the dates for Europe are a bit mixed up..
Tom: We hope... I mean we always wanted to go to Japan. we just have to see. But we wanna go everywhere. And if it happens when we're 60 but it will happen.
Bill: But at the moment we're concentrating on England. We wanna see what's up here and we wanna play concerts although nothing is planned yet but we want to... so step by step first.
Rhiannon: So, the London gig was awesome, but you all stayed fully clothed. Including Gustav! We were so disappointed!
Bill: We have to say that we gave Georg and Gustav the advice not to undress.
Georg: It was just so they both don't get jealous.
Tom: I said it to Georg. I said: "Don't get off your shirt because then one or two girls wanna come along with you in your hotel room when they see you in the hotel room naked first. Because when he would do it on stage nobody would want to come along with him.
Georg: we only get our clothes off when the audience is flashing... completely."
Tom: no exceptions.
Katie: Last time, I said if enough people emailed me I would do a whole show devoted to Tokio Hotel. And they did. So we’re doing a whole TH show. We wanted to know if you wanted to request a song each?
Bill: To choose a song?
All: ummmmmmm
Bill: I take ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay
Tom: I take 'Glamorous' by Fergie
Georg: That’s shit.
Gustav: I take 'Everlong', FooFighters.
Georg: .. .. .. .. um.. .. .. 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out', by Oasis.
And with that, the four lads are whisked up and into another room for another interview. Despite long flights and a hectic schedule, their enthusiasm (and look) doesn't flag. We round up the interview in the hotel bar and spot the guys a little later on as they head to the restaurant for a meal. Luckily, they remain undisturbed, but Rhiannon and I nod knowingly in agreement - it's not long before these four striking German faces will be imprinted firmly on the UK's music scene (and on the hearts of many-a young lady). Good luck to them - a nicer bunch of lads you'd be hard stretched to find.
If their eye-catching appearance, impressive album and legions of fans are anything to go by, the future for seventeen-year-old twins Bill and Tom and their fellow band mates Georg and Gustav, will be bigger than Tom's impressive black barnet.
After putting a call out for fans to send in their questions, we received over six hundred burning 'Fragen'. Unfortunately, we didn't have a week with the boys, but Seatwave's Katie Spain and Rhiannon Howe picked out a few of the best ones. The boys looked the part and the ladies attempted to speak the part (yes, the interview was in German). Here's the translated version of what the boys had to say about The Queen, lip piercings, their plans for the future and girl's wobbly bits...
Katie: Now, first of all, last time we spoke you told me to ask the English men to ‘Feed My Pony’ [Boys all laugh] I tried it and the English men don’t seem to understand, so we’ll steer clear of any of that kind of thing. But I do want to know, what have you been up to since you last came to London?
Bill: Oh god that's hard to say. Because we attend one appointment after another. And there so many things around us that we can hardly remember what happened yesterday.
But... um... much. I think we did gigs and we spent lots of time in the recording studio. We working constantly on our material. We did a lot of interviews because all over Europe, where they are releasing our stuff at the moment, so we wanted to visit all the countries. So we are travelling across europe a lot at the moment...
Katie: When will there be a full English tour?
Tom: Nothing is planned yet. But we definitively want to play gigs here.
Katie: If the queen invited you around for tea and cakes, what would you say to her?
Georg: Of course. Tea and cake is always nice.
Bill: What would I say?!
Tom: I would say: Of course. I would also move into your palace...
Katie: What’s the one thing you wish an interviewer would ask you..?
Tom: What does it mean to “Feed my Pony”?
Katie: What did you like best about New York?
Bill: I really liked NYC. Everthing was really nice. I don't know what I liked the most... probably that you can get a taxi everywhere.
Tom: That's a good thing.
Bill: It's really relaxed, you just walk on the street, raise your hand and a taxi pulls up immediately.
That was something new for me and totally fascinating. But of course the whole city is impressive, all the buildings and stuff
Tom: You never get bored there.
And do you understand the New York Accent? It can be difficult.
Bill: It was okay really. Well some of the taxi drivers mumbled but it was okay.
Katie:Have you had any strange experienced on any of your tours?
Bill: Many but I always forget. Well, Georg does something strange everyday.
Georg: We had a gig in France recently and we had a really strange hotel. Like an old castle. We had no running water, no TV, no internet, nothing. We sat there in front of a fireplace and played at cards. We were cut off the outside world. On our own in this castle... like in
in medieval times.
Tom: We didn't like it.
Bill: But it was funny though.
Tom: Drank much alcohol and played at cards.
Georg: What? What did you do?
Katie: You’ve got a big birthday coming up, and the fans have been asking you what you want. This would be a good chance for you to get a sports car.
Bill: I don't want to request a car... but I actually would like to have one. My wishes changed totally over the last two years. We wanted so much materialistically stuff. But it changed so much.
Now it's important to see our families and friends. This why I don't wish more than that. Just to see my family and friends and have a huge party together. We see them all so rarely so it's a big, important thing to see them. And what else, huh. I love surprises so I hope someone will surprise me.
Katie: Without alcohol?
Bill: No, I never drink alcohol
Rhiannon: (Sarcastic) Of course, it’s not legal.
Tom: It's legal in Germany. We're allowed to drink wine, beer, sparkling wine and stuff
Rhiannon: But not here?
Tom: We don't drink it here. We go to Germany by plane drink it and come back directly after drinking it.
Katie: You’ve thought of everything.
Fan Questions:
Katie: I’ve heard that some girls flash at your gigs?
All: Yes, yes!
Tom: Yeah some do it. Especially the girls on my side. I never get bored at gigs, I have always something to look at!
[Cue Tom’s impression of a woman jiggling her chest]
Katie: So, Bill, we know you paint your fingernails, but do you paint your toenails?
Bill: My what? Oh, No, no, no oh god no... well...
Georg: He just bites them sometimes.
Bill: No I don't paint them. Only fingernails.
Rhiannon: Georg, Tom is always beating up on you in interviews, being mean to you and making fun.
Tom: What?
Georg: (Sarcastic) What? That's right.
Would you like to take some revenge?
Georg: You can't do this with Tom in an Interview because Tom reacts a bit weird.
Tom: Yes, I react totally sensitive.. No... the thing is I just don't know what to say. Because they have stolen all my lines and when I would say them it would be boring because everyone else said them before.
[Translator’s note: Three of us, two good German speakers and one German person have tried to work out what Tom is going on about. We have no idea.]
Katie: Is it difficult to kiss a girl with your lip pierced?
Tom: No, definitely not. It's like normal, including kissing girls down below.
[The explosion you hear is Rhiannon spontaneously combusting]
Katie: I’m considering getting one myself. Does it hurt?
Georg (explains): As you were getting it.
Tom: Now I don't notice anything. When it was new I could hardly eat. It def hurt but now it's no problem. Could be difficult when she has piercing at the same place too because they could get caught - but that hasn’t happened so far.
Katie: What is one thing that you always wanted to say to each other?
Georg: Normally we always say directly what we wanna say to each other.
Bill: We are together 24/7 so I just tell them everything
Tom: We just declared that I'm pretty direct so yes we always tell each other things directly
Bill: We are "direct" people amongst ourselves.
Georg: You just have to be careful because Gustav is a little prissy.
Katie: Do you have any plans to go to Australia, my homeland.
Bill: There are no plans right now. Like I said, we do always like step by step. Well the dates for Europe are a bit mixed up..
Tom: We hope... I mean we always wanted to go to Japan. we just have to see. But we wanna go everywhere. And if it happens when we're 60 but it will happen.
Bill: But at the moment we're concentrating on England. We wanna see what's up here and we wanna play concerts although nothing is planned yet but we want to... so step by step first.
Rhiannon: So, the London gig was awesome, but you all stayed fully clothed. Including Gustav! We were so disappointed!
Bill: We have to say that we gave Georg and Gustav the advice not to undress.
Georg: It was just so they both don't get jealous.
Tom: I said it to Georg. I said: "Don't get off your shirt because then one or two girls wanna come along with you in your hotel room when they see you in the hotel room naked first. Because when he would do it on stage nobody would want to come along with him.
Georg: we only get our clothes off when the audience is flashing... completely."
Tom: no exceptions.
Katie: Last time, I said if enough people emailed me I would do a whole show devoted to Tokio Hotel. And they did. So we’re doing a whole TH show. We wanted to know if you wanted to request a song each?
Bill: To choose a song?
All: ummmmmmm
Bill: I take ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay
Tom: I take 'Glamorous' by Fergie
Georg: That’s shit.
Gustav: I take 'Everlong', FooFighters.
Georg: .. .. .. .. um.. .. .. 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out', by Oasis.
And with that, the four lads are whisked up and into another room for another interview. Despite long flights and a hectic schedule, their enthusiasm (and look) doesn't flag. We round up the interview in the hotel bar and spot the guys a little later on as they head to the restaurant for a meal. Luckily, they remain undisturbed, but Rhiannon and I nod knowingly in agreement - it's not long before these four striking German faces will be imprinted firmly on the UK's music scene (and on the hearts of many-a young lady). Good luck to them - a nicer bunch of lads you'd be hard stretched to find.
Tokio Hotel WW146 (TH News)
Meet Bill. He's androgynously rakish, has an explosive coiffure that would make Bon Jovi ache, and sings glam-emo songs. In fact, Bill's bamnd is as big in German as the Jonas Brothers arer here. And with a rabid teen-girl following quickly amassing Stateside, 18-year old Kaulitz's group, Tokio Hotel, (ages 18 to 20) has also become a flamboyant alternative for american teens looking to wean themselves off of the vailla-style Nickelodeon and Disney preppy puppy-dog acts.
Earlier this month, Tokio, who have moved nearly 3 millon CD's worldwide, releasesd theor english language album 'Scream' (an apprporos title if you've ever caught one of their live shows), but thanks to the American buzz, American fans got swept up in the hype last fall. 'We just write about the stuff that happens to us' says Kaulitz, about the against-all anthems of 'Monsoon' and 'Ready Set Go'. 'Fans connect to the lyrics'. The also, it seems, want to connect with the band. 'When we're playing a show, they sleep outside in front of the venue two nights before we're even there!' he marvels, before adding 'I get the most girls, but I'm not the type that actually likes to mess around.' Parents, be warned: Tokio Hotel with hit the road this summer.
So what's Kaulitz most psyched about as he prepares for his first tour over here? 'Well, in LA there's In-N-Out Burgers. I'm the biggest fan of that.'
Official News
No "camping" in front of the stadium at Geneva, for the 12th of July concert.
Fans cannot spend the night and camp in front of the stadium, not even the night before the concert!
It's forbidden, and police will be patrolling the area, during the week before the concert. (The place might even be barred off, so that no one can enter.)
Minors found there will be brought to the police station and their parents will be informed and will have to take them back home (or wherever) and majors are asked to leave the stadium. No exceptions!
Fans are allowed to go on Saturday morning (at a reasonable time "6-7.")
(tokiohotelsuisse)
(Keep in mind that this isn't Tokio Hotel's doing, it's the Live Music Production, organizer of the concert. But this concert is in about a month, so maybe they'll change their mind by then?)
Camping in Dortmund has begun! (concert takes place on June 13th)
Earlier this month, Tokio, who have moved nearly 3 millon CD's worldwide, releasesd theor english language album 'Scream' (an apprporos title if you've ever caught one of their live shows), but thanks to the American buzz, American fans got swept up in the hype last fall. 'We just write about the stuff that happens to us' says Kaulitz, about the against-all anthems of 'Monsoon' and 'Ready Set Go'. 'Fans connect to the lyrics'. The also, it seems, want to connect with the band. 'When we're playing a show, they sleep outside in front of the venue two nights before we're even there!' he marvels, before adding 'I get the most girls, but I'm not the type that actually likes to mess around.' Parents, be warned: Tokio Hotel with hit the road this summer.
So what's Kaulitz most psyched about as he prepares for his first tour over here? 'Well, in LA there's In-N-Out Burgers. I'm the biggest fan of that.'
Official News
No "camping" in front of the stadium at Geneva, for the 12th of July concert.
Fans cannot spend the night and camp in front of the stadium, not even the night before the concert!
It's forbidden, and police will be patrolling the area, during the week before the concert. (The place might even be barred off, so that no one can enter.)
Minors found there will be brought to the police station and their parents will be informed and will have to take them back home (or wherever) and majors are asked to leave the stadium. No exceptions!
Fans are allowed to go on Saturday morning (at a reasonable time "6-7.")
(tokiohotelsuisse)
(Keep in mind that this isn't Tokio Hotel's doing, it's the Live Music Production, organizer of the concert. But this concert is in about a month, so maybe they'll change their mind by then?)
Camping in Dortmund has begun! (concert takes place on June 13th)
Tokio Hotel WW145 (RollingStone article and turnout in Portugal)
Tokio Hotel Festival turnout in Portugal
More than 50.000 visitors!
Yesterday evening, Bill, Tom, Gustav and Georg successfully opened their summer festival season for about 50.000 visitors! At the famous “Rock in Rio” festival in Lisboa, Portugal! The Rock in Rio festival has an impressive history and among the biggest stars in the world such as Bon Jovi, Lenny Kravitz, The Police and Amy Winehouse, the four Magdeburgers rocked for one hour at an amazing stage as the headliner!
And the best thing about it: Bill is 100% healthy and he sings better than ever, let the Tokio Hotel Festival Summer 2008 come! For Bill, Tom, Gustav, Georg and their fans the summer festivals are always something unforgettable and that’s why the boys have come up with something really special for you
At 21.06 the band is playing a Mega-Open-Air-Concert in the legendary Paris stadium “Parc des Princes”. For you Tokio Hotel have designed a special “Parc de Princes” t-shirt for this sensational event.
Bill: “We really want to give our fans a t-shirt that you would get out of the closet and it would remind you of being at the “Parc des Princes” festival.”
This is your chance - ensure yourself of this limited t-shirt together with a much wanted standing ticket for the Stadium!
The price for this exclusive pack is just 66,66euro
Rolling Stone
Tokio Hotel: Adored by Hair-Loving Fans, Inspired by Nena
6/3/08, 11:40 am EST
It’s a cold, rainy Saturday in New Jersey, and hundreds of hoodie-clad teenyboppers are scrunched shoulder to shoulder in the Meadlowlands parking lot, screaming for Tokio Hotel. “Bill, I want to comb your hair!” shrieks a teen girl in the front row as the band — fronted by glammed-out singer Bill Kaulitz, 18, and his dreadlocked twin, guitarist Tom — kick into “Ready Set Go.” Bill doesn’t answer — after all, if he complied with every hair-combing request, his trademark porcupine spikes would be defunct. Instead, he swivels his skinny hips, pumps his fist skyward and sings.
Since Tokio Hotel’s third album, Scream, was released in the U.S. on April 29th, the German emo rockers — who blend lashing riffs and forceful wails into dark, snarling anthems — have become superstars, snagging a spot on MTV’s TRL, sold-out shows in New York and LA and legions of admirers. “When we played [New York’s] Irving Plaza in February, the audience sang all the songs — even two German ones,” says Bill. “In Europe we play big concerts, but in America it’s so cool to see all the people — and all the girls.”
A few years ago, Bill and Tom were performing for tiny crowds in their hometown, the small salt-mining town of Madgeburg, part of former East Germany. “Every weekend we played to, like, 15 people in the same club,” says Tom, who picked up his first guitar at age seven, around the same time that Bill decided he wanted to be a star. (”I saw a concert with Nena singing ‘99 Red Balloons’ on TV and I said, ‘I will also go onstage and sing,’” he recalls.) Tokio Hotel was born in 2001, when local teens Gustav Schafer (drums) and Georg Listing (bass) caught one of the duo’s gigs. “We said, ‘Oh my god, someone should help them!’” jokes Listing.
Scream — which is culled from tracks on the group’s first two German discs (which both hit number one overseas, earning them their ten-times-platinum status) — is the band’s English debut. “Every song has a strong connection to us,” says Bill, who models his look after a vampire Halloween costume he wore as a kid.) “‘Ready, Set, Go’ is kind of our story,” he adds. “It’s about going for your dream and not being afraid to start a new life.”
More than 50.000 visitors!
Yesterday evening, Bill, Tom, Gustav and Georg successfully opened their summer festival season for about 50.000 visitors! At the famous “Rock in Rio” festival in Lisboa, Portugal! The Rock in Rio festival has an impressive history and among the biggest stars in the world such as Bon Jovi, Lenny Kravitz, The Police and Amy Winehouse, the four Magdeburgers rocked for one hour at an amazing stage as the headliner!
And the best thing about it: Bill is 100% healthy and he sings better than ever, let the Tokio Hotel Festival Summer 2008 come! For Bill, Tom, Gustav, Georg and their fans the summer festivals are always something unforgettable and that’s why the boys have come up with something really special for you
At 21.06 the band is playing a Mega-Open-Air-Concert in the legendary Paris stadium “Parc des Princes”. For you Tokio Hotel have designed a special “Parc de Princes” t-shirt for this sensational event.
Bill: “We really want to give our fans a t-shirt that you would get out of the closet and it would remind you of being at the “Parc des Princes” festival.”
This is your chance - ensure yourself of this limited t-shirt together with a much wanted standing ticket for the Stadium!
The price for this exclusive pack is just 66,66euro
Rolling Stone
Tokio Hotel: Adored by Hair-Loving Fans, Inspired by Nena
6/3/08, 11:40 am EST
It’s a cold, rainy Saturday in New Jersey, and hundreds of hoodie-clad teenyboppers are scrunched shoulder to shoulder in the Meadlowlands parking lot, screaming for Tokio Hotel. “Bill, I want to comb your hair!” shrieks a teen girl in the front row as the band — fronted by glammed-out singer Bill Kaulitz, 18, and his dreadlocked twin, guitarist Tom — kick into “Ready Set Go.” Bill doesn’t answer — after all, if he complied with every hair-combing request, his trademark porcupine spikes would be defunct. Instead, he swivels his skinny hips, pumps his fist skyward and sings.
Since Tokio Hotel’s third album, Scream, was released in the U.S. on April 29th, the German emo rockers — who blend lashing riffs and forceful wails into dark, snarling anthems — have become superstars, snagging a spot on MTV’s TRL, sold-out shows in New York and LA and legions of admirers. “When we played [New York’s] Irving Plaza in February, the audience sang all the songs — even two German ones,” says Bill. “In Europe we play big concerts, but in America it’s so cool to see all the people — and all the girls.”
A few years ago, Bill and Tom were performing for tiny crowds in their hometown, the small salt-mining town of Madgeburg, part of former East Germany. “Every weekend we played to, like, 15 people in the same club,” says Tom, who picked up his first guitar at age seven, around the same time that Bill decided he wanted to be a star. (”I saw a concert with Nena singing ‘99 Red Balloons’ on TV and I said, ‘I will also go onstage and sing,’” he recalls.) Tokio Hotel was born in 2001, when local teens Gustav Schafer (drums) and Georg Listing (bass) caught one of the duo’s gigs. “We said, ‘Oh my god, someone should help them!’” jokes Listing.
Scream — which is culled from tracks on the group’s first two German discs (which both hit number one overseas, earning them their ten-times-platinum status) — is the band’s English debut. “Every song has a strong connection to us,” says Bill, who models his look after a vampire Halloween costume he wore as a kid.) “‘Ready, Set, Go’ is kind of our story,” he adds. “It’s about going for your dream and not being afraid to start a new life.”
Tokio Hotel WW144 (A 12 km long letter!)
Heavy mail for Bill & Co.
Jennifer Hefti and her sister Samantha have written a fan-letter to Tokio Hotel. A fan-letter, which almost made world record history. It’s just a shame that Bill & Co. don’t want to have it.
Whoever enters Jennifer’s room knows straight away for which pop band her heart beats - Whether it’s the bright orange clock with Bill Kaulitz on the dial, the affectionately spread fan scarf over on the sofa or both the picture frames of Bill and Tom which watch Jennifer at work on the computer right and left of the desk. The internationally successful East German band has a place everywhere in this “Tokio Hotel”. Even so, her most extreme fan phase is behind the Wohlen resident. She says: “Before, all the walls were taped with posters of Tokio Hotel.”
Not until you take a second glance at the back part of her room, under the slanted roof, do you truly understand how great the now-18-year-old’s passion for Tokio Hotel must be, or at least was. There, you’d find probably the longest fan-letter in Switzerland: An unbelievable 12-kilometer-letter lies there, distributed across a total of nine almost inconspicuous paper piles. You don’t realize roughly how long this letter really is until Jennifer spreads out some of the sheets admiring Tokio Hotel in writing on the floor. Jennifer, her sister Samantha, as well as 10-15 helpers wrote the letter together.
“The father’s idea”
“We began it on April 30th 2006 and it was finished about half a year later,” explains Jennifer. And yet, it’s not her first letter which could cover entire streets. Both sisters had already previously composed literary post to Bill & Co. At that time, they ‘only’ reached 1.4 km. “But after that brought nothing, my father said, ‘then write another 12 kilometers’. We don’t want to stop until we meet the boys,” reasons Jennifer of her enthusiasm for writing. Other than that, they want to break the world record. But, “we had to have written 13 kilometers. There already is a 12-kilometer-letter to The Beatles”.
However, neither of them plans on continuing the letter. “The ideas aren’t there anymore,” says Jennifer, “but if it were demanded, we would do it,” she accepts with cunning smile.
Management are not interested about the letter
Although the girls had already contacted the management and the Tokio-boys’ German record companies multiple times, the response was always negative. “They said they’re not interested,” says Jennifer, “and the record companies didn’t associate with us again once.”
Of course, questioning what the four German boys who conquered the world of teenagers worldwide should do with 12,000 meters of poems, photo-collages and text is justified. But Jennifer is realistic enough to know that Bill & Co. would never read the whole letter through. Therefore, it’s also up to them “to set an example” in just the first line, so that Tokio Hotel recognize that their fans in German Switzerland support them.
Deadline July 2008
Both sisters still want to make one last attempt to finally submit the letter to the band on the occasion of Tokio Hotel’s concert in Geneva this year. And if it goes badly again? “Then we might throw them away or burn them. After all, the postage costs would be much too high if we were to send the entire letter by post,” reckons Jennifer resignedly. It would be a real shame if this affectionate work of art from Wohlen was to be wasted.
Jennifer Hefti and her sister Samantha have written a fan-letter to Tokio Hotel. A fan-letter, which almost made world record history. It’s just a shame that Bill & Co. don’t want to have it.
Whoever enters Jennifer’s room knows straight away for which pop band her heart beats - Whether it’s the bright orange clock with Bill Kaulitz on the dial, the affectionately spread fan scarf over on the sofa or both the picture frames of Bill and Tom which watch Jennifer at work on the computer right and left of the desk. The internationally successful East German band has a place everywhere in this “Tokio Hotel”. Even so, her most extreme fan phase is behind the Wohlen resident. She says: “Before, all the walls were taped with posters of Tokio Hotel.”
Not until you take a second glance at the back part of her room, under the slanted roof, do you truly understand how great the now-18-year-old’s passion for Tokio Hotel must be, or at least was. There, you’d find probably the longest fan-letter in Switzerland: An unbelievable 12-kilometer-letter lies there, distributed across a total of nine almost inconspicuous paper piles. You don’t realize roughly how long this letter really is until Jennifer spreads out some of the sheets admiring Tokio Hotel in writing on the floor. Jennifer, her sister Samantha, as well as 10-15 helpers wrote the letter together.
“The father’s idea”
“We began it on April 30th 2006 and it was finished about half a year later,” explains Jennifer. And yet, it’s not her first letter which could cover entire streets. Both sisters had already previously composed literary post to Bill & Co. At that time, they ‘only’ reached 1.4 km. “But after that brought nothing, my father said, ‘then write another 12 kilometers’. We don’t want to stop until we meet the boys,” reasons Jennifer of her enthusiasm for writing. Other than that, they want to break the world record. But, “we had to have written 13 kilometers. There already is a 12-kilometer-letter to The Beatles”.
However, neither of them plans on continuing the letter. “The ideas aren’t there anymore,” says Jennifer, “but if it were demanded, we would do it,” she accepts with cunning smile.
Management are not interested about the letter
Although the girls had already contacted the management and the Tokio-boys’ German record companies multiple times, the response was always negative. “They said they’re not interested,” says Jennifer, “and the record companies didn’t associate with us again once.”
Of course, questioning what the four German boys who conquered the world of teenagers worldwide should do with 12,000 meters of poems, photo-collages and text is justified. But Jennifer is realistic enough to know that Bill & Co. would never read the whole letter through. Therefore, it’s also up to them “to set an example” in just the first line, so that Tokio Hotel recognize that their fans in German Switzerland support them.
Deadline July 2008
Both sisters still want to make one last attempt to finally submit the letter to the band on the occasion of Tokio Hotel’s concert in Geneva this year. And if it goes badly again? “Then we might throw them away or burn them. After all, the postage costs would be much too high if we were to send the entire letter by post,” reckons Jennifer resignedly. It would be a real shame if this affectionate work of art from Wohlen was to be wasted.
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