Band history
Identical twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz (born on 1 September 1989) have been making music since childhood. They were musically promoted by their stepfather, who is also a musician, although less active. In early 2001, in their hometown of Magdeburg, they met Gustav Schäfer (8 September 1988) and Georg Listing (31 March 1987), with whom they formed the band Devilish. From 2001 onwards, they played in talent shows and small concerts. After Bill Kaulitz' participation in a children's Star Search in 2003 (which he lost in the quarter-final), he was discovered by music executive Peter Hoffmann. In the end, Devilish changed their name to Tokio Hotel ("Tokio", the German language spelling of the large and lively city Tokyo, Japan, which they love, and "Hotel", due to their constant touring and sleeping in hotels), and Sony BMG took them under contract. Hoffmann hired David Jost and Pat Benzner into the team of creators and authors, and had them give the children instruction on songwriting and instrument playing. Shortly before publication of the first album, Sony terminated their contract. In 2005, Universal Music Group took Tokio Hotel under contract and developed a marketing plan.
Career
Their first single, "Durch den Monsun" ("Through the Monsoon"), quickly gained popularity after its release, appearing on the German music charts at #15 on 20 August 2005 and reaching #1 on 26 August 2005; it reached #1 on the Austrian music charts as well. Their second single was "Schrei" ("Scream"), which climbed to #5 on the German charts. They released their debut album, Schrei, on 19 September 2005; the lead singer, Bill Kaulitz, wrote most of the songs. In early 2006, their third single, "Rette Mich" ("Rescue Me"), was released; it reached #1.
Their first single off their latest album "Zimmer 483" ("Room 483"), called "Übers Ende der Welt" (later released in English under the name "Ready Set Go"), was released on 26 January 2007 and quickly reached #1. The "Zimmer 483" album was released on 28 February 2007. A deluxe edition of the album, containing a DVD, is also available. The Zimmer 483 tour was scheduled to start in March 2007, but was delayed by two weeks because the band members wished to have a new stage. Their second and last single from the album, "Spring Nicht" ("Don't Jump") was released on 7 April 2007. Tokio Hotel has quickly risen to the top of the charts, and their new album is predicted to be a success.
While their German CDs have never received official releases outside the German-speaking world, Tokio Hotel's first English album "Scream" was released on the 4 June 2007 in the rest of Europe. In Germany it was called "Room 483" in order to emphasise the continuity with their last German album "Zimmer 483". The album was originally going to be released in the United States as well but that decision was revoked and the release will now depend on the success of the album in the United Kingdom. The album consists of English versions of a selection of songs from their German language albums "Schrei" and "Zimmer 483". "Monsoon" was the first single from the album and is the English version of their very first single "Durch den Monsun". The first single from Zimmer 483, "Übers Ende der Welt" was recently released under the title of "Ready, Set, Go!" in English. A video for "Scream", the English version of their 2005 hit "Schrei", was also recorded.
Jörg Koshorst, A&R for the band at Universal earned the #15 spot in the World Top 100 A&R Chart at HitQuarters, for signing and introducing Tokio Hotel in numerous countries.
Tokio Hotel gave their first concert in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2007.
Currently, the band is scheduled to release a single of their hit "Ready Set Go" in the United Kingdom on 27 August 2007, with a special UK Edition of "Scream" (including new, unreleased tracks) to be released sometime in November
Awards
2005
• Comet: Best Newcomer 2005, Supercomet
• Bambi-Verleihung: Pop-National
• 1live-Krone: Best Newcomer
2006
• Echo: Best Newcomer
• Goldener Pinguin: Best Newcomer
• Radio Regenbogen Awards: Pop-National
• Steiger Award: Newcomer
• Bravo Otto: Superband 2005 Rock
• Bild Oscar: Music
• Ungarischer Bravo Otto: Best Band, Best foreign Newcomer
• Sold-out Award der Königpilsener Arena
• Ungarischer Leserpreis (Popcorn): Best foreign Newcomer
• Goldene Stimmgabel: Best German Popband
• World Music Award: Best selling German Act
2007
• Jan 2007: European Border Breakers Award (for the album "Schrei")
• Jan 2007: BZ-Kulturpreis: (Rock)
• Mar 2007: Echo: Best Music Video
• Apr 2007: Bravo - Goldener Otto: Superrockband
• May 2007: Viva Comet: Supercomet
• May 2007: Viva Comet: Best Band
• May 2007: Viva Comet: Best Music Video
Albums
• Schrei (2005)
• Schrei - so laut du kannst (2006)
• Zimmer 483 (2007)
• Scream (Room 483) (2007)
Singles
• Durch den Monsun (2005)
• Schrei (2005)
• Rette Mich (2006)
• Der Letzte Tag (2006)
• Übers Ende der Welt (2007)
• Spring Nicht (2007)
• Monsoon (2007)
Kaulitz, identical twins, were born on 1 September 1989, in Leipzig, German Democratic Republic. Tom is the elder by 10 minutes. Despite being identical twins, their appearances differ because of their radically different fashion styles.
They are popular German rock stars, best known for being in the band Tokio Hotel in which Bill sings lead vocals and Tom plays the guitar. The brothers also to do music and endorsement deals together.
Their parents, Simone and Jörg Kaulitz, divorced when the twins were 7 and Simone Kaulitz married to Gordon Trümper, the reason the twins are sometimes given the surname Kaulitz-Trümper. Since a very young age, the twins were heavily influenced in music, seeing as Gordon is the guitarist in a band himself.
Style
Bill is known for his rocker look. He often wears tight jeans, black jackets, rock band tees, and gothic jewellery. He has dyed his hair black with white-blonde streaks and styled it in a spiky, J-Rock style ever since he started singing. He also wears dark eyeliner. There is quite a lot of androgynous nature in his style.
Tom went for the rapper style. His look often consists of very baggy jeans, baggy shirts and jerseys, New Eras Hats, baseball caps, headbands, and dreadlocks.
Career
Bill and Tom had acted together in the German TV-film Verrückt nach dir, released in 1994, but their stepfather had a major musical influence on the boys, as he was in a band of his own. It was around this time that Tom began playing the guitar. Bill was writing lyrics while still in primary school. Encouraged by Trümper, the twins performed in several small shows.
In 2001, they met Georg Listing and Gustav Schäfer. They had similar tastes in music and formed a band together called 'Devilish’. The band played in small shows in bars and clubs. In 2003, the group was approached by music producer Peter Hoffmann after he discovered Bill on the German version of the popular American television show, Star Search, in which Bill lost in the quarter-finals.
The band signed with Universal Music in Hamburg, Germany soon after. At this point they changed the band's name to Tokio Hotel. Tokio Hotel became a popular band in many European countries. In 2006, the band re-released their first album Schrei as Schrei — so laut du kannst (Scream — as loud as you can) after Bill's voice fully matured. Their second studio release, Zimmer 483 (Room 483), was released on 23 February 2007. Later that year, the band released Scream, their first English-language album which was comprised of translations of songs from their first two CDs. The album was supposed to be sold overseas in the United States but that decision was revoked, as Tokio Hotel set on being recognized in the United Kingdom instead of the United States.
Since becoming famous through Tokio Hotel, Bill has also provided the voice for the title character in the German dub of the Luc Besson film, Arthur and the Minimoys.
Georg Listing (born 31 March 1987 in Halle, Germany) is the bassist and a co-founder of the German band Tokio Hotel. Georg has greyish/green eyes and brown hair. Georg's favorite bands are Green Day and Oasis, although his biggest bass playing influence is Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. His favorite song though, is Don't Phunk with My Heart by The Black Eyed Peas. The first concert he ever attended was Die Ärzte which he deeply enjoyed. His hobbies are music, sports and partying. Georg is the oldest member of the band.
Gustav Schäfer (born 8 September 1988) is the drummer of the German teen rock band Tokio Hotel. He was initially home-schooled before going on to study at the University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule). Gustav is 1,68m tall, has brown eyes and blond hair. He is allegedly known as the "clown" of the band, yet he is said to be quite profound. Gustav is a fan of Metallica, Slipknot and Joe Cocker. He uses Metallica drumsticks, produced by AHEAD.
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