HQ Scans by Rock_tale
Articles - Translation by Mischa@THCN
We know how tons of fans desperately wanna scream "Tokio Hotel, I love you!" So we get an exclusive interview for you guys. After the photo shooting and interview, the conclusion has been drawn that Tokio Hotel is sooooo freaking unbelievably hot that it's not really hard to understand why they've become the most successful rock symbol of contemporary Germany.
Q: Welcome to Taiwan. It's such a pleasure to do the exclusive interview with you for our countless readers. Comparing with Taiwanese music, the multiple development of German music is fully manifested in different music field for a very long time. Can you tell us the current status of German music industry? How can those young band members find their way to stand out?
A: Oh, in Germany, it's extremely hard for young band members to succeed. Foreign music (especially American artists) has dominated the German charts for ever, thus there's barely any chance for new bands. You have to get all the luck to have only a possibility to make a name. What's worth mentioning is that it's always hard for German bands to export to other countries.
Q: TH has become a big shot throughout the world. What patterns would you use to work with your band members?
A: All 4 of us live in north Germany, so it's very convenient to communicate when writing songs. Most of the songs and lyrics are created by Bill and Tom, followed by demo making in their home studio. That's pretty much it.
Q: Of course, now you don't have to worry about finding fans, but what about the start? Can you talk about things happened when you were performing in Magdeburg, the small town in east Germany?
A: At the beginning, we had fixed performances at every weekend. We were really young, so we enjoyed a life where making music was our job. What mattered was that we got to keep away from teachers and parents. We only made a little money, but it was still a special life.
Q: It seems like popular culture is somewhat difficult to develop in where you grow up. You started from a place like that, and now become this fabulous band admired by screaming people. What's the biggest hindrance through all the way?
A: After getting more and more famous, the biggest problem is to maintain a private life. You simply can't live freely as normal people do, such as enjoying the pleasure of going shopping. Apart from that, you spend most of your time on the band: performing, publicizing, and are constant on the go. Personal time becomes less and less.
Q: About the name of the band, from Black Question Mark to Devilish, and then Tokio Hotel, can you share with us the stories about those 3 names?
A: Haha, that's funny, you even know the name Black Question Mark, the one we came up with when we were 7! We were too young to be honest with you, and we didn't think that much. Just looking up in the dictionary, and we thought Black Question Mark was cool, so we made it the name of the band. With more and more performances after 10 years old, we told ourselves that we needed a more appropiate name. Then the 4 of us finally founded the band, we thought we needed a serious name, so we changed it into Devilish. At last, the name was changed to Tokio Hotel, mostly because we like Tokyo, and we often stay in hotels since so many performances. That's why Tokio Hotel.
Q: You travel all around the world. Which place or certain concert are you impressed the most? For example, fan actions or the enthusiasm you felt. And why?
A: Frankly, fans in most places are enthusiastic, which surprises us. If you have to ask, during the European tour, there was a group of hardcore fans who showed at every concert in every country and district, and they were always in the front row. We are truly impressed and moved by them.
Q: Having so much stage experiences, is there any awkward experience when you're performing on the stage?
A: Haha, a lot. Once in a concert, it just started, and i was walking on the path and singing, but carelessly fell off the stage. And there was this other time, we held a concert in a small place, so the facilities were not so perfect. The path cracked and hit a fan's eye. And once in France, there was a outdoor concert, Bill climbed onto a several-foot-high iron stand to perform and carelessly fell off. There're lots of awkward things like that when doing a live show.
Q: Talk about some other interests or hobbies besides music.
A: Since most of our time is occupied by work, we simply sleep when we have spare time. Generally speaking, we're all lazy, and we don't get enough sleep as a rule. So we really just sleep. Besides that? Because we all live together, we buy many DVDs and watch them together. Of course, we also spend a lot of time writing songs. Oh, Tom has a really nice sports car and he likes driving fast. In Germany, there's usually no speed limit in autobahns. What Tom is interested in is drag racing.
Q: If you can collaborate with any person (or group), past and present, at home and abroad, to do one thing, who would you choose and what would you do?
A: Aerosmith
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Glam Rock Soul
Never stops until you see the end...
Tokio Hotel, Germany's most attention gained mega rock band through 20 years, has crossed half the planet and finally set foot in Taiwan! The vague and sluggish voice with an accelerating power of rock has raised a flamboyant wind in Europe within just 4 years and extended straight to the world stage. Put on your AKG earphones, get immersed in the long-lasting sound, and feel the silent roar of the new age!
Humanoid is the masterpiece of German band ascending the world stage through 20 years. Tokio Hotel has more than 10 platinum albums, 4 number one singles, sold out European tours, and they won Best New Artist at 2008 MTV EMAs. In the producing process of this album, Tokio Hotel consistently challenged themselves, they tried out many possibilities with a spirit of experimenting. The album was recorded in Hamburg, Miami and L.A. Tom, who loves making fun of his brother, smiled,"Bill was driving everyone crazy. He's always coming up with stuff even if when we still got other things unfinished in hand. Other than that, we didn't have any boundries, we tried out many new musical instruments."
Comparing with old albums, Humanoid is more electronical. What the first single Automatic wants to seek is the relation between the emotion that people confront everyday and the convenience in life. Bill asked,"Imagine, how many things that happen everyday are actually automatic? Automatic doors open automatically, cars shift gears automatically, cameras focus automatically...These things sound good and convenient, but when they're applied in interpersonal relationship (e.g. affection), it stops sounding so good. Love has to come from the bottom of one's heart, and it has to be genuine. Cold automation doesn't work." This is why people admire them.
Humanoid is produced by David Jost, who has helped Tokio Hotel get to where they are now. With the use of synthesizer, Tokio Hotel wholeheartedly announce the allegation of the new generation. Having an infinite power to make music, a stormy alternative band has born!
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Guitarist: Tom Kaulitz Trümper
B-day: 1989/9/1
B-place: Leipzig, Germany
Horoscope: Virgo
Height: 183
Favorite Band/Artist at This Moment: Samy Deluxe
First Album You Bought: Aerosmith
Wish You Could...: Meet with Olsen Twins and Angelina Jolie
Motto: Not necessary, cause i'll never follow it.
Vocalist: Bill Kaulitz Trümper
B-day: 1989/9/1
B-place: Leipzig, Germany
Horoscope: Virgo
Height: 188
Favorite Band/Artist at This Moment: Green Day, Coldplay, Keane, Nena, David Bowie
First Album You Bought: Nena
Wish You Could...: Have infinite freedom and a life filled with music for good
Motto: Everyday is a different day.
Drummer: Gustav Klaus Wolfgang Schafer
B-day: 1988/9/8
B-place: Magdeburg, Germany
Horoscope: Virgo
Height: 170
Favorite Band/Artist at This Moment: Metallica
First Album You Bought: Black Album by Metallica
Wish You Could...: Eat all the things!
Motto: Everything will change.
Bassist: Georg Moritz Hagen Listing
B-day: 1987/3/31
B-Place: Halle, Germany
Horoscope: Aries
Height: 178
Favorite Band/Artist at This Moment: Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard
First Album You Bought: Definitely Maybe by Oasis
Wish You Could...: Spend more time with my buddies and see the world.
Motto: To be honest with you, my motto changes everyday.
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A Legend Starting from A Small Town in Germany
Tokio Hotel's story begins in Leipzig. Around 2 weeks before the Berlin wall was torn down, the twins Bill and Tom was born in Sept.1, 1989. They got in touch with music at a very young age because of their stepfather. They had their own ideas, and by making enough effort, they were gradually known around Magdeburg. German Universal noticed their talent. After listening to their demo, the company immediately signed the contract. Tokio Hotel has lived up to the high expectation and become the most successful artist throughout 20 years.
Realizing The Dream Step by Step
A few months after releasing the first album Schrei, other European countries began to notice the band. They put on an amazing performance at 2007 MTV EMAs and won that year's Best International Artist! Tokio Hotel also won Best New Artist at 2008 MTV VMAs. Devilish was officially changed to Tokio Hotel after they joined German Universal. But they have never been to Tokyo despite the name. Choosing Tokio is simply because "it sounds cooler than all the cities in Germany", Tom joked,"If we call it Berlin Hotel, it won't sound so cool, will it?"
Twins Cross Over in Fashion
Tom and Bill have a natural gift in terms of dressing and fashion. Comparing with Tom's hip-hop style, Bill's fashion-forward style attracts more attention in the fashion world. This legendary twins were not only on the cover of German version of GQ, the fashion magazine, but also invited to the Milan fashion week to see Dsquared's show, whose designers happen to be an other famous twins. Marked with crazy hairdo and fantastic guyliners, Bill even gave his first runway show to Dsquared. As for designers they like, the twins were unanimous in accolading the fashion king Karl Lagerfeld. Bill praised Lagerfeld as a creating genius.
The Last Stop in Asia - Taiwan
Western music market in Taiwan is mostly taken by British and American singers, but Tokio Hotel has magically gained a huge fan base through past few years without any publicizing. There're even fans opening blogs for their icons voluntarily. Tokio Hotel arrived in Taiwan in May.2 and arose a big chaos, and broke the western artists' picking up record. We brought the twins snacks and sheets with flowers on them, which are very Taiwanese and symbolic. Those hardcore fans also shot a vedio and made Tokio Hotel feel Taiwanese's hospitality!
The record company specifically asked 2 twin sisters and 2 boys to wear 4 T-shirts, and each T-shirt has 1 out of 4 Chinese equivalents to Tokio Hotel on it.
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Hang Tokio Hotel on The Wall
Of course, we know many fans are envious that we can get so close to Tokio Hotel, afterall, they're breath taking. But Funs Want will never forget to work in the interest of fans. You will get the chance to have their poster as long as you write down your favorite song in
Humanoid within this month and mail it to us.
Wanna see Tokio Hotel the second you open your eyes every morning? Just answer us.
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