(April, 2008)

Tom: “15 minutes after the surgery, Bill was brought to the room in wheelchair to wake up from the anesthetics“, explains Bill’s twin brother Tom [18]. “Shortly after that I went to see him with my parents. Man, the poor boy looked so lost and confused. He was so out of it.”

Was Bill conscious after the surgery?

Tom: “Well, not really. Because of the after effects of the anesthetics for example, Bill can’t remember the wheelchair or the switch of rooms.”

How do you communicate with your brother now?

Tom: “The tiny notes and little school chalkboard writings didn’t last long. Bill a very communicative person; he normally talks all day long with no dot and comma. Notes and chalkboards aren’t enough for that. Since yesterday he has been running around the apartment with a huge writing book and that book is almost full.”

Fans have sent him endlessly long get well letters and a vaporizer.

Tom: “There was even a neck brace. Someone probably misunderstood what type of operation, but Billi still thought it was totally cute.”

(March, 2008)

Hi everyone, it’s Tom again!
As most of you’ve probably heard, we had to cancel the rest of our “1000 Hotels European Tour” because Bill is having major problems with his vocal chords and has to undergo surgery. Having to do that has been a big let down for all of us — especially for Bill. We are all back in Germany, and of course, I returned directly with Bill to support him and be there if he needs me.

Bill has to see the doctor several times per day, but be assured he has the best doctors in Germany. We are talking about so many things these days ’cause all of this is really scary. But most of all we feel so sorry that we had to disappoint you guys with cancelling the rest of the tour. We feel like we let everybody down. Bill especially feels really bad about this, and I try to reassure him that it’s nobody’s fault.

So me and the boys want you to know that we’re doing everything we can to get back on stage and see you all as soon as possible….that’ll be soooo awesome! We hope it won’t take too long. Thanks for all the “get well” wishes you guys have been sending us — it’s amazing to get such great support from all our fans out there. Take care and thanks again for your unbelievable support! Oh yeah, feel free to leave a comment here…Bill will check them out as soon as he feels a little better.

Tom

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE AT HOME AFTER SUCH A LONG TIME WITHOUT A BREAK?

Tom: We’ve been on the road for years and suddenly you’re at home all day long. It is a drastic change. You’re falling into a hole and suddenly you miss being on the road. And Bill misses being able to sing. Bill is not only singing on stage and in the studio; usually he is singing the whole day at home. No wonder his voice is stricken. Now he is quiet – I think the silence is comfortable.

IS BILL IN PAIN? HOW ARE YOU CHEERING HIM UP?

Tom: Well, I think he’s not in pain. Well, and if he were, he couldn’t complain anyway because he has no voice. Usually Bill is talking non-stop, this can really get on your nerves. At the moment I have the most relaxed time of my whole life. If someone is talking, it is me. And Bill can’t do anything against it. That is great. Yesterday he wrote “Shut your f***in’ mouth!” with his eyeliner on a sheet of paper. If I’m getting on Bill’s nerves he holds up this note.

WILL YOU GO WITH BILL TO THE HOSPITAL? HOW LONG DOES HE HAVE TO STAY?

Tom: Bill wants to stay in the hospital as short as possible. Likely, he can’t stand to stay there longer than 1-2 days. I’m going with him and stay by his side the whole time, for sure. Our family, the closest friends, Georg and Gustav and our crew will visit him too, of course.
What are your drummer Gustav and your bassist Georg doing at the moment?
Well, for them it will be like always. What are they supposed to do? They are doing nothing, like always *lol* Georg is likely playing with himself the whole day, as always and Gustav is riding his bycicle. Nah, to be honest, I think we’re all the same. Because of this forced break we can calm down. Maybe this is not so bad.

ARE YOU AFRAID THAT TOKIO HOTEL WON’T SOUND THE SAME AFTER THE SURGERY? IS BILL SCARED THAT HIS VOICE WILL SOUND HIGHER OR DEEPER AFTER THE SURGERY?

Tom: To be honest we really are f**in’ scared. Both of us. If so, Bill already gave me signs that I have to sing. Well, Phil Collins also was a drummer before he started singing.

SO YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN? YOUR FANS ARE ALSO VERY CONCERNED. tHERE ARE A LOT OF GIFT FOR BILL AREN’T THERE?

Tom: It is really incredible and absolutely cute what the fans are doing. Bill is getting showered with fan-presents at the moment. Most of them got inspired by Bill’s throat. He is perfectly equipped for the next skiing trip. He got a lot of scarves and shawls. And we can also open an apothecary. Countless of drops, multi-vitamin pills, vitmaine C, zinc and also many homeopathic like stuff which will make your immune system more stable. If you take it all at once you maybe have a very nice trip.

(March, 2008)

Tom, your brother will have his operation either today or tomorrow, how does Bill spend his days at home?

Tom: Bill lies in bed most of the time and watches videos. We threw him a lot of/buried him under DVDs so he´ll shut up. Right now he´s watching the entire series of Prison Break, he get´s totally into it. Now and they he shuffles to the refrigerator in his trainings outfit and get´s himself something to eat. When he sits himself in front of the TV with a can of beer, to watch football (I assume), then I am truly proud of my little brother. I think, he can really become something, he´s taking it slow.

Nice brother, Tom cooks for the sick.

Who cooks for Bill?

Tom: Right now I cook him spaghetti with my special sauce every day. The sauce is in all modesty absolutely the best. Bill is probably sick of it, but without his voice it´s hard for him to complain. Although he should be quite quiet even with his voice. Bill is actually a worse cook than I am.  Now and then Mom comes to visit, then you can really tell Bill is excited, when she takes over the cooking.