Birth Name: Devilish (later changed to “Tokio Hotel”)
Birth Date: 2003
Birth Place: Magdeburg, Germany
Members
– Lead Vocals: Bill Kaulitz
– Guitar: Tom Kaulitz
– Bass Guitar: Georg Listing
– Drums: Gustav Schafer
Relatively young age by the time they were famous, the members of the band started their career long before reaching double digits in their age. Twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz (both born September 1, 1989) directed their interest in music while still a couple of 9-years-olds. Bill scribbling notes and Tom grabbing guitar, they soon found themselves in several talent shows and try-outs. During a show in 2001, they met drummer Gustav Schafer (born September 8, 1988) and bassist George Listing (born March 31, 1987) whom they find having similar musical direction. The four of them started a band named Devilish which was soon changed to Tokio Hotel after they met music producer Peter Hoffmann in 2003. Signed under Sony BMG, the band earned valuable experience by working with engineers such as David Jost, Dave Roth and Pat Bezner. However, before the band took a full flight of their career, Sony terminated the contract (Big mistake) and the band moved on being the artist under Universal Music Studio in 2005.
Before the release of the debut album, they tasted the water by dropping ‘Durch den Monsun’ or ‘Through the Monsoon’ in English. Surprisingly it became an instant hit in German by peaking at #1 in the local chart. The popularity soon spread to Austria where the band also created a base of loyal fans who helped the single to top the country’s chart. Striking while the iron is hot, the band released the more energetic piece ‘Schrei’ (Scream) to an even warmer reception. By the time the debut album ‘Schrei’ was put on shelves in September 2005, the band was already a priceless commodity to their native country, German. ‘Schrei’ eventually gained platinum through worldwide sale and marked their first step toward international popularity. During summer that year, they continuously toured nationwide in promotion of the album, performing in shows that drew more than 75,000 people. While Bill’s voice went through puberty change, they re-recorded some tracks in the original album to be made available in the 2006 re-release version called ‘Schrei – So Laut du Kannst’ (Scream – as Loud as You Can).
The sophomore album was prepared immediately and recorded throughout 2006 before finalized in February 2007 under the title ‘Zimmer 483’ (Room 483). The first single from the album ‘Ubers Ende der Welt’ (Ready, Set, Go!) quickly became the talk of the town and peaked at the top five positions of singles chart in several European countries like France, Austria, Poland and Switzerland. Once there was a need to spread their wings, the band released their first English album, ‘Scream’ in June 2007 to be distributed in Europe. Marketing plan in U.K. was also mapped with their first concert dating June 19 that year and a U.K. edition release of ‘Scream’ that includes new and unreleased tracks released in 2008. In 2007, they started to invade America by dropping ‘Scream’ as the first single and allowing their video for ‘Ready, Set, Go!’ to be played on International Music Feed. “It’s always been a dream of ours to make it in the States,” said Bill. “We grew up listening to American bands like Metallica, Green Day and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. We wanted to get a chance to do what they do.”
No one in the world is more prepared to bask in the glow of American rock stardom than the members of Tokio Hotel. Humanoid is only their second U.S. release, the follow up to 2008’s Scream, but to millions of fans across the globe, they’re already icons.
“Things are just starting for us in the US,” says Bill Kaulitz, the band’s front man, the leader of a worldwide army of black leather- and eyeliner-clad devotees. “What we’ve already experienced has been just great, and we’re looking forward to it starting again.”
The biggest act to come out of Germany in 20 years, Tokio Hotel has gone 10x platinum, scored four No. 1 singles and sold out arenas and stadiums across Europe. They scored a Best New Artist VMA from MTV in 2008.
Their rocket to success launched in 2001 when Bill and his twin brother Tom — the band’s hip-hop-tinged, dreadlocked guitarist — formed the band along with bassist Georg Listing, now 22, and drummer Gustav Schafer, now 21. They started at age 10 performing for small crowds around their hometown, Magdeburg, a salt-mining village that was formerly part of East Germany.
Growing up in one of the most dismal parts of Germany, Bill and Tom were different from their classmates, almost alien. They were the underdogs. The twins knew that they had to break out of there.
Tom had started fooling around with a guitar at age 7 and at 13 together with an already spiky-haired Bill, they caught the attention of some of Europe’s best-known producers (including Humanoid producer David Jost) and solidified their heartfelt pop-rock formula.
Originally called Devlish, they changed their name before releasing their first German-language record, Schrei (Scream in English). By 2005, they embarked on what would be the most successful debut tour of Germany by a new artist. In 2007, they released their second German record, Zimmer 483 (Room 483 in English), and were selling out monster European arena shows in minutes.
Like wildfire, the band gained the attention of an entire generation. In France, the group’s popularity exploded. They went from playing small club gigs for 500 to performing at the foot of the Eiffel Tower for a crowd of 500,000 screaming fans phonetically belting out the words to Tokio Hotel’s German hits. Soon after they made a history by becoming the first German band to score a #1 hit on the Israeli radio charts.
In 2008, after a grueling 43 shows, Bill endured surgery for cysts on his vocal cords but was back on the road performing around the world within two months, shortly after Scream was released for the first time in the U.S. in 2008.
Humanoid is packed with much of the same emotion that has connected with multitudes of young fans. And in this age of Rock Band and Guitar Hero, the record is full of opportunities for audience participation.
The first single, “Automatic” is a metallic anthem with layered, buzzing guitars, stomping percussion, and a falsetto chorus made to be belted out by a stadium full of people. “World Behind My Wall” redefines the power ballad with depth, introspection, musical confidence and an irresistible sing-along chorus.
While recording this time around, though, the band was in its most experimental phase to date. They tracked songs in Hamburg, Miami, and L.A. “Bill drove us all crazy, constantly coming in with things, even though the old songs weren’t finished yet,” says Tom, who’s fond of frequently ribbing his brother. “Apart from that, we just didn’t limit ourselves, and we used new instruments.”
There are more electronic sounds on Humanoid. The first single “Automatic” explores the relationships between every day emotions and every day conveniences.
“How many things happen automatically every day?” Bill asks. “The door opens and closes automatically, shifting gears in a car; a camera lens — all of those are always positive things, but when the mechanical quality of the automatic meets human things like love, then suddenly it becomes extremely negative. Love has to be spontaneous and genuine, never automatic and cold.Ӏ That’s the theme that moves people.
Along with the new sounds, new subjects, new live show, and even Bill’s new style, longtime fans will still find the constant connection to Tokio Hotel’s raw honesty and emotion.
“We love our fans because they are the loudest of all and do such crazy things,” Bill says. “They always support us, no matter what has happened, and a lot has happened.”
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Since the release of the “Durch den Monsun” single in 2005,
Tokio Hotel have gone on to win many awards in various categories and countries, und continue to do so!
2005
01. Comet Awards: “Best Newcomer”, Germany
02. Comet Awards: “Super Comet”, Germany
03. Eins Live Krone: “Best Newcomer”, Germany
04. Bambi Awards: “Best Pop National Act”, Germany
05. Golden Penguin: “Best Single”, Österreich
06. Golden Penguin: “Best Pop/Rock Band 2005”, Österreich
2006
07. ECHO Awards: “Best Newcomer”, Germany
08. Steiger Awards: “Best Newcomer”, Germany
09. BRAVO Golden Otto: “Best Band Rock”, Germany
10. Bild Osgar Awards: “Music Award”, Germany
11. Goldene Stimmgabel Awards: “Best German Popband”, Germany
12. Eins Live Krone: “Best Liveact”, Germany
13. Radio Regenbogen Awards: “Pop National 2005”, Germany
14. Sold-out-Award of Königpilsen Arena: “Ausverkaufte Tourhalle”, Germany
15. World Music Awards: “Best-Selling German Act”
16. Comet Ungarn: “Best Foreign Band”, Ungarn
17. Comet Ungarn: “Best Foreign Newcomer”, Ungarn
18. Hungarian Popcorn Awards: “Best Newcomer International”, Ungarn
19. Hungarian Bravo Otto: “Best Newcomer”, Ungarn
20. Hungarian Bravo Otto: “Best Band International”, Ungarn
21. MTV France: “Best Rock Band”, Frankreich
22. Golden Penguin: “Album Of The Year”, Österreich
23. Golden Penguin: “Band Of The Year”, Österreich
24. Golden Penguin: “Song Of The Year – “Der Letzte Tag”, Österreich
25. Bayerischer Musiklöwe, Germany
2007
26. European Border Breakers Award, Europa
27. BZ-Kulturpreis Awards: “Rock Award”, Germany
28. ECHO Awards: “Best Video National”, Germany
29. BRAVO Golden Otto: “Superband Rock”, Germany
30. Comet Awards: “Best Video”, Germany
31. Comet Awards: “Best Band”, Germany
32. Comet Awards: “Supercomet’, Germany
33. Goldene Stimmgabel Awards: “Best Band”, Germany
34. DMMA: “Most Popular Leading Website”, Europa
35. Festivalbar in Italien: “Digital Prize”, Italien
36. TMF Awards Belgien: “Best Pop International”, Belgien
37. TMF Awards Belgien: “Best New Act International”, Belgien
38. TMF Awards Belgien: “Best Album International”, Belgien
39. TMF Awards Belgien: “Best Video International”, Belgien
40. MTV European Music Awards: “Inter Act”, Europa
41. Kids Choice Award Italien: “Best Band International”, Italien
2008
42. Rock Björnen: “Best International Act”, Schweden
43. NRJ Award: “Beste Band/ Bestes Duo International”, Frankreich
44. Goldene Kamera: “Beste Musik National”, Germany
45. ECHO: “Bestes Video National “Spring Nicht”, Germany
46. EMMA: “Best International Act”, Finnland
47. Disney Channel Kids Awards Italy: “Best International Act”, Italien
48. Holländischer Hitkrant Award: “Hottest Hunk”, Niederlande
49. Holländischer Hitkrant Award: “Best Concert”, Niederlande
52. Holländischer Hitkrant Award: “Song That Stays In Your Head “Monsoon”, Niederlande
52. Holländischer Hitkrant Award: “Best Mood “Monsoon”, Niederlande
53. BRAVO Golden Otto: “Beste Band Rock”, Germany
54. BRAVO Golden Otto: “Silberner Otto”, Germany
55. TRL Awards Italien: “Best Band”, Italien
56. TRL Awards Italien: “Best No.1 “Monsoon”, Italien
57. Comet 2008: “Bester Live Act”, Germany
58. Comet 2008: “Beste Band”, Germany
59. Comet 2008: “Bestes Video”, Germany
60. Comet 2008: “Super Comet”, Germany
61. MTV Video Music Award: “Best New Artist”, USA
62. MTV Latin Awards: “Song des Jahres”, Latein Amerika
63. MTV Latin Awards: “Best Newcomer”, Lateinamerika
64. MTV Latin Awards: “Best Fanclub – Venezuela”, Lateinamerika
65. MTV Latin Awards: “Best Ringtone”, Lateinamerika
66. MTV Europe Music Award: “Best Headliner”, Europa
67. TMF Awards Belgien: “Best Male International”, Belgien
68. TMF Awards Belgien: “Best Video International Tokio Hotel – Don’t Jump”, Belgien
2009
69. TRL Award Italien, Italien
70. Comet 2009: “Bester Online Star”, Germany
71. Bayerischer Musiklöwe, Germany
72. MTV Europe Music Award: “Best Group”, Europa
73. Jugendpreis Fernlernen 2009 (Bill und Tom Kaulitz), Germany
74. BRAVO Golden Otto: “Superband”, Germany
75. Audi Generation Award: “International”, Germany
76. Telehit Award: “Best International Rock Band”, Latein Amerika
77. Select Live Awards 2009: “Best International Newbies”, Neu Seeland
78. Destino Rock: “Best Fanclub”, Spanien
2010
79. NRJ Music Awards: “Best Group international”, Frankreich
80. Goldener Pinguin: “Band des Jahres”, Österreich
81. Goldener Pinguin: “Album des Jahres”, Österreich
82. Bravoora Award: “Band des Jahres 2009”, Polen
83. Emma Award: “Best International Act”, Finnland
84. Radio Regenbogen Award: “Band international 2009”, Germany
85. Walk of Fame der König-Pilsener-Arena für 33.000 verkaufte Tickets, Germany
86. Kids Choice Award: “Lieblings-Musikstar”, Germany
87. Deutscher Multimedia Award für tokiohotel.de, Germany
88. Comet 2010: “Bester Liveact”, Germany
89. Rock Björnen: “Best Song international”, Schweden
90. Rock Björnen: “Best Concert of the year”, Schweden
91. MTV Europe Music Award: “Best World Stage Live Performance 2010”
92. CMA Awards: “Best Band National”, Germany
93. CMA Awards: “Best Single National – World Behind My Wall”, Germany
2011
94. Bravoora Awards: “Band of the Year”, Poland
95. Bravoora Awards: “Star of the 20th Anniversary”, Poland
96. MTV O Music Awards: “Best Fan Army”, USA
97. MTV Video Music Awards Japan: “Best Rock Video”, Japan