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Tokio Hotel is a German rock band made up of four boys (or should I say, men?) from Madgeburg, Germany. They are Bill Kaulitz, Tom Kaulitz, Georg Listing and Gustav Schäfer. The band originally formed in 2001 when Bill and Tom were 12, Gustav was 13 and Georg was 14. They formed under the name 'Devilish' and began playing small concerts for five-ten people.
In 2003, Bill Kaulitz participated in a children's Star Search program (he lost in the quarter-final) and he was descovered by music producer Peter Hoffman. After a while, the band changed their name to Tokio Hotel. The band consider themselves as ''innies'', that is, they love big cities and hate the countryside. They also love the city Tokyo, famous for its bright lights and bustling lifestyle. They decided, therefore, that the first part of the name should be Tokio (the German spelling of Tokyo). The 'Hotel' part came about because the band were spending so much time in hotels, it was part of their everyday lifestyle.
After being discovered by Hoffman, Sony BMG took them under contract. Hoffman hired David Jost and Pat Benzner to help the children (as that is what they basically where still at the time) with their songwriting and instrument playing. However, shortly before their first album was produced, Sony terminated their contract. However, this was not a problem as in 2005, Universal Music Group took Tokio Hotel under contract.
The first single the band released was “Durch Den Monsun” (Through the Monsoon) in 2005. This song became increasingly popular throughout German, appearing on the German official Media Control single charts at #15 on 20th August 2005. It eventually reached #1 on 26th August 2005. It also reached #1 on the Austrian music charts as well. The second single they released was “Schrei” (Scream). This reached #5 in the German charts. Their debut was aptly titled “Schrei” and was released on the 19th September 2005. The album later received a platinum certification. All songs on this album were written and composed by Bill Kaulitz (despite what some horrid people say!) along with David Jost, Pat Benzer, Dave Roth and Peter Hoffman.
In 2006, Tokio Hotel released their third and fourth singles, “Rette Mich” Rescue Me) and "Der Letzte Tag” (Final Day). Both of these songs also reached #1 in the German charts. The next single they released was called “Übers Ende Der Welt” (Roughly translated “Over the end of the world”. This was released in English as “Ready Set Go.). This song came from their second album “Zimmer 483” (Room 483) and was released on the 26th of January 2007 quickly reaching #1. The album itself was released on 28th February 2007. A deluxe edition of the album containing a DVD also became available. Regarding why the boys called their second album Zimmer 483, the say it is because it was in room 483(in some hotel – never specified which) where they wrote the first song for this album.
The second single from this album, “Spring Nicht” (Don’t Jump) was released on 7th April 2007. After the released of the album “Zimmer 483”, they went on a tour which was scheduled to start in March 2007, the Zimmer 483 tour (aptly named :D). They delayed this tour by two weeks however, because the band members wanted to have a new stage.
The latest single they released is the third one from the album and is called “An Deiner Seite (Ich Bin Da)” (By your side, I am here) was released very recently, on the 16th of November. This was released with a video and with a new song on the B side of it called “1000 Meere” (1000 Seas) which they have just made a video for (it’s an amazing video really!)
Tokio Hotel’s German CDs were never officially released outside the German-speaking world (that is, it was basically only released in places like Germany, Austria, Holland and such). On 4th June 2007, however, they released their first English album, “Scream” all over Europe. In Germany, this album was released as “Room 483” in order to emphasize the continuity with their last German album “Zimmer 483”. The album is made up of English version of a variety of songs from their German albums “Schrei” And “Zimmer 483”. “Monsoon”, the English version of “Durch Den Monsun” was the first single to be released followed by “Ready, Set, Go!” (Übers Ende Der Welt).
The first concert Tokio Hotel gave in the UK was on the 19th of June 2007. Popular music magazine Kerrang! reviewed one of their concerts, sadly, they only gave them two Ks (unjustly so in my opinion as Tokio Hotel aren’t washed out and too much hyper over nothing…the bastards). “Ready, Set, Go!” was released in the UK as the band’s first single on 27th June 2007 but only reached #77 in the Singles Chart unfortunately, but I guess that’s what happens in a nation that prefers Amy Winehouse and Rhianna o.O.
Tokio Hotel released their first US single on 11th September 2007. The single is only available at Hot Topic (*sigh*) and contains the tracks “Scream” and “Ready, Set, Go!”. This single, as well as an article on the International Music Feed’s website tells fans to look for the “Scream” Album available in the USA sometime in 2008. As recently as 10th October 2007, the music video for ‘Ready, Set, Go!” has played on the American television channel the International Music Feed. Their second US single 'Scream America' was released on 11 December 2007. The single contains the track "Scream" and a remix of "Ready, Set, Go!" by AFI's Jade Puget. It has also been announced that the "Scream" album will be released in America on the 15th of April 2008.
Throughout February Tokio Hotel have been performing in America. Their last concert was last night (19th) and soon they'll be heading home again before jetting off to start their 1000 Hotels tour throughout Europe. Check the [News] page to find out more about both their upcoming European tour and their American tour.
Tokio Hotel have filmed videos for their most popular songs. The first was a video for “Durch Den Monsun” followed by one for “Schrei” and “Rette Mich”. They also have videos for “Übers Ende Der Welt”, "Der Letzte Tag", “Spring Nicht” and “1000 Meere“. A video for “Monsoon” has been released and one for “Scream” has been filmed but still hasn’t been released yet.
The following are the awards Tokio Hotel have won since they released their first single in 2005.
2006 Echo:"Best Newcomer" Golden Pinguin:"Best Newcomer" Radio Regenbogen Awards:"Pop-National" Steiger Award:"Newcomer"
2007 Jan: European Border Breakers Award (for the album "Schrei" Jan: BZ-Kulturpreis: "Rock" Mar: Echo: "Best Music Video" Apr: Bravo-Golderner Otto:"Superrockband" May: Viva Comet: "Supercomet" May: Viva Comet: "Best Band" May: Viva Comet: "Best Music Band" Jul: Jabra Music:"Die Beste Band (The Best Band)" Sep: Festivalbar:"Premio Digital" Sep: Goldene Stimmgabel: "Best Rock International" Oct: Belgian TMF awards:"Best Video" Oct: Belgian TMF awards:"Best Album" Oct: Belgian TMF awards:"Best Pop" Oct: Belgian TMF awards:"Best New Artist" Nov: MTV Europe Music Awards (Munich):"Inter Act"
2008 Jan: NRJ Music Awards:Best International Band Jan: Rockbjören Awards:Best International Band Feb: Goldene Kamera: Musik National Feb: Echo:Best Music Video May:Silver Otto May: Comet 2008 - Best Live Act, May: Comet 2008 -Best Band May: Comet 2008 - Best Video May: Comet 2008 -Supercomet!! Sept: MTV VMAs - Best New Artist Oct: TMF awards - Best Male Artist International (Bill Kaulitz) Oct: TMF awardsBest Video International Oct: MTV Latin Awards - Song of the Year, Oct: MTV Latin Awards - Best Fanclub - Venezuela, Oct: MTV Latin Awards - Best New Artist International, Oct: MTV Latin Awards - Best Ringtone Nov: MTV EMAs - Headliner!
Only time will tell how many more awards Tokio Hotel will win and what they are. If the fans have anything to do with it, they will certainly win more! They deserve to!
