Vanity Fair, ITALY #50 - The Tokio Hotel Effect [Article + Scans]

The Tokio Hotel Effect
During they prepare their new album, and a Best Of got released, the band of Bill Kaulitz became an “educative” phenomenon.

They don’t prove otherwise for their Best Of album either (released on 14th December): it will be released in three versions, English, German and a double CD. After the release of the DVD Humanoid City Live in July, the four young singers do not quit making german music. Bill, Tom, Gustav and Georg had been singing in their mother tongue for years, before translating their songs into English and playing on international stages (at the moment they’re in Los Angeles to prepare their new CD, which will come out at the end of 2011.)

And therefore the band is getting the reputation to be “educative”: because of them fans on half of the planet have discovered the german language. It’s the “Tokio Hotel Effect”, in the opinion of the Goethe Institute (the most famous language school for German in Italy): In the last years, many classes have been booked out, and Germany is famous for study trips again. And in 2009 the band had been chosen as “Sprachwahrer” (Language Preserver), the highest reward of the magazine “Deutsche Sprachwelt”, which is for the spread of the German language.

Part 15 - The Fame

Me

What could i say, what could i do? Bill wouldn't listen to me when i said that this wasn't his fault. He just looked me with his big, sad eyes. I grabbed his hand and stroked it. We looked at each other. I could see that he was exhausted. His skin was pale and he was very cold. I told him to go and get some sleep. At first, he didn't want to leave me. But when i said that he was to tired to stay up he finally agreed and walked away from me. It took him about 5 minutes to just leave the room. I laughed at him and he started to smile.

- Why are you so happy now? I asked.
- Because you laughed. I haven't heard it for so long. He smiled again.
I laughed and told him to go away. Not in a mean way of course. He walked away and i fell asleep too, really tired.

Tom

I was walking in a dark room. It was completely dark, i couldn't see anything. I tried to find a door to get out from the dark room but i couldn't find anyone. I was just walking around in a circle when i suddenly heard someone screaming. I looked around but i couldn't see anything. But suddenly i saw a light. At first i couldn't see anything except long, dark shadows hitting something on the ground. But when my eyes got used to the light i could see 5 or 6 girls hitting one girl on the ground. She was screaming for help. I didn't see who it was at first but than i realized that it was her. Bill's girl. I got panic, screamed and tried to help her. But the dark shadows turned around and looked straight at me. They pushed her away and reached out their hands at me. I backed off but they just came closer and closer. Suddenly one of them grabbed my arm. I tried to push her away but another one grabbed my other arm. I was stuck. I couldn't move. I was so scared and one of the shadows pointed at Bills girl laying on the ground, than she leaned in close to my ear and whispered with a horrible voice; "It's your turn this time"....

I woke up, terrified. I was sweaty and i breathed really heavy. I had never had such a horrible nightmare. I was shaking. My heart was beating so fast that i was sure that everybody could hear it. I wanted to cry, i was so scared. The dream wasn't only horrible, it was real. I had seen how they had beated her down. But in the dream, they actually killed her. And now it was my turn. I pulled off my shirt and tried to breathe. Suddenly i saw Bill. He looked at me like i was a stranger.

- Hi Bill, i said and tried to sound normal.
- Hi Tom...he said with a very weird voice.
My mission failed.
- Is she okay? I asked to have something to talk about.
- Yeah, she is okay.
- When will she get out from this hospital?
- I don't know, maybe a week?
- Right. What should i say now?
- Tom?
- Yea? I said.
- You know that your not wearing a shirt, right? The nurse over there is checking you out big time. I looked at the nurse.
- I'm gonna pull on my shirt again. I was just sweaty.
- Okay. I'm gonna go and get some sleep. See you soon Tom.
- Sleep well. See you.

Bill walked away. I wanted to ask someone when she would get out from the hospital. I hated this place.
I asked the nurse that was checking me out and she said something about 2 or 3 days. I said thank you and than i went to tell Bill the good news.

3 days later - Bill

We were on our way to get home. I was so happy to get out from the hospital. I felt like i really needed a shower. I realized that i looked like shit. But my princess told me that i looked cute so i accepted that. She was okay and so was our baby. I had been so worried so i couldn't describe how happy i was that they were fine. She, me and Tom were on our way to walk out to our car when a doctor suddenly stopped us. I looked at Tom. I hoped that she wasn't going to say anything bad about my girl or our baby. But it was not about them.

- I'm so sorry guys, but you can't leave the hospital. We looked at each other, schocked.
- What do you mean? Tom said to her. She looked uncomfortable.
- There is a group of girls outside the hospital and they are really violent. I got a phone call and the girl i was speaking to said that you shouldn't leave. For your own security.
- WHAT? I screamed. Are you saying that we can't leave the hospital?
- Please sir, don't scream. I'm so sorry but they are really violent. We are going to call the police. Stay in here for a while. They are wearing long, black dresses. They have their faces covered up. They are screaming your name and they don't act like normal fans. Stay in here please!

Me

Covered up faces? Long black dresses? I got a lump in my stomach. I knew who they were. They were out to get us. It was the stalkers!

InRock Vol.325, JAPAN. More scans.

PICTURES from the showcase in Tokyo, Japan 15.12.2010

NEW pictures from signing session in Tokyo, Japan 15.12.2010

InRock Vol.325, JAPAN, Scan. NEW PICTURE OF BILL!

NEW pictures from pressconferences/interviews in Tokyo, Japan

The Fame - Part 14

Me

- Are you okay? Tom asked me. He looked worried. I smiled a fake smile.

- I'm fine Tom...i said but my voice was weak. I was so scared and i couldn't hold it. He saw it.

- Should i ask Bill if he can come? He asked.

- No! I screamed. Or just wait a few minutes. I don't want him to see me like this. I knew that if he would see me shaking like i was freezing to death than he would just get even more worried than he already was. So i tried to lay down and relax, but it was impossible. I couldn't get the stalkers out of my head. I could just ask myself what they would do with me if they ever found me alone again. I knew that i had been lucky. I was still alive. But what would happen when they found out that i survived? I was sure they would go insane.

- Are you sure that you are okay? Tom looked at me. In that moment he looked like my dad. Really protective.

- I'm fine okay? You can go if you want to. I closed my eyes. In that moment i really just wanted everything to end. I wanted the whole world to end.

Tom

I stayed in the room for a few minutes but then i realized that she really wanted to be alone. I walked out of the room and i could see Bill sitting in the couch were i had left him before. I sat down.

- So...he said. What did she say? He looked nervous.

- Well...it's not like she's jumping up and down of happiness. I realized that i shouldn't have been sarcastic. It made everything worse for Bill.

- I was joking okay? I said. Calm down Bill. She is scared, but she can handle it. At least i think she can, i thought to myself. Bill looked at me like i was hiding something from him. I hated that look. He never looked like that, but when he did i knew he didn't trust me.

- I'm going to talk with her now he said. I want to meet her. I can't wait for it any longer. I didn't try to stop him, so i saw him walking away from me. I layed down in the couch. I was so tired. It didn't take much time until i was sleeping in the couch, having terrible nightmares.

Bill

I knocked on the door. I could hear someone saying "Come in" so i opened it. There on the bed i saw her, laying with her eyes closed. But she wasn't sleeping. I sat down on the bed and carefully i stroked her legs. She opened her eyes and saw me. She smiled. That made me smile back.

- Hi baby, she said with a very different voice that i wasn't used to. How are you?

- I'm fine i just...my words stucked in my throat. Sweetie...i missed you so much. She leaned into my arms and i hugged her. I don't know for how long i hold her, but it felt like i was doing it for years. Over and over again i whispered that i loved her and she said it back. But suddenly i started to feel really bad. I wanted to throw up. I was feeling so bad that i didn't know what to do. She looked at me, really worried.

- Bill are you okay? She touched my arm.

- No, i...i...i couldn't answer. I looked into her eyes and felt like i was going to fall into pieces. Everything was my fault. If she never had left the house to speak with my mom, this had never happened. I could have stopped her, but i didn't. If the stalkers would have killed her, i wouldn't sit here with her and tell her how much i loved her and hear her saying it back. If she had died...i couldn't blame anyone else than me. Everything was my fault.

Interview by Luna Teen, Argentina [Issue 54, 2010]

Alone with Tokio Hotel

Previously to their show in Chile in front of more than 7.000 people, Luna Teen was able to talk with the 4 members of Tokio Hotel inside the Sheraton Hotel in Santiago, To be honest, Georg and Gustav, bassist and drummer respectively, didn't said to much; the Kaulitz twins took the lead instead. The day they arrived there was a Little earthquake that made them a quite uneasy but, when we explains to them that this was something usual in this latitudes, they calm down and chatted distend. Bill, tall and skinny, full of necklaces and a pair of heels that dizzy us because of their height. Tom looks like he came out of an Eminem video. Georg, from Bon Jovi's band, and Gustav could well be the drummer of a metal band with his skull tattoos and neatly cut hair.

So different in their looks, is surprising to see them together, laughing at private jokes and understanding each other with a glance. Their personalities are as different as their looks but that's how Tokio Hotel is, this band that's already a decade old even though their band members are between 20 and 23 years old. Veterans of world stages, they are still surprised in front of their fans admiration, that transcends the language barrier and follow them wherever they go. This time was Chile's turn, Argentina will be set for the next visit (or at least that's what they would like).

Luna Teen - Finally you've arrived to Latin America. How was the tour?
Bill: We had big expectations with this tour long ago, we really wanted to come and we finally could. So far, everything was perfect, better than expected, there was no problem, people received us really well. Even in the airport there were a lot of fans waiting for us.
Tom: We brought the same tour we did in Europe, and a great bassist. (says jokingly referring to Gustav I think they meant georg)

Luna Teen - You're very involved in all the production process of the show. Why is that?
Bill: We're very obsessive and perfectionists and we don't have much confidence in anybody else than us! No, really, we're perfectionists but is hard for us to lead the responsibility to others and also we like to be part of the process and be on everything.

Luna Teen - What do you do 5 minutes before going on stage?
Bill: We activate our Power Rangers superpowers, that we all have, but in general we're very nervous before going out.
Tom: Georg goes to the toilet!

Luna Teen - Bill, Tom, how is the relationship of you two outside the band?
Bill: We're not just brothers, we're identical twins, we have a very special relationship, we spend 24 hours a day together, we share everything, it's something automatic, we get along really well, we are more than friends.
Tom: We have never been separated more than 4 or 5 days.

Luna Teen - How do you conciliate 4 different personalities?
Tom: We're completely different, besides the band we have very little in common but we've been working together for 10 years, we get along really well, we grew up together.
Gustav: We're a band but we all have different tastes.
Bill: We're like 4 brothers, we grew up together, since very little, we've been together a lifetime.

Luna Teen - Is there a particular song you like the most?
Bill: Many, is really hard to choose one, we have a special connection with each song, each one connects in a special way with the songs and, also, they respond to different emotional moments and have their own history.

Luna Teen - Being the 4 of you so different, is there songs that are left out because not everyone likes it?
Tom: Yes, many are left out.
Bill: When we get in the studio, we spend a lot of time recording.
Georg: We record a lot of songs in a year and maybe the last ones make it to the album.
Bill: Although, they're not always the best.

Luna Teen - The Best of… It's about to come out. Is their going to be any surprise?
Bill: There are 2 new tracks, one that we recorded long ago, before I change my voice, so the difference is going to notice a lot, it's only recorded in German and the other one, it's a 2009 track that it’s only in English. They are 2 very different songs.

Luna Teen - What do you think is the reason of your success, of having such a solid career?
Tom: We're better than most!
Bill: We found each other, there wasn't somebody that put us together, we grew up together and found our own sound, we started playing and things came out naturally.
Georg: It was a natural process, since very little, I think that gave us a very strong identity.

Luna Teen - What difference you found between your European fans and the Latin ones?
Bill: Fans in here are happier to see us that in other places, maybe is because they don't see us very often. They are more use to it in Europe.
Tom: Here they are really intense! We like women with such a strong personality.

Luna Teen - What was the craziest thing that happened with your fans?
Gustav: A lot of stuffs, to many stories.
Bill: In Spain, when we finished playing, we came down the stage and we run to a fun that we never knew how she managed to get backstage. We think she climbed the walls. I don't know.
Tom: And again, Georg found 4 naked girls in his hotel room!
Georg: We've been through a thousand of stories, impossible to tell them all.

Luna Teen - What are your plans for next year?
Tom: Many.
Bill: We're always playing, rehearsing, writing songs but we can't assure that we'll release a new album in 2011.
Tom: But is going to be a year full of surprises that we can't tell yet.

Luna Teen - Bill, why do you have such an extravagant look?
Bill: I like fashion a lot, its fun for me, I'm very spontaneous, every morning I choose what I'm going to wear according to how I feel, I love to travel with a lot of clotheses to choose and change.

Luna Teen - Who's the one that takes the longest to get dress?
Everybody: Tom!
Tom: Georg and Gustav also work a lot on their style and nobody ask them! Well, if you want to call this a style... (Jokes pointing Gustav)
Bill: We don't agree on a look, each one has its own and nobody tells the other what should wear.

Luna Teen - Do you have any lucky charm or something you can't forget when you arrived to a country to play a concert?
Bill: Yes, I have a locket with my mom and Tom's picture and I always wear it. If I don't have it, everybody gets worried, they think something might go wrong. I also have a little box full of memories and little things that I always carry with me. There is where the important things are.