Tokio Hotel NZ

Tokio Hotel Info

Way back in 2005, Tokio Hotel first appeared. With members Georg Listing (Bass), Gustav Schäfer (Drums) and twins Bill (Vocals) and Tom Kaulitz (Guitar). The boys had been together before they became Tokio Hotel, playing concerts under the name Devilish around their home town of Magdeburg, Germany. They were initially on Sony BMG Records, but their contract was terminated before an album could be released. They became big stars when their first single  “Durch den Monsun” became #1 in the same month it was released.

The proceeded to become an international hit when they released their first album Schrei (Universal) which sold in excess of half a million copies world-wide, and had four top five hits – Durch den Monsun, Schrei, Rette Mich and Der Letzte Tag. This album has now been honored with Platinum status.

In January 2007, Tokio Hotel released their new single Übers Ende der Welt again reaching a #1 position. This single appeared on their album released in February 2007 Zimmer 483, along with a DVD with the Deluxe edition.  The boys then started their Zimmer 483 European Tour later in 2007, touring 12 European Countries. The other singles released from this album included Spring Nicht, An deiner Seite (Ich bin da) and Heilig.

Breaking records, receiving awards and playing to sold out audiences is all in a days work for these four boys. They have played for 600,000 people in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, a sold out concert in Tel Aviv and played at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007 in one memorable performance.

Throughout 2007 Tokio Hotel was honoured with many other awards including Best Band, Best Video and Super Comet at the Comets in (German Music Awards), European Boarder Breakers Awards (NRJ) and Best New International Act (TMF). Their amazing run of awards spilled over into 2008 also when they won the Goldene Kamera for Best National Music, Best Video (Echo), Best Band and Best Number 1 (TRL Italy), 4 more Comets, Best Headliner (MTV EMA’s) and Best New Act (MTV VMA’s).

2007 also saw the release of Scream throughout Europe, which was an all English album combining the most popular songs of Schrei and Zimmer 483. The singles from this album included Monsoon (Duch den Monsun), Ready, Set, Go (Übers Ende der Welt) and Don’t Jump (Spring Nicht). The band toured to the UK with this album where Ready, Set, Go reached #77.

In early 2008, the band toured around North America and Canada performing 5  extremely full concerts. These were accompanied by appearances on MuchMusic. Scream was released in Canada and the USA later that year.

Tokio Hotel kicked off their 1000 Hotels tour in March 2008, but unfortunately this tour was cancelled soon after it started because Bill had to get surgery to remove a cyst off his vocal cords. After the surgery, Bill was instructed not to make any noise, not even laugh, for 10 days! Thankfully he managed, but then had to undergo 4 weeks of intense vocal rehabilitation. Tokio Hotel was back on stage in May, Bill sounding a little different but still being himself.

Later in 2008, these 4 boys headed back to America where they did multiple television appearances, concerts and made a monster entrance on a monster truck  to the MTV Video Music Awards (as previously mentioned). They also released their latest DVD Caught on Camera which was well received by the fans as it included a lot of backstage and unseen footage.

Tokio Hotel have been keeping a quiet profile for most of 2009, until August when they appeared singing at a promotion for Nokia. A release date of October 8 has been announced for their latest album Humanoid which is all very exciting!! On the 3rd of September, their first music video for the album was released. Automatic (Automatisch) is the first single off the new album and is sounding very new and different for the band, but we are all looking forward to hearing the rest of the album!