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US Music Fans Check in to Germany’s Tokio Hotel
After captivating audiences in Germany and then Europe, boy band Tokio Hotel has now started to carve out a fan base in the United States. The Magdeburg-based group, led by twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz, made their American live debut at The Roxy in Los Angeles on February 15, moving on to the Fillmore New York on February 18, and earning respectable reviews along the way. The New York Times described the Fillmore concert as “oddly delightful from start to finish, thank Bill Kaulitz, who should, with any luck, be thrilling and perplexing young Americans for the rest of the year.” According to reviewer, the concert resembled “an exuberant garage band, making a gleeful racket.” It could well be among the most successful newcomer bands in Germany in years. Six years ago, no one would have thought that the band would ever meet with such a resounding response. At the age of 10, the twin brothers Bill and Tom Kaulitz began taking lessons and working on their talent. The now 16-year-old lead singer and songwriter Bill began singing and writing lyrics, while his twin brother Tom learned to play the guitar. Just two years later, in 2001, Bill and Tom met the now 18-year-old bass guitarist Georg Listing and drummer Gustav Schäfer while performing in their hometown of Magdeburg. They decided to form the band Tokio Hotel. A half-year later, the band was playing its first concerts in many clubs in and around Magdeburg.
In September 2005, their debut album "Schrei" appeared. Success did not take long to follow. The album, which was released in Germany and Austria, quickly rose to the top of the charts in both countries. The previously released single track "Durch den Monsun" jumped to no. 1 and remained there in the top spot for weeks. Two years later, in February, the album "Zimmer 483" appeared on the market. And, in the same year, the band launched its largest European tour, presenting the album before enthusiastic audiences. It is no surprise that the band was soon recognized for its incredible international popularity. In 2005, the band was honored with the media award BAMBI in the Pop National category. In 2006, the Echo Award followed, recognizing the band as best new and rising artists. Last year, they were awarded the Comet prize in the Best Band category and, earlier this year, they won the NRJ Music Award. Their extraordinary individuality leaves no doubt: Especially young listeners are thrilled by the band’s intelligent and moving lyrics, which blend a both lively and mysterious, yet also hip, rock sound with today’s exciting German-language productions. Tokio Hotel’s first English album, “Scream”, was released in 2007 across Europe. The album consists of English versions of a selection of songs from their German-language albums It included the group’s most famous hit single, "Monsoon", the English version of "Durch den Monsun". In April they plan to release their first American album, “Scream” (Cherrytree/Interscope). But it seems fans have already discovered them on the Internet. Notwithstanding long hard work in the studio, the four boys from Magdeburg have never lost sight of their goal: To them, live performance is still the most important means of presenting their engaging music. As lead singer Bill puts it, they are a live band and value this more than anything else, “ ’cause that’s the way it all got started, on stage!” February 21, 2008Link
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