Tokio Hotel

Tokio Hotel is a pop band formed under the name "Devilish" in 2001 in Magdeburg, Germany.

Band history

Identical twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz (born in September 1, 1989) have been making music since childhood. They were musically promoted by their step-father, who is also a musician, although less active. In early 2001, in their hometown of Magdeburg, they met Gustav Schäfer (September 8, 1988) and Georg Listing (March 31, 1987), with whom they formed the band Devilish. From 2001 onwards, they played in talent shows and small-time concerts. After Bill Kaulitz' participation in a children's Star Search in 2003 (which he lost in the quarter-finals), he was discovered by music executive Peter Hoffmann. In the end, Devilish changed their name to Tokio Hotel ("Tokio", because of the large and lively city Tokyo in Japan which they love, and "Hotel", due to their constant touring and sleeping in hotels), and Universal Music took them under contract. Hoffmann hired David Jost and Pat Benzner into the team of creators and authors, and had them give the children instruction on songwriting and instrument playing. Shortly before publication of the first album, Sony terminated their contract. In 2005, Universal Music Group took Tokio Hotel under contract and developed an extensive marketing plan.

Success

Their first single, "Durch den Monsun" ("Through the Monsoon"), quickly gained popularity after its release, appearing on the German music charts at #15 on 20 August 2005 and reaching #1 on 26 August 2005; it reached #1 on the Austrian music charts as well. Their second single was "Schrei" ("Scream"), which climbed to #5 on the German charts. They released their debut album, Schrei, on 19 September 2005; the lead singer, Bill Kaulitz, wrote most of the songs. In early 2006, their third single, "Rette Mich" ("Rescue Me"), was released; it reached #1.

Their first single off their latest album "Zimmer 483" ("Room 483"), called "Übers Ende der Welt", was released on 26 January 2007 and quickly reached #1. The "Zimmer 483" album was released on 28 February 2007. A deluxe edition of the album, containing a DVD, is also available. The Zimmer 483 tour was scheduled to start in March 2007, but was delayed by two weeks because the band members wished to have a new stage. Their second and last single from the album, "Spring Nicht" ("Don't Jump") was released on 7 april 2007.

While their German CD's never received official releases outside the German-speaking world, Tokio Hotel's first English album "Scream" was released on the 4th June 2007 in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. In Germany it was called "Room 483" in order to emphasize the continuity with their last German album "Zimmer 483". The album was originally going to be released in the United States as well but that decision was revoked and the release will now depend on the success of the album in the UK. The album consists of English versions of a selection of songs from their German language albums "Schrei" and "Zimmer 483". "Monsoon" was the first single from the album and is the English version of their very first single "Durch den Monsun". The first single from "Zimmer 483" "Übers Ende der Welt" was recently released under the title of "Ready, Set, Go!" in English. A video for "Scream", the English version of their 2005 hit "Schrei" was also created.

Jörg Koshorst, A&R for the band at Universal earned the No.15 spot in the World Top 100 A&R Chart at HitQuarters, for signing and introducing Tokio Hotel in numerous countries.

Tokio Hotel gave their first ever concert in the UK on 19th June.