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Tokio Hotel

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Tokio Hotel

Tokio Hotel is a German pop band. The quartet has scored four number one singles, two number one albums and claim to have sold over 3 million CDs and DVDs in their homeland.[1] Whilst achieving much chart success in Germany and Austria and some chart success in France, [2][3] Italy,[4][5], Israel[citation needed] and in Switzerland [6] they are yet to occupy high chart positions within the English speaking world despite releasing English language versions of their albums.

History

Originally formed in 2001 under the name Devilish, the band began playing in talent shows and small concerts. After Bill Kaulitz's participation in a children's Star Search in 2003 (which he lost in the quarter-final), he was discovered by music producer Peter Hoffmann. Devilish changed their name to Tokio Hotel ("Tokio", the German language spelling of the city Tokyo, Japan, which they love, and "Hotel", due to their constant touring and sleeping in hotels), and Sony BMG 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. However, shortly before publication of the first album, Sony terminated their contract. In 2005, Universal Music Group took Tokio Hotel under contract and developed a marketing plan.

Band Members

  • Bill Kaulitz, vocals
  • Tom Kaulitz, guitar
  • Georg Listing, bass guitar
  • Gustav Schäfer, drums

Career

Their first single, "Durch den Monsun" (Through the Monsoon), quickly rose in the charts, appearing on the German official Media Control single charts at #15 on 20 August 2005 and eventually reaching #1 on 26 August 2005; it reached #1 on the Austrian music charts as well. Their second single, "Schrei" (scream), climbed to the #5 position in the German charts. Their debut album, "Schrei", was released on 19 September 2005; the album later received a platinum certification [7]. All songs were written by singer Bill Kaulitz together with their group of producers Peter Hoffmann, David Jost, Pat Benzer and Dave Roth. In 2006, a third and fourth single, "Rette Mich" (rescue me) and "Der Letzte Tag" (Final Day), were released; both reached #1 as well.

The first single off their second album "Zimmer 483" (room 483), called "Übers Ende der Welt" (later re-released in English under the name "Ready, Set, Go!"), was released on 26 January 2007 and quickly reached #1. The "Zimmer 483" album was released on 28 February 2007, with a deluxe edition of the album, containing a DVD, also becoming available. Their second single from the album, "Spring Nicht" (don't jump) was released on 7 April 2007. The tour accompanying the release of the album, 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. A third single from the album "An Deiner Seite (Ich bin da)" (by your side, I Am Here) will be released on the 16th of november 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.

While their German CDs never received official releases outside the German-speaking world, Tokio Hotel's first English album "Scream" was released on the 4 June 2007 in all of Europe. In Germany, the album was released as "Room 483" in order to emphasise the continuity with their last German album "Zimmer 483". The album consists of English versions of a selection of songs from their German-language albums "Schrei" and "Zimmer 483". "Monsoon", the English version of "Durch den Monsun", was the first single from the album. "Ready, Set, Go!", the English version of "Übers Ende der Welt", was released as the album's second single. A video for "Scream", the English version of their 2005 hit "Schrei", was also recorded. although the song has not been released so far.

Tokio Hotel gave their first concert in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2007. "Ready, Set, Go!" was released in the UK as the band's first single on 27 August 2007. The song reached #77 in the Singles Chart. A special UK edition of "Scream" (including new, unreleased tracks) is scheduled for release in early 2008.

Tokio Hotel Won an EMA for InterAct on November 1st 2007, exactly 2 months after the twins turned 18. They also performed "Monsoon" at the event.

Tokio Hotel released their first US single on 11 September, 2007. The single is available exclusively at Hot Topic, and contains the tracks "Scream" and "Ready, Set, Go!". The single, as well as an article on the International Music Feed's website, also tells fans to look for the "Scream" album in the USA, coming sometime in 2008. As recently as October 10th, 2007, Tokio Hotel's music video "Ready, Set, Go!" has played on the American television channel the International Music Feed.

A second single will be relased in stores in the US on December 11, 2007 titled Scream America.

Awards

2005

  • Comet: Best Newcomer 2005, Supercomet
  • Bambi-Verleihung: Pop-National
  • 1live-Krone: Best Newcomer

2006

  • Echo: Best Newcomer
  • Goldener Pinguin: Best Newcomer
  • Radio Regenbogen Awards: Pop-National
  • Steiger Award: Newcomer

2007

  • Jan 2007: European Border Breakers Award (for the album "Schrei")
  • Jan 2007: BZ-Kulturpreis: (Rock)
  • Mar 2007: Echo: Best Music Video
  • Apr 2007: Bravo - Goldener Otto: Superrockband
  • May 2007: Viva Comet: Supercomet
  • May 2007: Viva Comet: Best Band
  • May 2007: Viva Comet: Best Music Video
  • Jul 2007: Jabra Music: Die Beste Band )(The Best Band)
  • Sep 2007: Festivalbar Premio Digital
  • Sep 2007: Goldene Stimmgabel: Best Rock International
  • Oct 2007: Belgian TMF awards: Best Video
  • Oct 2007: Belgian TMF awards: Best Album
  • Oct 2007: Belgian TMF awards: Best Pop
  • Oct 2007: Belgian TMF awards: Best New Artist
  • Nov 2007: MTV Europe Music Awards (Munich): "Inter Act"

Discography

Main article: Tokio Hotel discography

Albums & Singles

Schrei (2005) / Schrei - so laut du kannst (2006)

Zimmer 483 (2007)

Scream (Room 483) (2007)

References

  1. ^ "Bio".tokiohotel-us.com/bio
  2. ^ "French-single-chart".ifop.com/europe/sondages/top50/sgl0744.stm
  3. ^ "French-album-chart".ifop.com/europe/sondages/topalb/alb0744.stm
  4. ^ in"Italian-single-chart".fimi.it/classifiche.asp?idtipo_classifica=3
  5. ^ "Italian-Album-chart".fimi.it/classifiche.asp?idtipo_classifica=1
  6. ^ "Swiss-Album-chart".swisscharts.com/search.asp?search=tokio+hotel&cat=a
  7. ^ "Certification".ifpi.de.
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