Nothing sells like teen spirit... Music News meets much-hyped Tokio Hotel to see what all the kids are screaming about. Landing in the UK for your debut promotional tour with an entourage in tow may seem a tad presumptuous, except for popular rock band Tokio Hotel, who have made a phenomenal impact on the continent attracting frenzied attention everywhere they go.
Racking up five number one singles in their native Germany alongside a ten-times platinum album, it comes as no surprise the four-piece were crowned Best Selling German Act at the World Music Awards last year. But what is astonishing is the fact they’re still only teenagers - and refreshingly delightful ones, too. So how does a 17 year old describe such incredible success?
"It’s unbelievable! It’s like a new life," beams stunning vocalist Bill Kaulitz, speaking through a translator. "We are able to play in big venues now. You have to imagine that we started in really small clubs in front of ten people, who weren’t always interested in us. And now we just came back from a big European tour which is so amazing for us."
In fact their first tour comprised a staggering 43 sold out dates."We’ve been very, very lucky," adds guitarist Tom Kaulitz who formed the group with identical twin brother Bill when they were seven. "I think it’s all about luck for every band trying to step out of the underground scene and get a record deal."
Hard work and determination certainly helped, too. The band - completed by drummer Gustav Schäfer and bassist Georg Listing - tried to break through by playing gigs, parties and events every single weekend as (actual) school nights weren't possible for the young teens.
"If you want to play the game at that age you really have to fight to get seen, to get understood, to get listened to and to get respect," says Bill who, aged 13, tried to raise the band's profile via television talent show Star Search after being forced to enter by his brother.
"It all started with a bet between Tom and me about a girl that we were battling about! The loser had to go to the show," he remembers. "I had to sing terrible songs. I had to wear the ugliest clothes..."
"Well I thought you looked really good!" jokes Tom.
"It was definitely not at all the stuff I wanted to do. It turned out to bring nothing for the band but a couple of months later one of our producers found us so it took off for us anyway."
Now the four-piece are set to repeat their unit-shifting success in the UK. Realising the emphatic global demand for Tokio Hotel they recently re-recorded their album 'Schrei' ('Scream') in English, a definite "challenge" for "lazy" linguist Bill but a necessary obligation to their growing army of fans.
"For us it’s really important that people not only listen to our music," says Tom. "Our lyrics are really, really important for us and for that reason we translated the German album so people could understand."
But what significantly translates worldwide is the band’s stunning frontman. All wild hair and make-up, and curiously animated, Bill cuts a unique figure next to his blonde dreadlocked twin brother, and it’s obviously a major part of the group's appeal.
"This is who I am. I never have tried to be somebody else," he asserts. "All of us developed our own style. I just think personality, music and looks really go together. Music is a very personal thing because you’re giving away emotions. I never try to do anything else but deliver what I am in my music and the way I look."
And the result is radio-friendly, stadium-rocking, camera-loving charisma at its most tender, which clearly affirms Tokio mania.
The band return to the UK for a one-off gig at Islington Academy, London on June 19th Album 'Scream’ is released on August 27th via Polydor Make a reservation
