Tokio Hotel

Tokio Hotel is a German pop-rock  band. The band began in 2001, and were first called Devilish. The people who are in the band all came from Magdeburg in Germany. The youngest, the Kaulitz twins, were born two months before the Berlin Wall was taken down.

History 

Tokio Hotel was started by singer Bill Kaulitz and guitarist Tom Kaulitz, who are identical twin brothers. Their step father owns a music school named "Rock School". The drummer is Gustav Schäfer and bass-guitarist is Georg Listing. The four met in 2001 after a live show in a Magdeburg club, where Listing and Schäfer, who knew each other from music school, watched from the audience while Bill and Tom Kaulitz played on the stage. Using the name "Devilish", the band began playing in talent shows and small concerts. After Bill Kaulitz took part in a children's Star Search in 2003 at age thirteen (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 spelling of the Japanese city Tokyo, because they love the city, and "Hotel" because of their constant touring and living in hotels. Soon after Sony BMG took them under contract, Hoffmann hired David Jost and Pat Benzner into the team of creators and authors. They guided the teens on songwriting and instrument playing; most of the songs of the first album were written by Hoffmann, Jost, Benzer, and Bill Kaulitz (including the singles "Scream" and "Rescue me" which were completely written by them). Only the single "Unendlichkeit" was written completely by Tokio Hotel themselves. However, shortly before release of their first album, Sony ended their contract. In 2005, Universal Music Group took Tokio Hotel under contract and developed a marketing plan. The band has now become one of the biggest acts from Germany.

Members 
 Bill Kaulitz (Vocals)
Bill Kaulitz (born September 1 1989, in Leipzig, Germany) is the lead singer of Tokio Hotel. He is the twin brother of Tom Kaulitz. Bill is ten minutes younger than Tom. They used to live in Magdeburg, Germany. Before making Tokio Hotel, the band was called Devilish. Bill was on the German star search but he lost in 2001. Because of Bill going on the Star Search he came to be known by Peter Hoffman. Tokio Hotel soon got a job with Sony but in 2005 Sony ended it. After the first European tour, Bill lost his voice and found out he had cyst on his vocal cords. He had surgery and it took three weeks to get better. He then went back to having concerts with the band.

 Tom Kaulitz (Lead Guitar)
Tom Kaulitz was born on September 1 1989, in Leipzig ten minutes before his identical twin brother, Bill. He is from Magdeburg in Germany. Tom and Bill now live in Berlin, Germany. As of September 2007, Tom is using Gibson guitars. He has stated his musical influences to be Aerosmith and German hip-hop such as Samy Deluxe. 

 Georg Listing (Bass Guitar)
Georg Listing was born on March 31 1987. His hometown is Halle. He began playing bass when he was thirteen years old, as of September 2007, uses a Sandberg bass. He has said that his playing style was heavily influenced by Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, and other musical influences include Die Ärzte and Oasis.

 Gustav Schäfer (Drummer)
Gustav Schäfer was born on September 8 1988, in his hometown of Magdeburg, and has an older sister. Gustav has been playing the drums since he was five. His musical influences include Metallica, Joe Cocker and Rod Stewart.

Awards

2005 

 Oct 2005: Comet Awards: Best Newcomer
 Oct 2005: Comet Awards: Super Comet
 Nov 2005: Eins Live Krone: Best Newcomer
 Dec 2005: Bambi Awards: Best Pop National
 2005: Golden Penguin: Best Single
 2005: Golden Penguin: Best Pop
 2005: Golden Penguin: Rock Band

2006 

 Feb 2006: Golden Penguin: Album of the year
 Feb 2006: Golden Penguin: Band of the year
 Feb 2006: Golden Penguin: Song of the year - ‘Der Letzte Tag’
 March 2006: Sold-out-Award of Königpilsen Arena: Ausverkaufte Tourhalle
 March 2006: ECHO Awards: Best Newcomer
 March 2006: Steiger Awards: Best Newcomer
 Nov 2006: Bambi Awards: Best Pop National Act

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
 Nov 2007: Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards (Milão) - Best Band

2008 
 Jan 2008: NRJ Music: Best International Band
 Feb 2008: Echo Awards: Best Music Video
 Feb 2008: Comet Awards: Best Band
 Feb 2008: Comet Awards: Best Video
 Feb 2008: Comet Awards: Best Live Act
 Feb 2008: Comet Awards: Super Comet
 Sep 2008: MTV VMA Music Awards: Best New Artist
 Oct 2008: TMF Awards: Best Male Artist International(Bill Kaulitz)
 Oct 2008: TMF Awards: Best Video International
 Oct 2008: MTV Latin America Awards: Song of the Year
 Oct 2008: MTV Latin America Awards: Best Fanclub-Venezuela
 Oct 2008: MTV Latin America Awards: Best New Artist-International
 Oct 2008: MTV Latin America Awards: Best Ringtone
 Nov 2008: MTV EMA Music Awards: Headliner

2010
April 2010: GEMA German Music Authors Award 
 October 2010: MTV best world stage performance

Discography

Singles 

 August 15, 2005: Durch Den Monsun
 November 25, 2005: Schrei
 March 10, 2006: Rette Mich
 August 28, 2006: Der Letzte Tag / Wir Schließen Uns Ein January 26, 2007: Übers Ende der Welt April 7, 2007: Spring Nicht May 12, 2007: Monsoon August 27, 2007: Ready, Set, Go!
 November 16, 2007: An Deiner Seite (Ich Bin Da) / 1000 Meere
 September 18, 2009: Automatic / Automatisch
 December 18, 2009: World behind my wall / Lass uns laufen

DVD's 

 December 2, 2005: Leb die Sekunde - Behind The Scenes
 April 7, 2006: Schrei Live
 April 7, 2007: Spring Nicht
 November 30, 2007: Zimmer 483 - Live In Europe
 December 5, 2008: Tokio Hotel TV - Caught on Camera

References

German rock bands
German pop music groups
Emo bands
Magdeburg