Around the year 2007, Europe was hit by a "Monsoon" known as Tokio Hotel.
Twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz (respectively voice and guitar of the band), Georg Listing (bass) and Gustav Schäfer (drums) formed the band that led to a mass hysteria that many described as a "Second Beetlemania".
With their pop-rock sounds mixed with some punk and their lyrics, they made people who are Millennials today, feel grown up. They made a whole generation dream, and I was one of those people.
After releasing "Zimmer 483" (German release) in 2007 they also released "Scream" which is the English version of their album "Schrei".
I was just a teenager when I saw these boys for the first time on my TV screen. MTV would just blast their music video for "Monsoon" all day and I never got tired of the atmosphere that I felt. The best way to describe it is "dramatically romantic".
In 2008 I had the chance to see them live for the very first time (it was also my first concert ever), I remember that the show was incredible, from the staging to the way these boys owned that stage.
It wasn't just their music that made them stand out, Bill's looks were "eccentric" as many liked to describe him, 70's glam rock meets emo and goth elements. A look that evolved through the years, we could already see a change when they released "Humanoid" in 2009 which is when he moved towards fake lather and gel in his hair.
Change that also reflected the band's music, every lyric, sound and melody in this album was sharper. Everything ounded like it was calculated down to the minimal detail.
When I saw them again in 2010, the experience at their shows was more than we got before. We saw a more futuristic stage, LED lights, even lighting on Bill's costume that would light up around his shoulders.
At the time, the fans didn't know what was going on behind closed doors with their management, the band was incredible at hiding all the pressure they were going through. They were working really hard everyday to make as much music as possible management always had the very last world on songs due to the contract they signed when they first started out and didn't understand the music industry. So the songs were constantly changing depending on how management wanted the band to sound.
Then the silence.
Everything went static for a few years, the band took some well deserved time off. Some of them settled down, some moved to other countries, but like most musicians they couldn't just sit and watch the world go by.
They got bck together and started to experiment again, synthesisers, a couple of them even tried new instruments. We also saw Bill try a solo career under the name "Billy" in 2016 in pop music, it was his way of showcasing his true colours and his talent. That was a big surprise, and also scared me a little, after years of silence all we get is a solo project, nothing against it don't get me wrong! I did like this new version but at the same time I was worried, was Tokio Hotel over for good?
In 2017 "Dream Machine" is released we see a drastic change in their music more synth and pop this time around, like the name suggested, the atmosphere was dream like, between reality and fantasy.
And finally we are listening to the real band, after changing their management, from one that had total control over the music to one that didn't, we saw them free of making the songs that they really want to and not just stick to what brought fame.
2022 brought us their latest album titled "2001". Pretty far from their initial pop-rock vibes, they're introducing something more pop and dance this time, without loosing their musical roots, the title itself is a nod to the year the band formed.
With the song "When We Were Younger" the band just proves us that they didn't change, they are still the same four kids from Magdeburg who took over Europe. The lyrics were about broken hearts and the need for freedom, rebellion and being able to know ourselves. We are talking about a band with 20 years of memories and experience to bring to the table so that their newer music still had a personal touch.
Their clothing might change like their music but their hearts and the emotions that ties the band together are still there and you can feel it and see it.
Once again I was lucky enough to see them live in 2023, and I could feel it, it was nostalgic but not in a sad way, it felt like home in some ways, like a big comeback. Being able to jump and dance and scream to their songs was just the best. I say "lucky" cause for the first time I had the chance to meet the band and they are so fun and kind towards their fans.
We also finally got to hear Bill sing (and I sang too) in German, it was rare to see him do this previously as they would do their songs in their native language when they performed abroad. They played "Shwarz" (Black), one of my all time favourite songs!
I'll always cherish those moments.
Bill Kaulitz released an autobiography titled "Career Suicide" which is only available in German at the moment, where he talks about the fame and the life he lived starting with his run on "Star Search" in 2003.
The band will be touring in 2025 playing a show in London so make sure you get tickets o you can check them out live for yourself.
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