How much time has passed! Why did you decide to come back with 'Kings Of Suburbia' after 'Humanoid'?
Bill: We didn't feel like so much time had passed. It took a long time to release a new album, but with the previous one we toured until the end of 2009. We were in America, Japan, Russia… It took a long time. Then we took a break of four and a half years to simply live, get inspired and relax a bit. (Laughs). We have been working for a long time!
And you wanted to go back to the studio...
Bill: Yes, we were slowly getting back into the studio, working on new songs, writing. This also took time. This time we produced it ourselves, thus involving ourselves in all stages of the album's creation. More wasting time was inevitable. Plus, we're perfectionists, so we wanted to make the album as good as possible. We wanted to be proud of every detail. Five years fly by! (Laughs).
Your success has taken a rather unusual turn, especially due to the obsessive behavior of some fans. It was almost crazy. Did this also affect the need for a break?
Bill: Yes, actually we moved to LA because of that. When we got back from the tour we realized we couldn't have a private life anymore, there was no life outside of the band. We need balance. Especially when you grow up, you understand what you really want to do, what kind of people you want to be with ... And you just need privacy. You need to breathe outside of your career. And at some point we lost that balance. We tried to recreate it, but it wasn't even funny anymore. After all, we spent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with our bodyguards, like we were in prison. And then we said to ourselves: "Let's leave here, where we can have our secret garden." In the end, we went to Los Angeles, which is cool. Nobody touched us, we discovered a new side of life. It was beneficial for us from all sides: human and musical. It was the right decision!
Are you afraid that everything can happen again?
Bill: No, because we still live in Los Angeles. That's better. So we get in on the promo madness, the tour, and then we can get back to our little private lives.
There are many fans outside the hotel now. Are you surprised that they are there now, despite a long absence?
Tom: Yes! We were not very concerned about this. But five years is a really long time! Before the break, we called the record label and said that we wanted to take a break, not release an album right away, and everyone answered us: “Oh, this is a very important decision.” Because in the world of music there is a constant change in business, great artists release music every day. (Laughs). They release a new album every half a year and a new single every two weeks... Everything goes so fast! All they think about is how to make a hit, blah blah blah... Now if you take a break, there's no guarantee you can come back. But we don't care! For starters, we trust our fans. But of course we won't take another four years off Kings Of Suburbia. We want to make music and produce ourselves. Anyway, it's great to go away and come back and still see your fans.
But there was a risk that your fans would get carried away by other artists…
Tom: No... I mean, I don't worry about it until there is a band better than ours! (Laughs). I checked, everything is fine, we have nothing to fear!
Bill: (Laughs). Especially since we can love a bunch of bands. There are no competitions here, no need to look at it from that angle. First of all, it is a matter of music. It's completely normal that after releasing one song, people don't like it very much, then you release another one that they like more, because people change... It's the same for everyone. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. You don't have to push too hard. The only thing to do is to make the music the best it can be. And that's exactly what we're trying to do. The key to success is to always be confident in yourself and be happy with what you do.
Did you want to prove something in particular with this album?
Bill: Actually, we didn't try to sound different. We didn't have a clear plan for this comeback. Everything happened naturally. We have changed. I recorded "Monsoon" when I was 13, now I'm 25. Time has passed... You grow up, you meet new people, things happen, you are interested in new things. You are changing!
Tom: The first thing I did in the studio was set up on the computer, I didn't pick up the guitar. This happened later. It just came. We didn't ask what people wanted to hear... We wanted to do what we wanted to do.
Why don't you sing in German anymore?
Bill: The previous albums were released in two versions: in English and German. We did it because people expected it from us. But in the creative process, it didn't come naturally. Now we have written in English, which means that it was necessary to translate it. But it's really difficult, because sometimes we lost small details, emotions. We didn't like it. So it wasn't a good decision for the quality of the album. We told our record company, "We don't want to do that anymore." And besides, the songs have to be sung twice, and sometimes there's this magical moment in the studio, something happens and you know it's the best record. It's impossible to repeat when you need to record a second version. Maybe in the future we will write songs in German!
This album is influenced by many styles: pop, funk, electro... Why did you decide to take the risk now? It could destabilize the audience...
Tom: I think some of them are already a little destabilized.
Bill: Yes, but we haven't made music for a long time, so we wanted to try something new. And we took the opportunity.
Georg: And even more so, this is exactly the kind of music that we like today!
Tom: First of all, we want to stay honest and true to ourselves. If we do what we love... Some artists think differently: they keep the same style, they always do the same thing, because they know that's what the fans want to hear.
Bill: I don't like playing safe. Take risks, that's life! It's interesting and similar to us. We don't want to give people what they want to hear.
Tokio Hotel says: 'We are shocked that France is so homophobic'
Did you know that the song "Love Who Loves You Back" and the very sexy video might shock some people...
Tom: It's true, they're a little more shocked than we thought! (Laughs). It's the same with the "Girl Got A Gun" video - people are a little crazy. But I asked myself, “Why? This is my favorite clip! I didn't think there would be so much talk about Toko, the guy in blue, and he shocks them so much! I love this video! It's the same with "Love Who Loves You Back" - the idea came to us a long time ago. It is based on the German film "Perfumer". There is a scene where people want to kill the main character. Hundreds of people shout at him, and he sprays perfume, and people begin to love him, love each other. We are moving from hate to love. We were in awe of this scene! We wanted to make a video in this spirit, so that everything turned into an orgy. We don't have spirits, but we have music!
Bill: And it's a scandal because people make a scandal out of it! You shouldn't fuss. It's just love, that's the message. I don't understand people who say, "Oh la la, boys to boys, girls to girls." Enough, we are in 2014!
I don't know if you're aware, but the issue of marriage for all has shaken France, it's been quite tense... Does that shock you?
Bill: Of course, I'm still shocked when I hear things like this, all this homophobia...
Tom: We're shocked because it's the same story...
Bill: Everyone has the right to love whoever he wants, it is necessary to do away with issues of gender, religion ... In some countries this is a problem. In others, everything is going well, it's wonderful! We shouldn't even ask these questions...
When creating the song Love Who Loves You Back, did you want to help your fans recognize their orientation and embrace their identity?
Bill: Yes. We want to give them confidence. I've always been like this... I hate it when others tell you what to do, what to be, what to think and what to say. I believe in freedom. Everyone should be able to do what he loves, to love whoever he wants. We have always represented this idea, and it is good.
That's right, Bill, you've had to deal with a lot of criticism about your image. Was it difficult to live?
Bill: The thing is, I got used to it, because I was still small. (Smiling). I went to school with painted nails, with makeup… I always had problems.
Tom: I was the older brother who protected him during breaks!
Bill: I've always been at odds. Looking back, I can say yes, it was a provocation, perhaps I was trying to provoke this reaction. But I never understood why it might bother some people so much. I wanted to show everyone that I spit on them, I told them: "Fuck you!", confirming my opinion. I'm used to it, so I don't care if someone criticizes my style. It doesn't affect me in any way.
Tom: After winning Eurovision, they talk more about his looks than about the song, I have to admit. But it's very good! This is a good sign.
Your music has changed. You too. The media still talks a lot about your appearance. Did you expect this?
Bill: Yes! It was expected. But for me it's normal: fashion, image, cover, photos and all that, it all comes with what you create. The most important thing is that the music is always present. Talk about it differently than about everything else.
Bill, would you like to start a solo career?
Georg: I think! (Laughs).
Tom: I'll start something myself.
Bill: What? You and your solo career?
Tom: Yes, me and my huge cock! (They all laugh). I'm just looking for a stage name. Maybe Tom Long Dong! (Laughs).
Bill: I never seriously thought about it. I feel good in the group, even musically I find myself in it. I am satisfied; we love what we do. I don't have this desire - to make a solo album. At least not right away. I love working with others. We would like to collaborate with one DJ in the near future… Nothing is planned yet. But I would like to start my own clothing line! I have to find time to do things well. I don't want to just put my name on, I want to draw and so on... I want to have a twist. I have been working on design for several years. When the time is right, the line will come out.
Presenter:"I hate sex with groupies and I'm afraid of assassination attempts" - with these open statements we were surprised by the frontman of the successful worldwide band Tokio Hotel Bill Kaulitz.
In Oberhausen, four Magdemurians make a stop on their tour. There is already a familiar situation: thousands of screaming fans. State of emergency!
So what price should the guys pay for their incredible success? Tokio Hotel told David Moterad and Bettina Fitsche about this.
Bettina: How often does Bill Kaulitz have sex?
Bill: For all the last years I have not had a single girl in my room, nothing at all.
Bettina: What is it like to be constantly afraid of assassination attempts?
Volume: This, of course, is such a thing that we kind of can’t live without or can’t even imagine how it is when there are no people who hate us.
Bettina: And how do the guys handle it? Not a single step goes unnoticed and you can’t do without protection.
Bill: You need to consider whether you are ready to live in this way. We have it so.
Bettina: We met with Tokio Hotel and got honest answers to very personal questions.
On Friday night, more than 11,000 fans were waiting in the Arena Oberhausen for the object of their desire, Bill Kaulitz. A sparkling mix of warrior, angel and alien is out of this world anyway. A couple of small dance moves were enough to bring the audience into ecstasy. When he sings about great love, except for squeals, little is heard.
Bill sings about what he himself no longer experiences. Falling in love, having a girlfriend, from the very beginning of their worldwide success, he forgot about it. The last time he was in love was when he was 14 years old, that is. 6 years ago. Does that mean he can say goodbye to sex?
Bill: I haven't had a girlfriend in recent years. And a year ago... I'll say this, I have to really fall in love in order to constantly spend time with someone and let me into my apartment or tour bus and all that.
(Tom laughs.)
Bill: What?
Volume: There is nothing.
Bill:…I need to fall in love. And so sex after a concert with someone who is in the front row is not even considered by me.
Voice-over: What would happen if...
Volume(interrupts): for me it's just the opposite actually!
Bettina: With the twin Tom, things go completely differently. At the same time, many girls are interested in Tom more as a pop star than as a person.
Volume: It's just a little fun for us. In the end, don't care if she thinks you're a good person, which she obviously can't because she doesn't know you. Or because she only saw you on TV. But now I don't care!
Bill: And besides, of course, we have...
Volume(interrupts and turns to Bill): It's only about physical contact, something you don't understand at all!
Bill: Yes.
Bettina: The rejection of love is not the only sacrifice for a successful worldwide career.
Bill has bad memories (literally experience here!) And he even fears for his life. Security was supposed to pull people disguised as fans and armed with knives from the red carpet.
Bill: Stories like people with knives and stuff happened at the very beginning of our career. Then I was about 16. Yes, 4 years have passed, but a person grows up with this, and you don’t know how it is - differently.
Bettina: Only indoors, behind closed doors, Bill feels safe.
Trying on costumes at the beginning of the week. With him are only his bandmates and the design duo Dsquared, who designed these space outfits.
Bill: Whoosh, Pati!
Bettina: A relaxed and fearless moment. It's very risky for Bill and the others to appear in the public eye.
Bill: Once, I think, in Los Angeles, we already had such a situation. Then one of the fans ran onto the stage and tried to drag Tom down from the stage. Also, it can happen on the red carpet or at performances with a lot of artists.
Bettina: The French gang of girls pursued their idols for several months. Last year, the situation escalated at the gas station. The girl molested Tom, he lost his temper and hit her. This week it became known that Tom must pay a fine of 1,000 euros and apologize. Case is closed. This can happen to all artists, but as Tokio Hotel themselves say, they have always had more enemies than everyone else since their school days.
Volume: This, of course, is such a thing that we kind of can’t live without or can’t even imagine how it is when there are no people who hate us. To some extent, we even need it. But of course, this is to be feared.
Bettina: Guys love to get attention. And the fact that in Germany they are still considered a teenage band makes Bill nervous.
Bill: Once there was a poll in the street, in which passers-by played snippets of songs from our new album and they really liked them. When they were told that this was Tokio Hotel, they immediately said: "well, yes, after all, I don't really like it."
Bettina: this does not happen in other countries. After 2 concerts in Germany they go to Moscow, Madrid, Rome, Paris. Tokio Hotel achieved worldwide success, which is very rare for German musicians. But their life goes beyond the usual living standards. Drink coffee or go shopping, for Bill it's unimaginable.
Bill: Maybe after the store closes. Well, or if there is a shopping center ... Or they will have to close everything. This often happens. We often go to the cinema too, but then the cinema is closed, and we go there after closing.
Leading: Are bodyguards always with you?
Bill: One guard is always with us, that's for sure, but more often than not. But I would not dare to go out now without a bodyguard in any case.
Bettina: Money, success, fame, all this is really expensive.
Bill: You should always be ready to give something in return. It's impossible to have everything. It is impossible to have a private life, a girlfriend, such things don't just happen. You have to accept it and deal with it. You have to give everything for it.
Bettina: Bill and Tom are now 20 years old. For 10 years they have been in business, for 5 years they have been stars and today they are world stars. Their life rushes at high speeds, it is equally difficult in both positive and negative moments. No financial worries, millions of fans are always with them. For this - fear for their own lives.
Personal life of Bill Kaulitz has changed a lot since he became the lead singer of the popular musical group Devilish, later renamed Tokio Hotel. The group was formed by Bill, his brother Tom and their friends Gustav Schäfer and Georg Listing. Bill gained immense popularity among teenagers, especially girls, who did not give the young musician a pass, bombarding him with letters and declarations of love. Each of his stage appearances was accompanied by their enthusiastic cries and it was hard to believe that there were not so many novels in Bill Kaulitz's personal life. Blame it all, according to the Tokio Hotel vocalist, on his busy schedule, but he never lost hope of finding true love.
Pictured: Bill Kaulitz
However, even in his loneliness, Bill tries to find the advantages that no one limits his circle of communication and does not need to report to anyone. Bill Kaulitz does not consider himself a heartthrob, therefore he does not welcome short-term hobbies and small romances, according to the musician, if he enters into a relationship, then they must be very serious and long-term. He admits the possibility that one of the fans could become his girlfriend, but only if he truly falls in love. In the personal life of Bill Kaulitz, communication with fans often happened, but so far it has not reached a close relationship with any of them.
In 2010, an important event happened in the biography of Bill Kaulitz and his brother - they moved to Los Angeles, and explained their departure from Hamburg by the desire to hide from everyone and live their own lives. They settled in a big house and feel very comfortable, and Bill and Tom are accompanied by four dogs. They are still drawn to Germany, where their family lives, and they come to their home whenever possible.
In the photo - Bill Kaulitz with his brother Tom
An important place in the personal life of Bill Kaulitz is occupied by charitable activities - together with Tom they took part in the campaign "Get the wild animals out of the circus!", As well as against the extermination of homeless animals. As for his affairs on the love front, last year there was news about his relationship with Nikki Ramsay, the daughter of a famous chef and TV presenter. But how true this news is is unknown, and Nikki herself says that they have maintained a good relationship, although they broke up.
12.10.2018 |
Tokio Hotel is a German rock band that became famous all over the world 10 years ago. Talented, bright, outrageous guys blew up the music charts with their tracks, received many awards and prizes. Millions of fans listened to their music, copied their appearance - grew their hair long, dyed it black, let their eyes down.
Tokio Hotel band then and now
Twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz were born in Leipzig, Germany in 1989. When the boys were 7 years old, their parents separated, their mother married musician Gordon Trumper. He taught the children to sing and play the guitar. Bill composed songs, performed them to the accompaniment of Tom.
Bill and Tom Kaulitz as children
In 2001, the twins formed a band called "Devilish" and were joined by guitarist Gustaf Schäfer and drummer Georg Listing. The guys performed in clubs and recorded their first solo album. The twins had unusual looks: Bill painted his eyes and nails black, Tom wore dreadlocks.
Tokio Hotel group formerly
The group was noticed by producer Peter Hoffman, he suggested that the young men sign a contract and change their name to "Tokio Hotel". The guys recorded 15 songs, among which was "Durch den Monsun", which hit the first lines of the world charts. The song "Schrei" has become the anthem of all teenagers. This track is a protest against the oppression of adults.
At the peak of popularity
From 2006 to 2014, the band released 4 records in German and English, toured Europe, the USA and Latin America. The popularity of the guys was huge. However, the next album "Dream Machine" did not rise above number 5 in the German charts.
Band members today
In 2018, after a massive tour in support of the new record, the guys took a creative break. However, the group continues to exist.
Bill Kaulitz - lead singer of Tokio Hotel
In 2016, Bill decided to go solo, he released the album "I'm Not OK". It included 15 songs. A music video was filmed for the single "Love Don't Break Me".
Bill Kaulitz then and now
Now Bill has radically changed his image, he cut his hair short, dyed it platinum blond. The musician participates in fashion shows, appears on the covers of glossy magazines. Modeling agency "Modelwerk" signed a contract with Bill.
Bill participates in fashion shows
Kaulitz maintains a Youtube channel where he posts videos about the band and everyday vlogs. Bill continues to make music. In October of this year, he recorded a duet with the German artist Nisse.
Bill remains a musician
As for Kaulitz's personal life, there have always been many rumors about her. The soloist of "Tokio Hotel" was credited with novels with singers, models, makeup artists, and even with the daughter of the famous chef Gordon Ramsay. The artist usually does not give any comments about love relationships.
Bill Kaulitz and Trina Strassenburg
Officially, he had an affair only with a fan of the work of "Tokio Hotel" Trina Strassenburg. They met at a concert of the band and met for a year, then broke up due to constant quarrels.
Tom Kaulitz - guitarist and producer
Tom Kaulitz has always been not only the guitarist of Tokio Hotel, but also co-wrote many songs. In 2016, he became the producer of his brother Bill's solo record.
How has Tom Kaulitz changed?
As for success on the personal front, in the summer of 2015, Tom married German model Ria Sommerfeld, but the relationship fell apart after six months.
Tom Kaulitz today
Later, the guitarist dated Iranian fashion model Shermin Shahrivar. She was 7 years older than him. This spring, there were rumors that Tom was having an affair with Heidi Klum herself. In the press there were pictures of a couple in love, taken by the paparazzi.
Tom Kaulitz and Heidi Klum
Bill and Heidi did not hide their relationship from the public. Soon they officially appeared as a couple at the AmfAR charity dinner in Cannes. According to Heidi, she is happy with Bill and is not embarrassed by the age difference of 16 years.
Gustav Schäfer - drummer
Gustav Schäfer was born in Magdeburg in autumn 1988. Since childhood, he loved music, listened with his father to the records of Phil Collins and Eric Clapton. At the age of 12, Gustav became part of the Tokio Hotel group.
Gustav Schaefer hasn't changed much
The drummer is known among fans for his tattoos. He has 4 of them: on his back, on his arms, on his right leg. Most of all, the fans were struck by the tattoo with the words of the song Johnny Cash, this is Gustav's favorite performer.
Schaefer tattoos
Over the years, Schaefer has not changed much in appearance, but serious changes have occurred in his personal life. He got married and had a daughter. Now Gustaf Schaefer remains the drummer of "Tokio Hotel".
Georg Listing - bassist
Georg Listing was born in the spring of 1987 in Halle. As a child, the boy attended a music school, where he learned to play the bass guitar. Another of Listing's favorite musical instruments is the piano. He got into the "Tokio Hotel" at the age of 13.
Georg Listing then and now
Now Georg Listing has not changed much, only cut off his long hair and “pumped up” a little. He continues to be friends and work with the Kaulitz twins. In addition, the musician travels a lot.
Georg loves to travel
He recently visited the most famous waterfalls in Iceland and shared beautiful photos on Instagram. George does not cover his personal life.
Tokio Hotel is preparing a new album
Today, the Tokio Hotel group continues to perform in full force and tour the world. Recently, the band's lead singer Bill Kaulitz wrote on Instagram that a new album "Tokio Hotel" will soon appear on the shelves of music stores. While the final release date is not known, but fans of the twins hope that the songs will bring the group a new round of popularity.
Photo: Instagram, the-most-beautiful.ru, lichnosti.net, 24smi.org
Bill Kaulitz of Tokio Hotel confesses everything in a letter posted on the SheKnows website. The 25-year-old German singer, who reported the letter on Instagram and Twitter, has decided to be open about his sexual orientation. The first and important step in which he admitted: there are no restrictions in love. And even if he didn't want to, he had to explain himself. The phrase "Bill Kaulitz is gay" has accompanied him since his debut in the music world.
Bill Kaulitz of Tokio Hotel's homosexuality has been talked about on the Internet and in music circles for several years now, arousing curiosity among his many fans who follow him on Facebook. In this touching letter, the tattoo-addicted German artist reveals unknown aspects of his private life.
The Tokio Hotel vocalist explains in his letter: "As a child, I always dreamed of finding the great love of my life. My twin brother Tom never understood the latter. He didn't really care. My friends sometimes laugh at me and almost everyone I know , they think that such love, which I believe in, happens only in fairy tales. But I was betrayed, deceived, used. However, I still believe in magic, in great love that happens once in a lifetime. People like to classify everything and label everything," Bill said, "even sexuality and love. Especially in the industry I'm in. I feel like people just go crazy because they can't tell who's in my bed: a woman or man That's why I've been getting asked the same "Are you gay or not?" question ever since I was 13 and started doing interviews."
All these phrases of the vocalist are reminiscent of the words of the British swimmer Tom Daly, when he confessed to his unconventional orientation last year: before that, he first said that in love for him there was no difference between men and women, and then became an open homosexual. News of Bill Kaulitz's letter spread quickly on social media. Now many of his fans are wondering: Is Bill gay or bisexual? Most likely, very soon we will learn something else. The fact remains that all the confessions from celebrities in the world of music, cinema, television and sports are very useful and meaningful for all homosexuals who are victims of homophobia, bullying and ignorance every day.
