“We would like to play on Mars or the moon – Tom”
Tokio Hotel needs no introduction. A few months after performing in Kuala Lumpur, the boys from Germany returned to rock our socks off again. The band, which is made up of eccentric lead vocalist Bill Kaulitz, his twin brother and guitarist Tom, bassist Georg Listing and the ever-so-silent Gustav Schäfer, has made a name for themselves as the quintessential rock band for teens with hits like ‘Monsoon’ off their first album Scream, and ‘Automatic’ and ‘World Behind My Wall’ off their second English album Humanoid.
Decked out in their own unique attire, the eccentric boys sat down with us to talk about Paul the Octopus, crazy fans and the moon.
You guys are always travelling to new places and meeting new fans. It must be really tiring when people keep asking you why your band is called Tokio Hotel.
Bill (B): (Laughs) Yes, that’s always the first question. I don’t know how many times we’ve answered this question.
How do you feel about having to constantly answer that question?
B: We’re used to it but I’m always a bit sad that people have no other questions for us! (We’ve) never thought of changing the band name because then we’ll have to start again.
What inspired you guys to do music together?
B: Basically we started when we were seven years old and our stepfather is in a rock band and he could play a lot of instruments. He could play the guitar, a little bit of drums and bass. He put a guitar in our room and Tom started playing it.
Tom (T): We had our own guitars, we started playing, wrote a few songs, went directly on stage and one day we managed to meet Gustav and Georg at a live pub.
B: It was really clear that we wanted to do music. We started when we were seven so that was really early.
What is the one thing you have to have with you when you perform?
B: My own microphone definitely, because I think it’s kind of disgusting to share with someone else (laughs).
T: I have my lucky charm. We have a couple of small things like a chain.
Georg (G): I always go on stage with this belt.
Has a girl fan ever tried to take it off you? Seriously, you have some crazy fans!
G: No, they’ve never tried (laughs).
We know that the World Cup is over and we’re sure you’ve heard of the famous German octopus, Paul. If you had the chance to ask Paul to predict one thing for you, what would it be?
B: I don’t know. Maybe we (would) ask when we (would) get the chance to go to Tokyo. We hope it will be this year but it’ll be interesting (to hear) what Paul will say.
So, no personal predictions?
T: You mean like something to do with true love? No.
Are you guys superstitious in any way? Do you believe Paul the octopus is a mystical creature?
B: Well, in the beginning I thought it was just a funny thing but he was right all the time and it was really interesting. But I believe in a lot of strange stuff. Like for example, we all believe in aliens. I generally believe in aliens. It’s kind of ridiculous to say we are the only creatures in the universe because no one knows what’s out there. I don’t think they are green or something but there is definitely something out there.
Name: Darby Zukas.
