Interview with Bill & Tom - "DSDS is the original" - TV Digital #01/2013 [Germany]

New candidates, new presenters - and real Superstars in the Jury. The 10th season of "DSDS" (starts on 5th January, 8.15 PM on RTL) kicks off the new TV Season. There are 32,078 candidates competing over a record deal with universal and 500,000 €. "DSDS" starts with 7 casting shows, followed by the Recalls in Bad Driburg and Curaçao which will then lead into the Live Shows. The Tokio-Hotel-Twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz reveal why they are convinced of the success of "DSDS" in their exclusive interview with TV-Digital.

Why do you support "DSDS" in its anniversary year?
Bill: Because "DSDS" is the most successful casting show, that offers a realistic start into the music business. It's the original!
Tom: All the other shows try to breathe new life into their formats by coming up with new ideas. But "DSDS" is the most successful format, especially when it comes to the artists success after "DSDS". The success of winners of oter shows is never that big. Where else can you win 500,000 € and - practically - get a guarantee for a No. 1 Hit?

What is working, with Dieter Bohlen, like?
Bill: Very good! This time the "DSDS"-Jury is made up of 4 active musicians. We'll give the candidates some good advice.

What's your favorite "Modern Talking" song?
Tom: I don't have one. And to be honest, I also don't know that many.
Bill: "Cheri, Cheri Lady" was a song of theirs. But that wasn't really a hit during "our time".


Which song would describe your attitude towards life best?
Tom: "It's my life" of course. (Bill & Tom laugh)
Bill: No, there's no specific song from other artists. Our own songs definitely describe our attitude towards life best.


In Germany, the feeling arose that you went into hiding in Los Angeles for the past two years. Why were you really there?
Bill: We were in L.A. to work on our new Album, because we have a good foundation there - meaning: studios, producers and people we've been working with for a long time.
Tom: Most people, when they think of L.A., think of glamour and hollywood. Both of those things weren't crucial for our decision to work there. The working conditions were simply perfect and suited us the most. But theoretically we could have also ended up going to Chicago or San Francisco. Whoever connects my work in L.A. with the glamour life of hollywood is reading too much into our move.

Where are you going to live in the near future?
Bill: We get bored pretty fast when we live in one place for a long time. And we like getting around. We feel comfortable living in L.A., but we could also imagine living somewhere else. It's absolutely possible that we'll be working from a different country by next year.
Tom: I, for example, can very much imagine to live in India! It's a big wish of mine: to emigrate to India for some time. It's a country we haven't been to yet. Our wish of going to India was actually sparked by hearing so many positive things about that country. I will definitely go on a motorbike trip across India.

Do you think that Casting Shows have a future?
Bill: A lot of artists currently decide to join the Jury of a casting show, for example: Britney Spears, Steven Tyler or Mariah Carey. Insofar a new show-era is starting.
Tom: The condemned live longer. I'm convinced that casting shows are currently reinventing themselves. Storybook careers are not the custom anymore, because there are fewer talent scouts around that offer unknown bands a record deal. That changed since we were discovered, we were incredibly lucky. The way out of this dilemma are casting shows. Where else can you get a No.-1-Hit and every now and then also global popularity? The americans have known that for a long time!

Apparently you're fans of Angela Merkel...
Bill: The policies of our federal chancellor are comprehensible. For me, Merkel is a popular figure. She conveys a kind of "Mother"-Syndrome - at least a little bit. With her, you have the feeling that you're in good hands.

On which outstanding artists do you orient yourselves, who - would you say - is a role model?
Bill: We've always liked Aerosmith. A band that started incredibly early and that's still performing on stage - a legend that shaped generations with their sound.

When will your new Album be released?
Tom: Not this year.
Bill: There's no specific point in time. We'll release it when we feel that everything is perfect. One of these days someone will have to pry it out of our hands and say: "Okay, that's enough!" But at the moment we're still in the writing and producing process.

So the last question that's left: How satisfied/happy are you with your life?
Bill: Very happy. We fill our life with our passion for music. It's very important to live in the here and now, without being "hunted" by new goals to achieve. When I look back to the things I did in the past, I can only say that I'm happy with everything.
Tom: Happiness doesn't depend on how the things go, but on your own attitude.

Translation by Icey @ LoveTH-Music.com

Interview with Bill & Tom - "While one is hated, also is loved" - IN #52/2012 [Germany]

Tokio Hotel is loved and hated.

Since Bill and Tom Kaulitz (23) launched "Durch Den Monsun" in 2005 they were at the top of the charts and they divided the nation. Two years ago, they closed the door of Tokio Hotel, moved to Los Angeles and took a break. But not anymore. The twins celebrate their return on January 5 in RTL with Dieter Bohlen (58) in the DSDS jury -. the biggest talent show on German television, A big madness? Bill and Tom talked to "IN".

IN: What made you want to take part on DSDS?
Bill: Definitely the format on "DSDS" because it is a show of traditional casting, which has a huge entertainment factor and the platform launches the artist towards a successful career. Steven Tyler, the Aerosmith frontman, sat on the jury of "American Idol" in the U.S. - the version that talks about quality format.

IN: Format in which each of you gets 500,000 euros.
Bill: (laughs) We do not talk about numbers. Our commitment is linked to certain conditions that mostly had to do with our work schedule.

IN: Were there any proposals from other programs?
Tom: For several years, we have eliminated almost all formats of musical talent for us. We've always had the idea of doing that, but in the end, we fit never really. For us it was clear that if we participated in a talent show, it would be the largest and most successful one

IN: How is working with Dieter Bohlen?
Tom: Working with Dieter is totally relaxed. We did not know Dieter before and we wanted to confront with impartiality. We knew that we were dealing with the damage - if he knew us personally or not on the first day of shooting so we were neutral and we hit it! Even with Mateo.

IN: Bill, was in 2003 in the musical talent show "Star - Search" and they eliminated him in the second round. Should judges Alexandra Kamp, Jeanette and Hugo Egon Balder be judged for not recognizing his talent?
Tom: (laughs) Of course they should! With the decision to send home Bill, the jury of "Star Search" went completely to the toilet.

IN: You are living in L.A. for two years. Is a relaxed life for you?
Bill: Of course. This is also due to the circumstances. In Germany, everyone has seen us grow. Our puberty was seen in public, and we often felt like we were in the house of "Big Brother".

IN: What are your experiences of friends in the superficial city?
Bill: Los Angeles can be really ego-driven. And we do not care. We moved to Los Angeles to work freely in the new music, and because our studies are there, where we produce. New friendships are generally difficult and this is probably the price of our success.

IN: Tokio Hotel is considered as a logo among other German bands abroad. Do you resent having to fight to be in your home country with hostility?
Tom: We have become accustomed. Now we see it in a pragmatic way. While one is hated, is also loved. And while you keep the balance, you can live. We can ignore, not read and not comment any bullshit. Living in Los Angeles, we have enough distance, which is good.
Bill: We're not looking for on Google. So we do not read reviews or interviews, or I'd go crazy probably. We are totally protectionist and we have always been very self-critical in everything we do. To be really good, you must not lose your perspective, we know that there are people on the right and the left.

IN: Can you imagine returning to Germany?
Bill: I would not rule it out. We will always have a residence in Germany, for our family and friends.

IN: How are your links to home?
Tom: I feel at home, where I have my own four walls. If I have a house for a long time and my four dogs are there and the family is there, I feel at home quickly. I do not need anymore. Who knows and maybe in two years we move to a very different place. Bill and I always wanted to live in India.

IN: Tokio Hotel really can exist without their band mates Georg and Gustav?
Bill: The question is not for us. Tokio Hotel is impossible to break into pieces. We are a group of more than 10 years and especially we are close friends.
Tom: Tokio Hotel, is just in the constellation. Anything else is unthinkable!

Translation by Tokio Hotel Aliens Spain 

Interview with Bill & Tom - "Bill and Tom Kaulitz wanted to move to India - The album has to wait." - klatsch-tratsch.de

December 19, 2012

Goodbye Los angeles, Hello Bollywood? Quite possible that Bill and Tom from Tokio Hotel move to india soon - at least for a while. This secret revealed Bill and Tom with the tv program guide ‘Digital TV’ in the interview.

“This is a big wish of mine, because it is a country in which we were not on the road,” said Tom. “Our desire to india was actually aroused by the fact that we have heard so many positive things about it. I will definitely make soon a motorcycle tour through India.”

Thanks to Tokio Hotel is “Deutschland Sucht Sen Superstar” (airs on january 5th at 20.15 clock on rtl) in the 10th season again on top form, as the twins Bill and Tom complement the judges around Dieter Bohlen. “With him, the cooperation is working very well,” said Bill. ‘DSDS’ is the most successful German talent show and provides the most realistic start into the music business.”

Contrary to the general trend of sinking ratings at castingshows can see the two an upswing: “More and more artists currently decide to be a part of the judges of a talent show, for example Britney Spears, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler and Mariah Carey,” reports Bill. “The condemned live longer. I am also convinced that talent shows currently invent new. Where else you can guaranteed a number-one hit and sometimes global popularity? The americans know that long ago” adds Tom.

Although the twins have no favorite song by modern talking (”that was not really our time”), but they are based more on Aerosmith: “This is a band started incredibly early and still stands on the stage - a legend has shaped the generations and their own sound,” says Bill.

In addition, there is one other person, as their big fan outs himself heartthrob Bill: german chancellor Angela Merkel. “The policy of the chancellor is understandable and comprehensible. For me, Merkel is a popular figure. It gives the ‘mama’ syndrome. With her I have the feeling to be in good hands.”

About the new album from Tokio Hotel fans have to wait a little longer: “There is no exact date for release,” said Bill. “We will release it when our feeling tells us that everything is perfect. Currently, we still write and produce.“

Source: http://bit.ly/ZOd1hw
Translation by BTK Twins Archive

Interview with Bill & Tom - "We just needed time to ourselves!" - BRAVO #42/2012 [Germany]

"We just needed time to ourselves!"

The Tokio Hotel twins explain their escape to L.A. in BRAVO The Tokio Hotel stars Bill and Tom are back in the public eye after a two-year break! But why were the two brothers gone for so long?

Top twins & Sascha picture: Sascha from BRAVO (middle) met the super twins for a talk in Berlin’s club “Felix”.

Twins with shopping bags picture: The Kaulitz twins after some shopping in their new home city Los Angeles/California.

Bottom DSDS picture: New job alongside Dieter Bohlen (58 [years old], left): the twins can be seen as judges for DSDS on RTL from early 2013 on. Culcha Candela rapper Itchyban (33, right) also joins them.

Quote 1: “We could just go to the supermarket again!”

Quote 2: “There are complete idiots who follow us everywhere!”

Over six million sold records, more than 300 concerts and over 90 awards – worldwide! Tokio Hotel belong to the most successful German bands of all time. However, two years ago the group suddenly went on hiatus. The twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz (both 23 years old) moved to Los Angeles/California from Hamburg. From then on complete radio silence surrounded the super band. No new music, no appearances. Every now and then a paparazzi shot of the Magdeburg natives in their new US-home appeared – that was it! However, now they’re back again. They can be seen as judges for the 10th season of “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” on RTL from early 2013 on. However, BRAVO already met with the coolest twins of Germany during the recording of the first castings at Berlin’s club “Felix”. It was a lovely reunion with old friends! That’s because the BRAVO team accompanied the guys since their career started in summer 2005. What has changed? Bill looks totally different. He’s wearing a beard, many piercings and tattoos, seems beefier. However, he shines like he used to do and says: “We’re feeling really great.” 

Even though Bill and Tom were criticised in a mean way by German media in the past months – [it was said] they’d look like skin and bones and totally worn out. “That wasn’t even on our minds. After all headlines keep repeating themselves time and again. It’s been like that throughout our career. But don’t worry, everything’s well with us”, Bill points out straight away. After all they’ve had lots of time to rest. “At first we only relaxed when we moved over there. We had decided to totally disappear from the media, to not do any interviews and photo shoots. Tom and I just needed time to ourselves.”   That wasn’t possible in Germany. They were besieged everywhere. Leading a normal life was not happening for them anymore.“In Los Angeles we could just go to the supermarket again or the cinema”, Tom explains. However, even in the USA the band are known now. That’s why paparazzi lie in wait for them. “It can’t be avoided in the city. Sometimes I think nobody is looking – and then there’s still a picture being taken”, Bill says. “There are just some complete idiots who follow us everywhere. But it’s okay.” 

However, the guys did not only chill out but also worked on new songs. “It totally helped us a lot to being able to take a lot of time and to write and produce new songs without any pressure. That took us to a whole new level. So much material was created – most of which will not be heard by anybody but lots of it will be”, according to Tom. But when will that be? Is there a date for the next album? “There’s no exact date yet. We’re taking our time.”   Waiting for it will be sweetened for us by Bill and Tom’s participation on the DSDS judging panel. 

“The biggest challenge are the working hours for the recordings”, Tom laughs. “Every day we’ve got to get up at 6am here! Usually that’s the time we only just go to bed…”

-- Page 2 --

Main twins picture: Bill (left) and Tom 2012: the TH stars did not forget how to laugh during their break

“Bravo View” picture: Tokio Hotel – see how it all began! Download the BravoView App for free. Start it and hover your smartphone or tablet over the page – there you go!

Timeline: They became world stars with Tokio Hotel

7/2005 – The first Bravo photo shoot with Bill, Tom and their band mates Georg (left) and Gustav (right)! A month later they manage the breakthrough with the Number One hit “Durch den Monsun”. Their debut album “Schrei” also becomes a mega success.

10/2005 – Via BRAVO the four guys are looking for a girlfriend [each] – and more than 56,000 love letters reach the BRAVO editorial department! The absolute Tokio Hotel mania has broken out…

1/2006 – Bill surprisingly got rid of his cult manga-style hair – and ends up on the BRAVO cover with it. To date Tokio Hotel graced our cover page for a total of 25 times!

4/2007 – They receive the Gold BRAVO Otto for “Super Band” at the Bravo Super Show in Düsseldorf – one of a total of four Bravo Ottos for Tokio Hotel.

4/2008 – And once more with a new look: now with a spiky hairstyle front man Bill conquers the charts all over Europe with his band Tokio Hotel and the album “Zimmer 483”!

5/2009 – After a short break Tokio Hotel return as the stars of a H&M campaign and in addition announce their third album “Humanoid”.

10/2009 – The third CD also makes it to the top of the German charts. And not only Bill sports a new hairdo again: Tom shows himself with cornrows for the first time!

12/2010 – Worldwide stars: by now TH are also famous in Asia, South America and the US. Their “Humanoid” makes it to # 35 in the US-Billboard charts.

Translation by tokiohotelstreetteam.co.uk

Scans by @TokioHotel_Info