Translation by PUPLEHAZE
On March 13th, the "1000 Hotels European Tour" stopped at the Zenith of Montpellier. A story of a very special day with Bill and co.: one that would be the penultimate of a tour interrupted during take-off.
This Thursday, it is just a week ago that Tokio Hotel set foot on French soil, "1000 Hotels European Tour" is obligatory. At the moment, everything is ok. The joyride to Alsace, to Luxembourg, the two shows in Paris and the date of the preliminary day in Dijon went like clockwork. Of course, boys are under considerable strain: the pressure of concerts, the pace of promos and road miles stresses the body, even if they are young and lusty.
Georg not better
Nevertheless, these are four guys who seem to be in good shape that we are seeing backstage, it is 3 pm and the timing is respected to the minute. As expected, their black tourbus just enters the Grammont Area which houses the yellow Zenith of Montpellier. Close to their coaches, between two semi-trailers, Bill, Tom, Georg and Gustav come naturally and greet me, as they did during our very first interview. Handshaking firm and demonstrative (they are German rockers), except for Georg who admits (in a mix of English and French) that he is sick and that it is better to avoid any physical contact. The bassist is obviously very embarrassed; he knows he is going to play with all the energy left. This becomes evident later during the interview where the boy is surprisingly quiet. Whatever, compared to him Tom is on the starting blocks and is awaiting the hour of our interview with impatience: perhaps he has, between two glasses of orange juice, some startling statements on the sexuality of his brother, revelations to be done on Gustav, at the mercy of the wildest rumours. In particular that one of him possibly leaving the band after the concert at Parc des Princes, on June 21st. Information or disinformation? The following will clarify things.
Great, all these signs!
At 3:40 pm we are entering one of the two coaches of the Germans. The first is strictly private and the second being more dedicated to interviews and photo sessions. We have twenty minutes which we should use to full capacity because we have dozens of questions, your ones.
Have you been surprised by the warm welcome of the French fans at the first four tour dates, especially during the first one at Bercy where everyone waved with "Danke" signs at a specific moment of the show?
Tom: Bercy was really one of the great moments of our lives. Especially when we saw all these signs thanking us hold up in unison. It was the greatest present that a public can offer his band. It was wow!
Bill: Obviously, when you play twice in front of over seventeen thousand people, it makes you nervous. The tension rises and when you see this kind of reaction of the audience, all this evidence of love, it can only reassure you, it stimulates you in concert and makes you better.
Georg: Being thanked in this way warms your heart, it encourages you and it makes you even stronger for the rest of the show.
Bill: Frankly, when you see what's happening to us in France, it is unbelievable. Who would have thought that while still a few months ago we were not well known and we played at the Trabendo in Paris.
Transition to act
You played "Geh" for the first time on stage during this tour. Was that the surprise you announced for the French public?
Bill: We're pleased that this has been taken as a surprise by the French fans because that’s what we wanted. This song is on the B side of the single "An deiner Seite (Ich bin da)" and we were eager to integrate it into our set list. It is a song that is very important to us. The lyrics are full of emotions because the text evokes the moment when you break up with your beloved. It speaks about things you can do or say, words that you can not find, small awkwardness related to these delicate instants where everything can take extents that you do not control. It is always difficult to leave someone because there are still feelings which remain; sense of guilt becomes apparent even when you know that it's your heart that speaks. Personally, I always find it difficult to leave, to feel when it is the right moment to split up. It is never easy to deal with your own desires, your own feelings and to act in accordance with your thoughts.
This is a song about the transition to act; sometimes we must take this step because it is the only possible solution if one considers that matter of love should only be dictated by your heart.
Gustave in the turmoil Internet
At the second concert at Bercy, you received a huge diamond record from your record company. Are you still sensitive to these kinds of rewards?
Bill: Yes, it is important for us to receive such rewards. It's like all awards that we could win this year. It is a great honour. Like Tom says, these are things that remain.
Tom: I said that? (laughs) No seriously, we don’t make music to get good grades or receive trophies to decorate our homes, but when they come, we take them with pleasure!
Georg: Particularly this one is the first diamond disc we receive here! And then, who sells records/CDs today? There are only few bands that achieve this, so we enjoy being part of the closed circle of "record selling bands".
We have recently read on the internet about an insistent rumour about Gustav possibly leaving the band just after the Parc des Princes. What’s really with it?
Bill: Oh another rumour (in French in the text)! Where may it come from? God alone knows … (thoughtful, editorial remark). You know, at Christmas, it was Georg’s turn to leave us and he is still by our side.
Georg: Do not believe everything that is written about us and that we can not control anyway. I do not know what it is necessary to do so that certain rumours disappear like they are put out …
Tom: You know, it is not because you can see only two or three of us sometimes that the band will get rid of one of its members. Our fans might imagine that we are living together all the time, that we all live the same things, but this is not quite the case.
Of course, we give our interviews together, we are altogether on band photos, but this is only part of our lives as musicians.
Why did you reschedule the date at the Parc des Princes?
Bill: Actually, we wanted to respond to all our fans that could not come that day in question because of examinations. We first asked ourselves if it was technically possible to postpone the concert to the following day and if it was above all playable. After verification, we saw that we could do it. Thus, there was no hesitation, history to satisfy everyone. I hope that those who could not come at the 20th can take the time to be there at the 21st because we really want it to be a party for all people who love us and follow us from the beginning. We are waiting for you (in chorus, editorial remark)!
Jotted down, we will there.
-------
An American tour of the most successful!
Contrary to what has been said and written in the mainstream press, the first couple of concerts of TH across the Atlantic were a raving success. So, ready for the big American leap?
"Apart from Georg who had trouble with his bass in the middle of the concert, our shows in the USA and Canada went very well. The venues were sold out and the public knew our songs by heart, like in Europe. We did not feel any particular difference", admits Bill Kaulitz with a wink to "his" bass player who nods in agreement. "We did not have time to take advantage of our stay because due to snowstorms some of our flights were cancelled and we had to wait in airports, especially in Toronto." Apparently, the American continent does not scare Tokio Hotel more than that. "Of course, America is huge, and it is difficult to break through there. But apart from that, our strategy is the same. Put our name on the map everywhere we go, play wherever possible and, preferably, in more and more large venues," adds Bill as dazzled by the USA as Ribéry by the Bundesliga. "Hollywood and New York however are impressive cities. You have the feeling that it is there that things are going on," says Tom, his eyes sparkling like stars. "On one day in New York, we went out a bit and did some shopping. We do not necessarily have the time or the leisure to do that in Europe while we are on tour. We are eager to return," says his brother.
TH has just announced a new date on April 25th at the Metropolis in Montreal.
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen