across the aisle

daily dos

wed 10/14/2009

 

Matthias Schlitte may be Germany's arm wrestling champion, but his massive right arm suggests he's probably good at something else.

 
 

Tokio Hotel

as seen on myspace

wed 8/6/2008

 
The members of Tokio Hotel pose in front of a white background.

Nearly 25 years after German rock band Scorpions rocked us like a hurricane, teen glam rockers Tokio Hotel are making America scream.

Founded in 2001 by then 11-year-old twin brothers Tom (guitars) and Bill Kauiltz (vocals) and rounded out by Gustav Schäfer (drums) and Georg Listing (bass), the band has been dubbed "the greatest German bubblegum-neo-glam-goth-emo boy band. Ever."

The group released two successful albums in Germany, Schrei (Scream) and Zimmer 483 (Room 483), before putting out the English-language debut Scream earlier this year. The collection of songs successfully translates some of their biggest hits – the 2005 hit single, Durch Den Monsun is now Monsoon – while filling in some gaps. As Bill's look has become more femme, his voice has gotten deeper, making their latest effort their most adult-sounding yet.

The rocking Ready, Set, Go! has made the band's popularity stateside explode, prompting the band to lament: "We're trying to live our dreams and not to give up, expressing ourselves no matter what people may say."

See: myspace.com/tokiohotel