|
|
Post by Skye. on Jul 14, 2008 20:44:56 GMT 1
a rather odd review but i cant help but say i have noticed they are a tad more distant nowadays..
Bill & Co. let down their fans
Tokio Hotel: Apathetic at Geneva
Yesterday Tokio Hotel played in front of 10,000 fans in Geneva. The cheering of the crowd was incredible, as was the self-restraining of the stars.
The first beats sound throughout Geneva Arena at 19:30. 10,000 fans scream as the biggest hits such as ‘Schrei’ or ‘Übers Ende der Welt’ ring out. Tokio Hotel delivers a professional show – and yet, the enthusiasm is missing.
The four Magdeburg boys keep some distance from the crowd. There’s no lack of the thousands of longing hands raised in the air. Above all, Bill, who girls are passionate about, seems as though he can’t keep enough distance between himself and the fans. He sings from a platform behind the drums for the most part of the concert.
The quartet has managed to do what hardly any German-singing bands have succeeded in doing: They’ve made it abroad. With ‘Schrei’ (2005), they found success as being the first German band to get into the French Top 20. The English version climbed to no.39 in the USA Billboard charts, and even to 6th place in Canada. Tokio Hotel has earned 60 million Swiss Francs since their debut. Long since they’ve been laughed at as one-hit wonders, they’ve become out-of-reach superstars.
At the same time, Tokio Hotel always stands for genuineness. They’re no artificial band; they got together by themselves and they’ve all played their instruments since early childhood. In the band’s (mostly self-written) lyrics, they deal with every teen problem – from lovesickness to suicidal thoughts to the separation of parents.
It arrives. Just like Bill’s look. Despite animosity and sneering remarks, he’s never been put off. It’s his style – he already had his first piercing at 12 years old, which was shortly followed by his first tattoos. With success, his appearance became more extreme, his hair longer (his styling recommendation: “Using a can of hairspray every day and never washing your hair”), his eyeliner thicker and his nail varnish more eccentric.
“Always more” seems to have become the band’s motto. But not in one aspect – Tokio Hotel isn’t the approachable band any more. They seal themselves off. “They don’t give any autographs anymore or pose with the fans for photos,” says Andrea (16), from Olden.
A good hundred teenagers were already camping on the sidewalk days before yesterday’s concert so that they would be admitted into the concert hall first. “I haven’t seen anything like it since Michael Jackson or Pink Floyd played here twenty years ago,” says Michael Drieberg, the concert organiser.
Yet, the times in which fans gathered outside the hotels the boys stayed in are over. “Now they stay as far away from the concert hall as possible; sometimes in other areas, so that they won’t get annoyed by us,” complains Manuela (14), from Berne. The distancing from the fans hasn’t been the only consequence of their success – Bill had to have an operation in March due to a cyst in his vocal chords, which interrupted the tour.
Polo Hofer (63) and Marc Dietrich (59) from the Swiss band Peter, Sue & Marc had to undergo this operation, after which their voices got worn thin through the decades. Bill is forty years younger.
Not a good review - as you can see from the title. Translated by Narin @ tokiohotel.org.uk CREDIT!
what do you lot, our beautiful forumers think?
opinionz PLLLLZZ.
;D
|
|
|
|
Post by liz on Jul 15, 2008 1:28:51 GMT 1
I don't really know what to say to that to be honest. I mean, I wasn't there so I can't really comment. But, even if it's true for that show I don't accept that it's 'the way they are' now.
They totally connected with the crowd at Parc des Princes as far as I'm concerned. And made every effort to do so.
As for posing for photographs and autographs, it's the same with all bands, isn't it? The more popular a band becomes, the harder it is for them to interact with the fans closely.
Maybe they were just having a bad night  They are human beings after all, not robots. Yes, people have paid to see the show etc, but at the end of the day, they're only human. Everyone has a bad day at work at some point, with regretable consequences no doubt.
I would understand it from the point of view of the fans, IF it's true, but I think it's harsh to say they've let their fans down. I think some people are of the impression that they bounce on stage, fine and dandy for every show! These guys are only young, and they have to keep on smiling through all their personal issues, and feeling poorly - stuff like that. I'll never forget Tom talking about being on stage with a massive temperature and thumping headache. Can you imagine how awful that would be? And still having to pretend you're having fun?!
All I'm saying is, people shouldn't kick them everytime they have an off night ( if they even did! ), because they don't know the reason behind it.
They should try being Pete Doherty fans. He never even used to show up for half his gigs LOL.
|
|
|
|
Post by katikus on Jul 15, 2008 2:20:57 GMT 1
maybe they dont pose for photos or give autographs cause of the Wierd ones
(like in one of the pic threads.. the girl who pouts at bill)
Or girls trying to give there phone numbers and just being easy and Skanky towards them..
I mean.. with hotels they speak of fans camping out all night and singing
after camping out and hearing all the singing lining up for parc des princes... I dont know how the hell they would put up with it...
i mean if i was famous
i would get tried of people screaming in my face
telling me they love me/wanna fuck me
and so on...
I would prob cut everyone out too...
just to keep my sanity
as for facing the drums..
and excuse this if its rude
maybe he had male issues with Attraction to the female members....
(lol technical term for a Bone)
and didnt want the audiance to see or take photos
did anyone thnk that?
You all totally are thnkin that now right!
|
|
|
|
Post by blackheartprincess on Jul 15, 2008 10:16:41 GMT 1
First off, this is just one persons opinion. this person may not even like the band (cmon youve all read/heard about that idiot from karrang who slates EVERY band he reviews live unless hes a fan, his name escapes me, sorry)
Secondly people do have bad days, trying to put everything you have into a performance when your not in the right mood, for what ever reason, is hard and it does show sometimes no matter how hard you try to hide it. i know ive gotten to that point but you have to just make the best of it (that is of course if what the reveiw says is true, unless you were there you dont know)
Thirdly, the staying in hotels away from the venue, not going out to see the fans etc, maybe just maybe its a security thing? What good is a band who are too tired to play properly (kept up all night by fans singing) or worse still injured because of over zealous fans? (some of those americans are rabid i swear!.......J/K!!!!)
Anyway untill i see them live (ha) ill do as i always and ignore the crap, ill find out how they are live one way or another ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by xXMissMurderXx on Jul 15, 2008 10:24:27 GMT 1
Well sed. Other peoples opinions, so yea. Whatever!
|
|
|
|
Post by Skye. on Jul 15, 2008 11:20:14 GMT 1
tbh i dont understand how theyve put up with it for this long
i would have flipped out and told the screaming fans to STFU by now
LOL
maybe its a good job im not in TH then
but yeh it is just one persons opinion and its harsh but i like reading the variety of different reviews to show different peoples opinions
though tbh i dont agree with this much
only to the point where ive noticed that they dont sign as much especially bill
but as someone said (cant remember whooo..) that the popular they get the harder its gunna be to get an autograph
|
|
|
|
Post by tokiohoteluk on Jul 16, 2008 8:53:39 GMT 1
Could be an off day, could just be how they like to perform. Bill and Tom have both said that they like the big stage and the huge arenas best and there's always distance in venues like that. You can't have a club gig atmosphere in a big venue, however much you want it. There are pros and cons to both types of venue and they're always going to be different. Add that to maybe an off-day, and yeah, maybe they did seem a little distant.
About the not signing and photos. That's an interesting point. They do still stop and sign, but not as much, that's for sure. We waited for them to arrive in Paris at the hotel - there was a hundred girls and police at least - and instead of going in with a wave, they just headed into the hotel from the back entrance.
How do we analyse that? Security reasons? Maybe. Laziness? Probably. I thought it was a poor show because they could have entered the hotel from the front with a wave at the fans. There was too much security and police there for it to have been a problem, so why avoid the fans like that?
At the same time, we still see fans getting their pics and their autographs. But, certainly, a lot of fans are moaning now that they just don't stop outside the hotels anymore. They just walk in and out.
Claire
|
|
|
|
Post by Skye. on Jul 16, 2008 17:41:55 GMT 1
they must think signing autographs and being wanted by people is a perk
but tbh im thinking its part of the job
if the fans think you dont want them around they wont stick around
or will they?
idk its part of the job their payed to do, just like being a celebrity and being photographed by the paps is part of their jobs
idk it sorta annoys me they dont do it so much
probably because ive never experienced being on their side of the metal railings, ive only been the fan waiting rather than the famous guy signing endless autographs..
|
|
|
|
Post by B.eckii ♥ on Jul 17, 2008 7:02:12 GMT 1
I don't honestly see the problem with them and this stuff about the hotel. I mean, a concert is very tiring, for those who watch and those who perform-- surely, sometimes, they just need a break so go through the back entrance. Because with a 'wave' comes signing autographs and stuff, and if they're running late for soundcheck etc, or plain ol' exhausted I don't blame them.
Then again, personally, I wouldn't wait outside their hotel to see them go in/come out. But that's cause I believe they'e always got fans running after them like rabid sheepdog and they need a rest, yeah they love their fans -- they're always saying it-- but nevertheless, no matter how much they love them they might just want to be withdrawn for an ickle bit. Think of it this way: You love your group of friends a hell of a lot, but you're tired to the point of exhaustion, have a thumping headache and got a hell of a lot to do the next day and they're waiting for you outside your home. You just wanna sleep and be prepared fro the next day; you wouldn't, well I wouldn't, stay around and chat. If anything I'd just wait until they were gone before going home!!
|
|
|
|
Post by tokiohoteluk on Jul 17, 2008 8:50:51 GMT 1
Yeah, but my friends don't keep me in Gucci jackets and Prada sunglasses.
Of course we all have off days, and after a show I certainly wouldn't blame them for going in the back way, but they get their rewards. And part of being in a band like Tokio Hotel is dealing with fans. They get their downtimes when it's not tour period. Arriving into a new country and a new hotel is always littered with fans and they should accept that graciously, IMO. Stalking them at home or in the studio, well that's a bit different.
And, ultimately, I think TH would be very upset if they suddenly found no fans outside their hotel. It's the barometer by which they measure their success. It gives them support when they need it. That's why record labels and whoever else releases their itinerary information on the quiet - they want the fans there too.
Claire
|
|
|
|
Post by liz on Jul 17, 2008 13:43:11 GMT 1
Yeah I have to agree actuallly. Although I'm sure there are times when they really find dealing with fans stressful, I think they'd be pretty upset if they arrived at a hotel to find no one there.
I'm NOT saying this was the case in Paris ( because I really don't know ), but I remember a similar situation with another band, where we were at the hotel, and they used a back entrance, and the fans were furious. But it turned out that the hotel had insisted on it!
The point I'm making, is that when stuff happens, no matter how it looks from a fan's point of view, we don't always know the reason behind it, ya know.
|
|
|
|
Post by midori on Jul 17, 2008 16:30:54 GMT 1
That's what I've been saying, too, Liz. With the hotel in Paris is was known that they had some "security" issues there in the past, e.g. it's a busy street with traffic, people living there who complained about noisy fans etc.
I have to agree though, they would be very disappointed if they wouldn't be any fans around at the hotels and I can understand that fans get upset if they don't show to sign stuff which happened in the past even if there were only a few fans. That's not good. Then again there are so many aspects and fans never know what's going on exactly. Timetables, security issues (for both band and fans), they don't feel well, they just don't feel like it. Who knows. There are still the things in the past where they got their hair and/or clothes pulled by fans. Not nice either.
Obviously we still see them give autographs and take the odd picture but as there are more fans there are also more people who don't get the chance to get any of that which means more people have a reason to "complain". It can't be denied they're not as approachable anymore as they used to be. Apparently their security level in Germany was upgraded, too, last year. To the level e.g. politicians are on. Not sure about that though as I've only heard about it but it might as well be true.
Still, I have to agree that sometimes it seems as if they're just not making the effort anymore but I'm not saying that's the case. It might be sometimes though. Who knows. I wouldn't hold it against them as I know what it feels like when you just can't be bothered with people. Of course it's not nice and fair towards the people and you should pull yourself together at least a bit.
I guess as long as it doesn't become the "usual treatment" fans receive from them I don't have a big problem with it.
As for the concert in Geneva... I don't know. It's hard to tell from just one review, as some of you have said. It's possible they had an off day. Things like that happen. Did anybody see any other reviews?
|
|
|
|
Post by THkidd on Jul 20, 2008 1:06:46 GMT 1
mmmm, tbh its rather sad.
iv sorta noticed nowadays that they dont interact directly as much with their fans as they used to,, i guess also nowadays they use the internet more to interact with their fans, like THTV and podcasts and shizz.
But even though eventually it would get rather tiring for them having t sign endless autographs and stuff, one of the main reasons i got into the band was the fact that they were so grounded, and bonded so much with their fans.. now its like theyv sorta lost that bond. recently its been like 'go on stage, sing, go off stage. do interview. do video cast. do diary.' like almost ALL of the other bands around. These days theyr such an 'internet phenomana' that its become annoying!! Its almost like their promotioning is done on the internet!!
but then again, i dont blame the boys. they really actually deserve a massive break. if i was in their place, id be at breaking point now. they need some time off, and as much as they enjoy performing, they should give themselves a break.
best example would be Slipknot- they always used to give themselves massive breaks inbetween recordings, that wa stheir way of being refreshed when they came back. such a shame tho, apparently they are breaking up? idk, sometimes i hear they are doing their last gig, sometimes i hear its bull? itd be so sad, they are so f*ckn LEGEND!
but yer back on track. i think maybe the time off during his op made bill and co realise how much they loved a break or summat?? eeehh?
|
|
|
|
Post by midori on Jul 20, 2008 2:15:56 GMT 1
I don't think the time off because of Bill's surgery made them realise they fancied a break. Rather the opposite, I guess. Especially because it was "forced" time off and not pleasant. It was probably a nice break for the other guys but I think especially Bill was walking up the walls and itching to get back to "work".
|
|
|
|
Post by liz on Jul 20, 2008 15:05:18 GMT 1
I agree Susi - I don't think any of them enjoyed the 'break' while Bill was poorly. Not at all! now its like theyv sorta lost that bond. recently its been like 'go on stage, sing, go off stage. do interview. do video cast. do diary.'
I think it's completely unrealistic to expect things to stay the same as they become more and more famous. More countries want them, and more countries means more work. Then there's security, more people to please, more stress, more tiredness.
I've never felt that they don't care about the fans anymore - unfortunately it's just a symptom of increased popularity.
|
|
They are human beings after all, not robots. Yes, people have paid to see the show etc, but at the end of the day, they're only human. Everyone has a bad day at work at some point, with regretable consequences no doubt. 
