From Portugal With Love -- Tokio Hotel America

The NTO's have the pleasure of interviewing the top echelon of the Official Tokio Hotel America (THA) fan site and forum. Today Stern, the third administrator, shares her outlook about THA, the band, and a sneak peek into her world. We love the fact that although this fan site says America, the administrators are from Sweden, Portugual and the U.S. The fan base is also global.  Thanks to THA for taking down the walls that separate or hold us behind because of gender, class, race and other constraints.

NTO: How were you introduced to TH or an individual member of the band (video, THTV episode, concert, someone's recommendation). Can you remember that initial feeling? How was that initial reaction matured into your present feelings about the band?

Stern: I first heard of Tokio Hotel through MTV Portugal in September 2007. I had my TV on, but wasn’t really paying any attention to it.  All of a sudden, I hear a bit of “Schrei” followed by a bit of “Scream”, looked at the TV, and caught a glimpse of the two videos. It was a TV spot announcing Tokio Hotel as September Artist of the Month, which meant there would be specials about them for the whole month. They caught my attention just with that tidbit. I was intrigued, at first. I really liked the sound of the songs I heard, but I couldn’t understand why the song was in German and English or if they were children or teenagers. I remember making a mental note to watch those specials, but I never got to do it caught with work.  It was only in the beginning of October that I suddenly remembered I had yet to check Tokio Hotel out and so I did. Starting on YouTube and going to fan blogs and later on forums, I searched everything.  My initial feelings were of wonder and curiosity to knowing more, hearing more, watching more. This initial feeling soon evolved from just wonder and curiosity to love and respect. I love Tokio Hotel’s music. I love the happiness they bring to my life. And above all, I have a great respect for their work, because I think it’s impressive how professional they are and how much they have achieved at such a young age.

NTO: How did you connect to Schnee (creator of THA)? What motivated you to become a volunteer/admin of the forum?
Stern: I found THA in November 2007, but only registered in February 2008. In late 2007 when I first found Tokio Hotel, many forums and fan blogs really lacked facts.  It was hard to find real information with correct sources. THA is excellent in that way, I love the amount of information and organization I find there.

Then it is the people. We have fans from every age and everywhere in the world and the connection and sharing are amazing. For example, to be able to follow and feel the excitement of a TH live show when it is happening all across the world as if I was there, it’s just incredible!

When I believe in something I always try to give my all to it and I believe THA is a great place to be and TH is a great band that totally deserves my dedication. So when THA opened applications to busybees, I decided to apply and to my great surprise and honor I got selected. I started as a busybee at THA staff, was later promoted to Moderator, then become a Super Moderator and am now an administrator. To be part of THA staff allows me to support Tokio Hotel in a more active way and also to give back as much as I get from THA.

I am extremely grateful for having found THA, it is now my home in TH fandom and my first home in this internet world.

NTO: Let's say you had a rough day. Nothing is going your way. You're angry or sad. From the Humanoid City Album, which song would you select to bring you out of your mood? Why? Any other songs (from any album) that you'd like to mention?

Stern: All of Humanoid City Album is full of powerful songs so it’s really hard to choose one, but I’ll say Pain of Love, Hey You and Dogs Unleashed! The energy I get from these songs always manages to bring my mood up. To me they have a feeling of hope, of carrying on no matter what’s wrong and they have such a strong sound that it’s impossible not to cheer up listening to them.

Schwarz and Hilf Mir Fliegen are also my all time favorite songs, they soothe my soul and I always relax listening to them, no matter what.

NTO: Are there any quotes or paraphrasing an idea from the band or individual members that matches your philosophy on life? Do you have a real life example of living the quote.
Stern: I can relate with the general attitude of the band of believing in their dreams and fighting for them.  That’s how I live my life. I always go for it, if I think it’s worth it! Being a teacher in Portugal you will find many obstacles in your way through your career, the first being constantly moving around, but I love teaching and so every day I fight to do what I love to do, no matter what comes my way.

Also I always had a rebellious attitude toward what's socially correct and what’s expected of you. Like the twins, I grew up in a village where most people are very close-minded and it wasn’t easy but I always remained true to myself. I act and live my life the way I find correct [for me] and not how others want me to.

NTO: I'm going to present two scenarios and you tell me which TH band members you would select for the scenarios. It can be the same person. Please tell us why?

a) Your car broke down on a long stretch of highway. Next town is at least an hour away. Which TH member would you like to drive up and whisk you away? (BTW, what's your personality before the help arrives?)
Stern: BILL!!! But just because I think he must be the best driver from the band. ;) I am a really focused and calm person even under stress, so I know I’d be calm and collected, just waiting for help to come.

b) You are the substitute teacher for a class with unruly high schoolers. You're at your wit's end (or maybe not, how are you with rude, unruly young ones LOL), which TH member would you call on. BTW, we didn't know you were a teacher, so cosmic coincidence for this example LOL.
Stern: I would call Gustav. I think he must be very collect and cool. You need to be strict but at the same time be able to understand the kids’ problems and I think he'd be able to deal with them just fine.

But I would also love to see Bill and Tom as teachers. They always complain about them and so I would like to see them on this side. Not disregarding any of their facts of feelings toward school and teachers, but in general students always complain about us and they hardly ever stop to think how it is to be on the other side of the table.

 * * *

Stern, thank you very much.  Hey, if TH ever comes to substitute at your school, send a quick email. We'll be on the next flight LOL.  You have our respect and appreciation for your hard work.  For those who missed the other administrators' interviews, click on Coolbreezegirl or Schnee to learn more about this dream team.

Glamnation

Going to Italy and attending the Welcome To Humanoid City Tour was the first time I had been to a concert since taking my daughter to see NSync. It was such a different experience, and I was so glad I had decided to get past my fears and go with my gut!

We did a lot of voting for Adam Lambert when he competed on American Idol, and I love that he is a fan of Bill Kaulitz, frontman for Tokio Hotel. When the tickets for his ‘Glamnation’ tour were announced, I decided my kids and I were going to the next concert together. Since the youngest is only 5 years old, he stayed home with my husband.

Our tickets included free admission to the Orange County Fair, so we arrived at 5pm for the 7:30pm show. I opted for VIP parking, and we were parked right next to the Tour buses!

At the fair, Nicholas tried out Morse Code, and the kids all spent quite a bit of time at an Anime Booth they’re big Anime fans!

After some very disgusting fair food (thank God they didn’t want to try deep fried Twinkies!), we head to the Pacific Amphitheater.

We have fairly good seats in the Orchestra, Section 1. Allison Iraheta is up first, and Orianthi joins her for one of her songs! She’s full of energy and has that cool rocker voice I remember from when she was on American Idol.

Next up is Orianthi. Can I just say she smokes any guitar player I’ve ever seen?! Of course, she sang her hit ‘According To You’. But when she starts playing Prince’s ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ I realize this girl will take on the difficult and make it look like a walk in the park!

Then we have a break waiting for Adam, not too long though.

He starts with what looks like a more stylized version of the ‘Mad Hatter’s’ outfit from the Alice movie. Everyone is on their feet, and my son is standing on the seat next to me because he can’t see over the crowd. Then it’s off with the coat and on to the next song.

When ‘Ring Of Fire’ starts we’re all screaming and clapping.

‘What Do You Want From Me’ is amazing, Adam has such a soaring voice!

Then comes the best moment of the whole concert. Adam starts ‘If I Had You’ with its driving beat. My fist is in the air and I’m rocking out, and my son grabs my fist and we rock out together! I don’t know how to explain how special it is to share this music with my family.

We had the BEST time together, and they’ll remember this experience for a long time to come.

Outside The Comfort Zone

As we get older, it becomes more difficult to try new things, go new places, and leave that which we know for the great ‘unknown’. In this world we live in the now, where people change careers every 5 years, the idea of a Comfort Zone is being replaced as fast as we replace our computers and cell phones.

With all this new technology comes life at the speed of light – information appears faster. Communication via multi-media pushes us to reach farther, think broader, and stretch our boundaries.

My first baby steps into multi-media brought me stumbling into YouTube and a band called Tokio Hotel. From there, I hopped to pictures, blogs, TokioHotelAmerica.com, and CherrytreeRecords.com.

Websites these days must be very ‘busy’ to get the attention of the fickle music fan. On the Cherrytree site, there is chat, radio, interviews, videos, forums, fan art, etc. Everything you need to hear new music or find out more about your favorite Cherrytree artist (including Tokio Hotel!).

On July 23, Cherrytree Records held a launch party for the All Hearts Tour starring Robyn and Far East Movement, with Kelis and Dan Black. The headliners were all at the El Adobe in Los Angeles for the party, and performed for an intimate crowd of very happy fans! My daughter (Eileen) and I RSVP.’d and were on the list. We were so excited neither of us slept very well the day before!

We live about 2 hours from L.A., and it was a Friday. Californians know to leave PLENTY of time to get places. We ended up arriving early, and were one of the first 30 people or so into the event. Free margaritas (Cherry!) and food, with a yummy cherry topped cake as well.

And the best part of arriving early? They had swag bags, 2 to choose from, and one of the choices was a Tokio Hotel bag! I was already on cloud 9 before walking in the door!

When we walked inside there was a cute-as-a-button young lady waiting by a table with loads of free stickers and posters (Yes! More Tokio Hotel!). I received one of each, including these cool Lady Gaga chibi stickers. O.K., before I even meet one artist, I am floored. I snagged an I Heart Robyn sticker, hoping to get it to Michelle with a Robyn signature.

Eileen and I grab a couple of chairs that were left in the back (she has a couple of health issues and couldn’t stand for very long that day). Eileen gets something to eat, but I was way too happy to eat. Hey, maybe there’s a new diet program in this?!

And then? The parade of stars and fun begins! Collette Carr is there just being her usual bubbly self. And Far East Movement is already there and looking very….um….young and hip?

Eileen posed for a picture with the guys from Far East Movement.

Martin, Andrea, Dean, Natalia Kills, all mingling with the fans! I’m not even sure who performed first, but of course they were playing all music from Cherrytree artists. This included my favorite guys from Germany, Tokio Hotel.

<--Eileen and I with Martin  

I recall a moving song from Kelis. And then Far East Movement was up, with Collette as well! I was surprised by how much I liked them! I had never heard them before, but that was why I came, to really experience different music. These young people are so fearless and so passionate about their music. It was truly inspiring.

From there we hear some more from the DJ, with more Tokio Hotel! I remember constantly tweeting about how great it was to hear Tokio Hotel being played. At a party. In L.A.!

We heard from a few more artists that I had never heard before, and I was pleasantly surprised that I LOVED all the music. But the best was yet to come.

Robyn. What can I say to describe this woman live? She was incredible, she had people reaching for tissues. She’s a little blonde dynamo brimming with soul and a clear, honest voice. I can completely understand Michelle’s love of this artist now. Sooooo……what do you think, my friend? Are we planning another road trip to see Robyn together?

By the time Robyn came on (she was last – the best for last!) Eileen was not feeling so great, so I went up on my own (yikes!) to ask for Robyn’s autograph. A couple of people behind me in line were talking about how great it was to meet her, and then I heard them say, ‘I think we are the oldest people here!’. O_o Well, I turned around and smiled at them, and they got a great laugh out of it.

I got up to Robyn, and asked her to sign the sticker for Michelle. She asked for my name and I asked if she wouldn’t mind making it out to my very dear friend who was a very devoted fan. She asked me how to spell Michelle’s name, signed the sticker and took a picture with me! What a sweet woman!

By the time Robyn left, everyone had to leave for the concert, and we were leaving to go see a viewing of Tokio Hotel’s live DVD of their Humanoid City Tour.

I was able to meet Dean from Cherrytree and talk with him for a bit, and I met another wonderful friend from TokioHotelAmerica.

Eileen with Dean. --->

After one final pic with Space Cowboy and his wild shoes (neon pink!), we collect our car and head out. An event to remember! An experience outsize the ‘Comfort Zone’!

Open Your Hearts and Minds--It's All Good

In her last blog post, Schnee gave us a glimpse of the Official Tokio Hotel America.  We continue on a serious note about the fan forum and finish this wonderful interview with some words of wisdom from Schnee.

NTO: Including the porn fan art, are there any other automatic No's for the fan forum?

Schnee: Stalker stuff or people who want to bring their personal issues with anyone here and have it play out publicly. They want to confront someone here? Do it privately. They don't get to come into OUR house and cause shit. If they are not mature enough to just talk to someone one on one, or they have some reason to require an audience, they will have to find somewhere else to do it.

NTO: What are some goals for the fan site?
Schnee: Goals are always the same--to promote Tokio Hotel and share with the world just how fantastic they are and to have a fun community. We always have new ideas percolating. There are just not enough hours in a week to get it all done.
NTO: With everything that this forum offers, you and your staff have accomplished  alot and are extremely organized. We love hanging out at THA.

NTO: Switching back to the band. What are your top two songs that you listen to the most from Humanoid?
Schnee: I am not sure I can pick two because I think it is a magic album and a great gift to us. I love how they basically wrote TWO albums for us this time.

I probably listen most to Dogs Unleashed. I love both versions of it. Dogs Unleashed is more fun. Hunde [the German version] makes me a little sad because I believe the twins were writing about their experience with stalkers. And thanks to the Humanoid City tour, we have some great videos and memories of that song. (hi, motorcycle spanking Bill!)

I don't think I can pick a favorite second... it would be a tie between Screamin', Down on You and Darkside of the Sun/Sonnensystem. Or In Your Shadow I can Shine. Or Zoom. Or... see? I told you. Can't pick.

NTO: You're standing on stage looking at an audience who has never been to a Tokio Hotel concert or listened to their album - What would be your message to get them ready for a phenomenal experience?

Schnee: Um, wait. I am on stage and Tokio Hotel is there? I would be fainting. Or maybe... Relax, open your hearts and minds, and prepare to be blown away. And then I would go backstage and talk to the band. Heh.

Schnee, thank you for being forthcoming, open and fun. For those who missed another THA administrator, please check out Coolbreezegirl's refreshing interview.

Official Tokio Hotel America--Most Loving and Incredible Fandom

Step into the house that Schnee built -- the Official Tokio Hotel America -- is a wonderful home to hang out with other fans.  As an added bonus, you may gain a friend or two.  You're invited in, have a seat, and enjoy! Here's Part 2 of Schnee's interview.

NTO: At what point was just being a fan not enough? When did you decide to be more proactive in their promotion to other fans?
Schnee: Tricky question. I am still a fan, first and foremost no matter what other roles I have. And it was pretty much immediately that I’d shared them with anyone who would listen because I felt and still feel that they are an important part of music history. I like to carry the message that they are not a boy band, not a manufactured band... I think that is what sets them apart from other young bands. Later in 2007, we were all stunned when they were invited by France to sing at a Bastille Day celebration and then invited by Israel to perform there. A German band in Israel? That was history.

I am debating adding this because I do not want to rip a Band-Aid off a healed wound, but to not say it feels like a lie. And anyone who knows me knows I am pretty militant about this issue... What drove me the most was back in 2007, it was really hard to find an English language place to enjoy the band without seeing pornographic fanart. I'm not a prude, but some of that stuff was HORRIFYING. And I felt it was a disservice to the band that any new fans wanting to check them out had nowhere to go that did not have it. So, that was the core impetus.

NTO: Tokio Hotel America has just passed their 2nd anniversary of official status as a fanclub. How did THA start?

Schnee: Well, I became a fan in January 2007 and started the blog in February 2007. I am a longtime blogger, over a decade and had previously run a fairly successful blog for an American Idol contestant (oh the horror). The idea of having a forum began to grow when we realized that there were a lot of people out there who wanted a place like we have. I have known Coolbreezegirl since the very beginning of this endeavor and she has also always been committed to the same vision. She's my rock. I love her.

If I may digress just a little, I have to give a shout-out to the entire staff and past staff at THA. It has always been magic how the team has come together. THA is and always has been a team effort. Sure, if it comes to someone having to make a final decision or being the ultimate bitch that often falls to me, but we really are a team. It would not work without every single person who participates, from the admins to the members of the forum to the people who hang out and engage in lively debate on the blog side.

And the members who work tirelessly bringing news from all over the world? I believe this is the most loving and incredible fandom in the world.

NTO: Did anyone think that your dream was too fantastic to happen? How do you protect yourself from the negative vibes -- at the beginning and even now?
Schnee: This dream of having this Tokio Hotel community? No, no one involved felt that it was too fantastic. Of course, we were willing for it to be tiny, just so long as we did not have to have crap shoved in our face all the time and could have the primary purpose of being about the band.

At the beginning, I was not as protective. I would put myself out there and yes, it was pretty horrible. The things people would say were beyond the pale of vicious.

Now, I just try to stay out of the drama as much as possible. Yes, there are times when I will stand up for things and principles and I know some of the things we do not allow here at THA cause people to talk shit. But really? That's just MORE drama. Don't like it here? Go somewhere else. It is not like there are not other places in the fandom to hang out. There is something for EVERYONE out there.

It does still bother me when I see people who are not even members here talk crap about THA, but there is a quote I love for all situations and it applies here.

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation." -HERBERT SPENCER

Stop by tomorrow for the final posting.

Embrace The Moment--Words To Live By

The NTOs were able to nab Schnee, the chief admin for the official Tokio Hotel America (THA) fan site and forum, for a fun interview. Join us as we turn the spotlight on Schnee--warrior queen or superhero crusader, you decide.

NTO: How did you first become a fan of TH?
Schnee: It was January 2007. I was reading Oh No They Didn't, the LiveJournal of celebrity gossip. I saw this post and was extremely intrigued. I watched a couple of their videos and that was that. It was pretty much immediately love. Cannot lie, it was Bill that captured my attention most. I don't think that is a unique experience though.

NTO: What about Bill do you think draws in people immediately?

Schnee: Durch Den Monsun video... there were moments in that video when I literally stopped breathing while watching it. It was like WHO are these guys???? Rette Mich? They ate my heart. I was a goner. I got their logo tattooed on me about one month after I first saw them. The words Spring Nicht followed shortly thereafter.

NTO: Willing to tell us where the tats are? Any plans to add more?
Schnee: They are both on my left forearm, just below where the elbow bends, kinda of on the top of the arm. Yes, I have plans to add more as soon as I can afford it. I would like to do something with the word "Heilig".

NTO: Let's say that you've got one minute to talk to Bill uninterrupted. What information about you would you share and why?

Schnee: Well, based on my experience meeting them once and meeting their management, I would probably let him know that he should be proud because their lyrics and music have such a wide reach to all ages of fans. And I’d thank him for never making his fans feel like they had to fit into a certain mold, i.e., be really young and hot. I had that experience with another band and it was a deal breaker when they treated fans who were not potential hook-ups like they did not matter.

NTO: How has Tokio Hotel influenced your life?
Schnee: I am so inspired by their attitudes and life values of being 100% true to yourself. Bill in particular has been a beacon for me because he is so brave. Wearing a kilt to go audition for a television show? Chutzpah! The lyrics they wrote when they were Devilish touched my heart too.

In particular, I love the story of how Bill got his Tokio Hotel logo tattoo and when questioned something like "Well, what if Tokio Hotel fails, you will regret getting that" and he responded that no, for him it was always going to be an important part of his life... THAT was inspiring to me. Embrace the moment, don't be afraid and for god's sake, don't NOT do something today because your future self might regret it.

That's the source of our tagline - "because life is too short to not be their fan."

NTO: So, using Bill's philosophy of embracing the moment, was there such a moment in your personal/career aspirations?
Schnee: Oh golly. I tend to live this way. I am definitely a person who runs with scissors and colors outside the lines. Career wise? I quit my job and moved to a ski resort in another state for the winter. That other job became unbearable due to a guy who made decisions wanting to hook up with another girl. I asked him to bring me a box. I packed it and walked out. He kept saying "You can't do this." Really? Watch me.

I would have to say getting my Tokio Hotel tattoo within one month of discovering the band was also a "seize the moment" time and I have never once regretted it.

They continue to inspire me because they are growing as artists and as men and they still embody the same attitudes. I am so glad to be on this ride.

Join us on Wednesday for Part 2.

Individuality - Perfect State of Being

We bid a fond farewell to Coolbreezegirl as she wraps up the final part to her interview. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we have.

NTO: How has the band or individual members inspired/motivated you to be independent or to go after a personal dream?

CBG: This is a super hard question and I don’t know how to answer it without being too longwinded. I don’t really know how to summarize it really for it to make sense. But TH has inspired me a lot. They provoke very strong emotions, positive and negative, among people. I don’t know any other band that polarizes that much.

I can’t even remember the last time I was inspired by a musician or a celebrity, but I am inspired by the strength and integrity I see in Bill. That boy attracts a lot of hatred and shit from people because of his style and individuality, and still he seems just to grow stronger and better. Narrowmindedness in society is disheartening because I am all for individuality and for the right to be whoever you are without people judging you.

Bill is my favourite for many reasons. He is the one that caught my interest when I became a fan and he is the one that keeps me interested. I am fascinated by his extreme spectrum of emotions and how that is seeping through everything that he is and does; from how he laughs to how he can switch between innocence and childlike pureness to mischievousness and being the epitome of fierce; from extrovert and social to introvert and reclusive; from happiness to sadness. It’s not only apparent in his mannerisms and behaviour, but also in his songs. Sometimes I think he and his twins are actually triplets. Hehe.

David Jost [TH's producer, songwriter, and manager] has described Bill numerous times as someone who always is on the extreme ends of the emotional spectrum, and whose absolute truth is the emotion he is feeling at that very second. I am very fascinated by the opposites in Bill, because they are things I have fought to find a balance in myself, both in my personality (my private life and my career) and outlook on life.

I am emotional as well as intellectual, impulsive as well as a control freak who loves planning, creative but way logical, individual at the same time as I crave to belong, love being alone at the same time as I devote my life to friends. It’s always a constant fight to find a good and healthy golden way.

I used to have such a hard time balancing those things. Things either became too emotional (when I focused on my career as an artist and didn’t want to sell my art to people I didn’t like, or when I took it personal when my pitches were rejected); or things started becoming too static, too analytical, too uninspiring, too technical. Sometime along the years in my early 30s, I ended up in the dreaded "grey zone," where I had lost my creativity and sense of individualism, and was pretty blasé and jaded.

But when I discovered TH, and got inspired by the individuality of the band, of the emotions in the songs, of the pure creativity and uniqueness, how driven and ambitious they are, how they came from literarily nowhere, their "we do what we want attitude," their stamina to stick to what they believe in, I recognized the extreme opposites. I just embraced it and was reminded again that it was OK to be complex, to not be able to be narrowed down. So I stopped obsessing about finding a balance, stopped switching between one opposite to another. And in a short time, the balance which I had strived for all those years was suddenly  there.

So yes, now luckily I can say that I think I have found a good balance in my career and life between creativity and intellect, and I must contribute that to TH.

Another thing I want to mention is how the band evokes so much negativity and prejudices in media and among general public due to the fandom consisting of females -- “Oh only 16 year old girls like TH”. Not only is the statement not true, but first and foremost, the sexism in it baffles me. As if girls aren’t as good as boys to judge music.*rolling eyes* And that kind of sexism is unfortunately embraced and seeps through everywhere. This kind of prejudice that Tokio Hotel attracts is disheartening, but it also makes me even more loyal to the band, because it really creates the feeling of wanting to stand up for yourself as a fan, as a person and for the band.

I love being a Tokio Hotel fan. It’s an honour.

Coolbreezegirl, you mirror our sentiments. Come back and visit with us soon.

Official Tokio Hotel America -- A Labor of Love

We are all proud members of the official Tokio Hotel America (THA). A thriving beehive of activity for fans to communicate, bond, and celebrate the band and its members in a positive way. THA has 17,458 members; 93 groups of which Never Too Old (NTO) is one; 17,820 discussion threads and 944,288 posts.  Yes, we are a chatty bunch. 

Happy Birthday, Tokio Hotel America. Two years strong.

On that celebratory note: here's the 2nd part of the 3 part interview with Coolbreezegirl. 

NTO: Did the "fan for life" moment serve as the motivation to assist with THA?

CBG: I am a loyal person and, generally, I decide very quickly if I dislike or like something. And if I like it, then there’s usually no stopping me. And whatever I am a fan of, I am willing to spend a lot of time promoting it and spreading the word. I love reading other people’s opinion and thoughts on Tokio Hotel, but most of all I love promoting the band, because I love them so much, and truly feel that people who don’t love the band miss out on so much.

I am an admin at THA, but the blog part of THA existed before my time. (Schnee had started that one as well as the brand name THA). Sometime in the spring of 2007, I started participating in the Tokio Hotel fandom by registering at an English speaking forum. There weren’t many of them at that time and none of them were really good. The English speaking fandom wasn’t what it is now. I craved something news-oriented, something mature, a community that took the band seriously and kept band respect as the highest priority.

Schnee was a member of the same TH forum where I used to hang out at that time.  And in the summer 2007, we got to know each other better when we hung out at a small private forum that wasn’t a Tokio Hotel forum. I quickly realised she and I shared the same ethics and viewpoint on marketing, the same willingness to promote the band relentlessly and put away our own interest and personal wishes on the shelf. Anyway, at that little non-TH forum the idea of creating a new English speaking forum for TH was born. And voila, a few weeks later, THA forum was up and running.

NTO: What makes you proud of the fandom? Is it a lot of work? How do you balance the responsibilities with your other life?

CBG: I have met and got to know some fantastic people thanks to this fandom. People I will keep as dear friends for the rest of my life. Some I have only met online and not in real life, whereas others I met in real life. And as I said before, friends to me are sacred, so I am very grateful.

I am immensely fascinated by this fandom from a sociological aspect. It is bizarre in many instances and shows the worst and best of human behaviour.  It really showcases pettiness, possessiveness, jealousy, manipulations, self-righteousness, as well as joy, love, generosity and helpfulness among fans. I am incredibly proud of THA and what we have achieved. I love how creative our staff and members are and the respect we all show towards the band.

We work with the interest in mind of what is best for the band, not what is best for us or for the fans. I think that is one of the keys as to why THA has been very successful. This vibe is also not apparent among staff but also among many of our members. I think we have a fantastic and inspiring bunch of members hanging at THA.

However, THA requires an extreme amount of time invested to run properly. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to put in nearly as much time as I would want to due to my job which demands a lot of overtime, so I am super grateful for Schnee and Stern (the third admin) and for the rest of our amazing staff.

On behalf of us, on the NTO blog, we truly appreciate all that you, Schnee, and Stern have done and continue to do.  With your efforts, you have branded the fan forum to be a professional labor of love that Tokio Hotel, their management, and all concerned can be proud.

Tomorrow, the final part of CBG's interview, will be posted.

A Free Spirit Is Born—Welcome!

Coolbreezegirl is one of the admins for the official Tokio Hotel America fan site and forum. She graciously popped in to share her pearls of wisdom. Interviewing CBG was a blast of fresh air. Love her strength and style. Enjoy! Part 1 of 3.

NTO: Who is Coolbreezegirl? Tell us about your interests; things that irritate you; adjectives that match your personality; things that make you erupt in laughter.

CBG: I’m a free spirit born and raised in Sweden where I still reside, although I wouldn’t describe myself as a typical Swede, neither in looks nor personality. I probably talk and laugh a little bit too loudly (luckily, I laugh very often too, but that’s never a problem, heh), to fit the stereotype. And I’m less reserved. I am too argumentative. I don’t like getting shit-faced drunk during midsummer celebration. Nor am I blonde.

Describing myself as a free sprit basically comes from people around me usually finding me unpredictable and hard to pigeonhole. I’ve never really been interested in conforming to society’s rules of how you are expected to live your life or how an adult is supposed to behave. After all I have the whole collection of stuffed Barbapapa dolls living on my desk in my office, and a pic of Bill Kaulitz as my desktop wallpaper. [Editor Note: Barbapapa is the title and character of a French children book series written in the 1970s by Annette Tison and Talus Taylor.]

I’ve always lived my life as I see fit and I am proud of that. I have zero interest in getting married or having kids. Couples dinners are my pet peeve, and I adamantly refuse to host one, even though I love having people over for dinner. I only cook when I do dinner for other people. I have lived in my current apartment for six months now and still haven’t checked if my oven works. But I know the menu of every restaurant and café in my town by heart. I think I spend way too much time hanging out there with my friends.

My favourite quote in life is “A friendship is a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” I don’t know who said it, but it has stuck in my head for years, and it is my motto in life. [Editor note: Aristotle is credited for the quote.] Friendship to me is more important than anything in life. It is what I cherish the most, what I enjoy the most, and I always strive to be the best friend anyone can have. I am incredibly blessed with my social life and my friends. I met my best friend, also a Tokio Hotel fan I might add, when we were 12 and still, 25 years later, even though we’re not living in the same town, we still make sure to meet at least once a week and talk on the phone daily.

I prefer being single than being in a relationship. Always have. Always will. Even when I am in love I still long for time of my own. I believe that you can only evolve as a human being when you’re not in a relationship. I still haven’t run into anyone else who truly feels and understands this and lives by it. People around me, whether friends or boyfriends, respect my opinion, but usually do not truly understand it with their heads or hearts. But that’s fine.

I do get a kick from reading books and watching movies, interior design, snapping pictures of architecture, travelling (I prefer multiple short trips rather than one long per year), but most of all I get a kick from colours and looking at aesthetic things. I am a colour-addict, meaning I get a kick from colours and they affect my mood very easily. I can obsess for eternity about any colours around me: on curtains, mugs, wallpapers, the clothes I wear, the clothes Bill wear. I work as an art director / graphic designer /stylist, so much of my work involves picking out and matching colours, which is one of the reasons why I love my work. Much of my happiness relies on intellectual and visual brain stimuli, which is why being blind is one of my biggest fears in life.

In many ways I am quite unpredictable, but can also be quite predictable. I am also very creative but at the same time insanely analytical. I strive to find a balance where I can equal creativity and my artistic side with my logical intellectual side. I guess it is the dichotomy of being a Gemini; this constant conflict between dualities.

NTO: What was the first contact with a TH song that resonated with you. (if it wasn't a song, what was it) and why did it have such an impact?

CBG: Little by little, I started being aware of TH’s existence in December 2006 or January 2007, I don’t remember. I didn’t become a full fledged fan until I started Googling them (Bill caught my interest because of his striking appearance and mind blowing stage presence that I soon found out were well- matched by an intriguing personality and great talent), checked them up on YouTube and bought Zimmer 483 album and started blasting it from the speakers at the photo studio at work.

My first song that I really was moved by was An Deiner Seite. I knew no German except for a few words, but thought the song carried such an intense sense of despair and desperation. It fit my mood that day so much. So I asked a friend to translate the chorus “Ich Bin Da…” [I am here] and was hugely surprised to find a positive meaning in it. Hehe. Mainly, I get a kick from the emotions in Bill’s voice. It just speaks to me. Geh is my favourite song because of the heavy emotions in the vocals. You don’t need to understand the lyrics to understand it is a song about no hope left. It took me a long time to have a friend of mine who is fluent in German translate the lyrics for me.

Speaking about lyrics, World Behind My Wall and Strange are my current favourite ones, because I think they best portray Bill, at least from the impressions I have of him from interviews--emotional isolations and the feeling of not belonging and feeling like an alien--it intrigues me.

Tomorrow, Part 2 of CBG's interview, will be posted.