На память. Behind The Scenes

[viltis]

Рассказ фотографа, который делал ту фотосессию, видео с которой недавно ходило по дневникам.



So you're about to read one of my favourite article about Tokio Hotel. It is from this June edition of the french magazine ONE and this article is quite different from everything we read before.



It was rather hard to translate it because of the long sentences and exprеssions so I hope you guys will understand fine.



I will do the rest later, the next being more interesting because a little more recent. Anyway here is the first part!





BEHIND THE SCENES





As a journalist at the ONE’s editing, I often get to meet fans who ask me how are their favourite stars in private, far from the cameras, concerts venues or off set. One of the question I get often is “How are Tokio Hotel in private?” and some more like “Are they as nice as they look like? Did they change since the beginning of their carreer? Are they free to decide what they really want to do? Do they have to obey to their producers’ orders? Do they have girlfriends?” And much more.



Of course, I’m not a member of the band and I didn’t grow up with them either so it’s sometimes hard for me to answer those questions specially when it comes to the part purely private of their life. That being said, after having met Tokio Hotel about a dozen time in less than a year, I start to know them quite well and I know a little bit more about each of them personnaly and the way they act behind the scenes.



Therefore, I’m gonna try to make you live some of my encounters with the band so you can have idea of what’s going on when the camera is off.





THE BEGINNING



My first encounter with the band took place in July 2006. At this time Tokio Hotel wasn’t very famous in France yet. However, further to their coming in France back in June, ONE had published a little article that the band had really appreciated because it was one of the first in France. Thanks to this article, we recieved a very official invitation here at the Editing office to come and see the band in Germany during a festival.



Morning July 7th, I flew to Dusseldorf where the band was about to play in front of 20 000 fans. It was summer, sunny, hot and France just had qualified for the final of the Soccer World Cup which was happening in Germany... As soon as I got there, I met Saki. At this time I didn’t know this heavyweight was the official bodyguard of the band and I was far from guessing that I would see him everytime I'd have an interview or a phootshoot with the band.



This day, Saki (whose job consists in keeping everyone from approaching his little protégés) led me nicely through the backstage area in the boys’ dressing room. Things happened in a very simple way, no specific protocole and only a few minutes after I arrived, I was already in the middle of the big TH family. A family that counts about 10 people: manager, press agent, make up artist, stylist, bodyguard, translalor and of course all the technicians for the concert.





GO FRANCE!



I remember very well the first time I enter the backstage area. Under a sort of little hay arbor keeping them from the sun, Bill, Tom, Gustav et Georg were leisurly seated in basket armchairs. The first thing I noticed was the sport paper Gustav was reading. The day before Germany had been beaten by Italy on the world cup’s semi final and it seemed it had affected Gustav. When he saw me coming, he stood up, shook my hand strongly and said “You’re french right?” I answered yes and to my surprise, Gustav then pulled me into a hug and said “Germany just got beaten by Italy so I really hope that French team will win the finale. Go France!”. So I expected talking about music and I ended up making forecast on the Soccer world cup and the number of goals Zizou (Zidane) could make!



And in the backstage of this huge concert arena, soccer seemed to have a big room, so much that in a few minutes and even with the terrible July heat, a little soccer game took place backstage. A total friendly game: Germany VS France where I had to defend our country against Gustav & Tom who were playing for Germany. I think that this little game created special bonds between us and they lasted everytime we saw each other again in Paris.



On this day, after the game who ended up with no winners, Bill, Tom, Gustav & Georg allowed me to follow them during their whole ritual before the concert. First, there was a little bit of training in the dressing rooms. And this time I’m not talking about soccer but real music. Before the concert Tom & Georg repeat some hard chords on their instruments so they’'d be able to do it perfectly once on stage. This little training session was a true little private concert. Totally acoustic and it made me realise that on the cratary to what some rumor I’d read on the internet, Tokio Hotel were true musicians and that their story had nothing to do with some boysbands'.



A little later in the day, Bill asked me If I wanted to grab a bite with him on the Staff buffet. And I noticed he wasn’t eating very much. So I asked him “Don’t you get a little hungry once you’re on stage?” and he answered: “There’s always so much food in our rooms but I try not to eat too much. That has nothing to do with a special diet or anything, it’s just about digestion. So if I binge myself with junk food before a show, I feel heavy and sleepy and I haven’t the same energy on stage. I have to find the right balance...”.



After that, we did some pictures of the band backstage then Bill, Tom, Georg & Gustav isolated themselves a few minutes before the show. I had the priviledge to escort them right to the huge stage and wished them good luck and then they made their entrance...I didn’t see them after the show unfortunately because my flight was early but I’ve always kept this little trip to Germany as a very nice memory.





Scans:

http://www.servimg.com/image_previe...&u=10004488

http://www.servimg.com/image_previe...&u=10004488



MARCH 21st, 2007, PARIS





The other encounter I now want to tell you about took place on March 21st 2007 in a luxuruous Parisian hotel. Of course between the first time and this one, I saw the band several times for interviews or photoshoots... If I chose this particular time, it’s because I felt like a lot of things had changed since my very first encounter with the boys 8 months earlier. Now, Tokio Hotel has become a true phenomem. All the papers wanted to talk to them, interviewed them and the time when I was the only french journalist in contact with the band seems far. From the fans’ side, you can see some things have changed too. 6 months earlier only about ten fans were waiting in front of their hotel and this time it’s about a hundred people who came and formed a crowd in front of the establishment. While I was crossing all the people with my camera, I was wondering if even with all these changings, I was gonna find back Bill, Tom, Gustav & Georg just like I had left them last time.



Are they still gonna be that enthousistic, smiling, available and professional? Or would they start acting all diva, bored. Would they still take the interviews and photoshoots with the same good mood they always had? I was about to find out.



ONE was the only magazine allowed for a photoshoot this day and time was counted, right to the minute. Half an hour, not a second more. A really short amount of time due to the very very busy schedule of the band. Bill, Gustav, Tom & Georg were awaited at 6 p.m at the Grand Journal where they were about to recieve their first french Gold Record...As soon as I got in the hall, Saki once more took care of me. Even though he was smiling and being polite, I understood this time there was a real schedule to respect and that we weren’t gonna play soccer together. Saki lead me through the hotel to a big room booked for the shooting.



As I was starting to install my photo equipment for the shooting, Bill, Tom, Gustav & Georg arrived. They warmly welcomed me and told me they were happy to see me again. While I was working on my equipment I asked them how they lived this new Parisian trip. Bill said: “Even if we’re a bit in a hurry, we’re super happy to be here. Since we got here, we met a lot of new journalists. We also gave an interview at a radio and tonight we’ll be on a live TV show. Honestly we’ve never tought France would welcomed us so greatly. Just a few months ago, we were total strangers here and today when I see all these fans in front of the hotel, I’m so happy. Even of those promotions days are exhausting, it’s always a pleasure to be in Paris.” Bill seems sincere. Even if I doubt he’s gonna say he’s disgusted to be here, I feel like he’s really happy with the french audience’s acknowledgement which I know, is very worthy to him. And knowing Tokio Hotel’s music crosses borders is a huge reward to him.





A TRIUMPHANT EXIT



It is during this photoshoot I understood the band hadn’t changed. For 25 minutes, Bill, Gustav, Tom & Georg, each in their own style, striked the pose again and again with talent and professionalism. It is something I may never talked about but I’m always impressed how much these 4 boys are comfortable in front of a camera. Often I tell myself they could act in a movie.



During photoshoots, Bill is usually very focused, he poses elegantly and he seems to have a perfect control of his body and his image. Tom is more into letting himself go. Even if he’s usually serious during the shoot, between each pose he talks, asking me if the picture looks good. He even makes fun of me when I have to twist in weird positions to get the best angle. Tom also loves to tease his friends. For example when I make a shoot of Gustav alone, Tom is always here to try to make him laugh. He’s usually behind me, throwing his arms in every way and sometimes he shouts things like “Relax, Miss Universe! It’s gonna be alright!”. It’s true that Gustav is the less confortable of the 4 in front of the camera. It’s probably due to his shyness. This is what I appreciate in him, I’m happy to see that even with the time and success, Gustav stayed faithfull to himself just like Georg, Bill & Tom who sincerely haven’t changed since our first encounter.



In the end, while I was anxious to see them again, I realised that the thing that had changed wasn’t the band but the pression there was around. From now on, they need an army of bodyguards for each of their move, a special car with smoked windows and a chauffeur. These are not demands from the band but from the producers who don’t want to take the slightest risk.



At the end of the afternoon, after we’re done with the photoshoot, the boys and I go to the hall of the hotel. They have to leave the Hyatt to go to the Grand Journal’s studio. But this simple ride is now becoming a true adventure. Outside, tons of fans had been waiting for hours and only hope for one thing: to kiss, make a picture or get an autograph from the band. Inside, Bill, Tom, Gustav & Georg are standing next to Saki who explain they’re going to have to cross the wrowd 2 at a time so it will be easier for them. I feel a kind of tension, just like the band was about to enter an arena. Bill seems tense and turns towards Tom: “It’s crazy all the people outside! It’s almost scary. We’re gonna be forced to go as quickly as possible again. And that’s a pity because we never get to stay long with the fans.”



Seated in the hall, I witness the exit of the band, impressed by the move of the crowd that the boys create. In the streets, fans are screaming, crying and some are fainting on the sidewalk. No doubt Tokio Hotel is the one of the most appreciated band in France, of not the most. Germany may not have the best football team of the world but she surely owns one of the best rock band. And between us, it’s already a lot...



Scans:

http://www.servimg.com/image_previe...&u=10004488

http://www.servimg.com/image_previe...&u=10004488

http://www.servimg.com/image_previe...&u=10004488



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