Teens line up to see German pop sensation – All Samantha Belbey wanted was a hug from the leader of her favorite band, Tokio Hotel.
“I really wanted to meet them,” said the 14-year-old, her eyes still wet after being told by a security guard that she could not hug Bill Kaulitz, the band’s popular lead singer.
Belbey of Riverhead, N.Y., joined hundreds of adoring fans Friday for an autograph signing with the band at the Hot Topic clothing store in the Freehold Raceway Mall.
Tokio Hotel — which is causing a minor sensation in this country after years of popularity in Germany — kicked off its U.S. club tour Thursday with a sold-out performance at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville.
The band members already are major stars in Germany, where they have sold close to 3 million CDs and DVDs and have earned themselves four No. 1 singles and two No. 1 albums. They recently released an album made up of tracks from their first two German albums, re-recorded in English.
In a nod to their gaining popularity in this country, the video for their single “Ready, Set, Go” was recently nominated for an MTV Video Music Award.
The rockers were greeted Friday by long lines of mainly teenaged girls decked out in a uniform of skin-tight jeans, studded belts and brightly dyed hair.
Ashley Ankudovich and Leyna Andren, both 16-year-old Stafford residents, were the first to arrive, just before 7 a.m., they said. The mall opens at 10 a.m.
“They are the only (band) I want to ever meet,” Ankudovich gushed.
Both teens, like many others in the crowd, said they attended the band’s concert Thursday. But that wasn’t enough for many, apparently.
“Bill’s voice is, like, so good,” said Marissa Silverberg, 16, of Manalapan, referring to Tokio Hotel’s superskinny front man, Bill Kaulitz, who usually sports an electrified shock of black hair and enough eye shadow and eyeliner to make Motley Crue proud.
Silverberg went to the concert with John Pender, one of the few male fans at the signing. Silverberg and Pender were each wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Tokio Hotel” as they waited in line.
The band’s music encourages listeners to be positive, said Pender, 16, of Manalapan.
“Whatever gets you down — there’s always something good in life to look forward to,” Pender said.
Nicole Chis, 14, and Joy Mo, 13, of Highland Park came prepared.
“Bill” and “Kaulitz” were written in black marker on Chis’ arms. And Mo came with a handmade sign that read “We Love Tokio Hotel” in German, using the colors of the German flag — yellow, red and black. On the back, she had recreated the German flag.
“We love Tokio Hotel. . . . Their music is really cool. It’s, like, really good,” Chis said.
“I’ve never liked anybody so much,” she added.
Zarina Montecinos, 14, likes the band so much that she and her sister came from Fredericksburg, Va., to attend the concert and the signing.
“I was, like, shocked,” Montecinos said, still trying to catch her breath after the bandmates signed a shirt for her.
“I just love the music,” Montecinos said.
Her favorite is Bill Kaulitz, whose twin brother, Tom, plays guitar for the band.
“I love his hair,” she said, referring to Bill Kaulitz. “He’s so cute.”
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That was the best day of my life! Me and my friends drove all the way from Bedford, Virginia to be there TWICE.
I was lucky, being one of the first 50 people into the signing because they didn’t rush me. I got to talk to Bill for a few minutes AND he called me sweet when I gave him the puppy I’d been trying to give him all week! And when I asked Bill if I should shake his hand Tobi said no too and even tried to block me! But luckily Bill said yes and grabbed my hand anyways =D
Oh and I was with MrsKaulitz88 haha.
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edited out because what IS that?
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omg, I was there!!! Me and my friends came all the way from Bedford, Virginia to see them. We had tickets to the trl recording on monday (the one that aired on thursday), then we were outside all day on tuesday when they were at mtv. Then we waited 5 hours for them in front of their hotel, so we could try to give them their gifts. Then we spent wednesday going to new jersey to check into our hotel in east brunswick. Thursday we got to the starland ballroom at 9:30-ish and waited in line for the concert all day. YES, WE GOT FRONT ROW!!! We were not gonna go to the signing at the mall, because we heard they were sold out of wrist bands, but we desided to go anyway. We got to the mall at 8am, and we went in and asked if they had any wrist bands left, and the girl that worked there said yea, and we all took off running through hot topic, like it’s SUPERMARKET SWEEP FOR TOKIO HOTEL STUFF!!!! lol. after we waited in line and they let us in I gave Bill his glowing teddy bear (which had a letter taped to it) he smiled and was sooo sweet. I asked him if he would signe my TH tattoo, and he looked up and said “Oh, das so ‘kewel’”! omg, I thought I was gonna die!!!! It was the best day of my life!!!
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Haha security got all FULL ON DONT TOUCH THEM after this girl from turkey asked to hold toms hand and they said no but he let her, then i did, then security was all NO MORE TOUCHING FROM ANYONEEEEEEE.
and i got glared at a wholeee lot lolz.
dazhee, is your keyboard broken or something?
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@ 25…i soo agree wit u…it does seem like that …lol.
but he still looks soo hott!!!!
both bill nd tom!!
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Oh my goodness!
I was so sad, I was supposed to go to Sayerville and see them but my dad forgot to buy tickets.
So then the day after I went to the signing which was at least an hour away but it sold out before I could get my wristbands.
I was devistated but before they left they made eye-contact with me, smiled and waved back!
Well actually just Bill and Tom.
Ich liebe dich Bill und Tom!
I cannot wait to go to Germany, their supposed to be back there when I go, so I might get a chance to see them.
I did see them at Bamboozle however and Bill couldn’t stop joking around with everyone. Hes so down to earth.
It was so cute! <3
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coo
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@26
A GIRL CAN DREAM!!
<3
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Tom IS as skinny as Bill only you cant see it under his baggy clothes….
haha it does look like Toms getting a bit influenced by Bill…:D
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Haha tom looks like he’s channeling some bill-energy in his style, either that or maybe his brother bought that glittery sweatshirt/jacket for him : )
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thee signingg wass amzingg butt i thinkk imm
noww obbssed more thenn everr forr tokio hotel.
andd imm gettingg so muchh crapp fromm itt.
everyyyonee is like itt soo annoyinggg.
yourr neverr gonnna realyy get a chancee orr w.e withh themm soo justt stop.
itt getss mee soo sadd becauseee iff i likee themmm ALOTTT
thenn thatt my isssue andd myy choiceee.
stopp atttackingg mee soo much aboutt itt.
———————————————-
anddd myy convooo withh bill thatt dayy wass likee thee besttt EVERR <3
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i think tom covers up his skinnyness by wearing huge shirts, i bet hes just as skinny as bill is :P
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“Bills voice is like, so good” “The music is like, really good” “I was like, shocked”
Lol sorry it just sounds like the same young teen is talking in the review
Ahh I wish i could go to this! its understandable why they wouldnt let her hug him cuz if she got a hug everyone would be glomping them!
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@17 yeah tom does look a little skinny. i think its because he’s wearing a jacket thats slightly form fitting, instead of his usual ginormous tshirt. lol but thats just me :)
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i want to hug tom so badd! i officially hate security guards
grr :-)
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OMGGG that makes me think of the day that i went to there signing
most amazing day of my life!!!
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@13
you can bring anything to let them sign.
no camera inside whatsoever. :)
I let them sign my fitted:
http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v318/143/44/1365180043/n1365180043_15238_4400.jpg
<3
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Cool article! Thanks for posting!
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aww they are all so cute =]
i sooo wish i could meet them, that would just be the most awesome thing EVER. though hopefully i wont faint cuz then i’d miss it!! hahah
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is it me, or does tom look really skinny, or is it just that he’s sitting next to georg
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wow!!!! they all look really hot!!!! :D
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YAY!
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Ahh, i was there and the guys were amazing!!! The concert was amazing, the signing was unbelievable, they’re the sweetest guys ever!!!
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WOAH! So you can only get one thing signed by the band or can you bring a different thing for each person? Im freaking out! Help please. What exactly goes down? And if you take pics do you think the camera and or cell phone will be confiscated????
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AAA! i wish they woul come here !! but no one ever will *sigh* y did i move????
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This person said they’re “causing a minor sensation in this country….”??? Is he/she crazy? They’re causing a MAJOR sensation here in the states!
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Saki is hardbody. He elbowed a girl directly at her neck :O
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What in the world is Tom wearing xD <3
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lucky are the ones who got to go!!! they [the band] all look good! gah! Bill’s always smiling! i ca’;t help but smile also when he does!
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wow
nawwww Tokio Hotel security is like full on ODNT TOUCH THEM lol
funny stuff
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wow
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haha freaking tobi is too much…..great guy though=]
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Im happy for you 8D, i was about to go today to the festival in montral but change of plans :C, i was looking forward to it the whole month but its a good thing that other fan’s have met them once, i havnt and iv been a fan for years :C
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hahaha. the signing went by sooooo fast… but its alright. i got to talk and flirted with tom a little bit :p