Tokio Hotel pals step out of Kaulitz's shadow
Thinking about Tokio Hotel, one thinks about Bill and Tom Kaulitz. However, since the very beginning, Georg Listing and Gustav Schäfer have also been part of the band but have always been in the shadows of the glamorous twins. But that's all about to change. For a new advertising campaign, the two are questioning their role as "add-ons."
It's been almost 20 years since Tokio Hotel appeared on the scene with "Durch den Monsun" and celebrated their huge breakthrough. Since then, the Kaulitz twins have been impossible to ignore in the public eye. Currently, they are successful podcasters, have a Netflix reality docuseries "Kaulitz & Kaulitz," and are almost omnipresent as brand ambassadors for a fast-food chain.
However, their bandmates Georg Listing and Gustav Schäfer have remained in the background. But now, the bassist and drummer of Tokio Hotel are finally stepping into the limelight. They are, in fact, the stars of Aldi Süd's new campaign.
"More Than Just an Add-On"
In the clip of the discount store, Listing and Schäfer take on their roles in the band themselves. The spot plays with the idea that fruits and vegetables are often only considered as add-ons – similar to how the two musicians have been next to the Kaulitz twins, who are currently promoting their own burgers at McDonald's. Listing and Schäfer perform their biggest hit "Durch den Monsun." They do so while sitting at a piano on a market square in the rain, as a flashback shows that they have once again been forgotten by the other 50% of the band. Georg eventually resigns to Gustav: "Let's just open a restaurant instead." It doesn't quite go that far, but in the context of the Aldi campaign, Schäfer and Listing will at least serve side dishes on July 22 at the Pop-up-Restaurant "RoyAldi" in Cologne.
Tokio Hotel have had a remarkable career since their start in 2005. With over ten million albums sold worldwide and numerous awards, including the MTV Europe Music Award and the Echo, the band is internationally known. Bill Kaulitz has also established himself as a fashion icon, and Tom Kaulitz made headlines with his marriage to Heidi Klum. Despite various solo projects and different life focuses – the twins have lived in Los Angeles for ten years – the four musicians of their band have remained loyal to each other, recording albums and continuing to tour together.
Despite being overshadowed by the Kaulitz twins in terms of public visibility, Georg Listing and Gustav Schäfer of Tokio Hotel are now using their moment in the spotlight to promote pop music on Instagram, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of their rehearsals and performances. Furthermore, their newfound fame has extended to entertainment, as they've landed roles in an upcoming movie, showcasing their versatility beyond musical endeavors.
Leaning into their newfound visibility, Georg Listing and Gustav Schäfer of Tokio Hotel are revolutionizing their image in the entertainment industry by collaborating with pop artists and even exploring pop music covers on their social media platforms, intertwining it with their promotion of the 'RoyAldi' Pop-up-Restaurant event, further highlighting their relevance within the world of entertainment and pop music.
