Checking into Tokio Hotel.

Polydor imprint readies English-speaking debut for Tokio Hotel

Tokio Hotel Scream (Fascination)

German four-piece Tokio Hotel have generated the kind of fan euphoria in their home country not seen since Take That. A combination of faces caked with eyeliner and self-penned pop hits laced with a distinctly emo flavour has earned the band sales of more than 3m copies in Germany alone. And, after two successful albums, Polydor's Fascination imprint is looking to bring some of that euphoria to the UK.

The UK release of Tokio Hotel's debut English-speaking set on August 27 marks phase one of Universal's plans to break the band beyond Europe. Entitled Scream, it is a combination of the best tracks from the band's two German-speaking albums with an additional two songs.

"If you're 11 or 12 years old, and your older brother or sister is into My Chemical Romance or Fall Out Boy, then Tokio Hotel are the band for you. They're an introduction to emo and that's where we're positioning them," says Fascination marketing manager Poppy Stanton.

The band performed their first UK show to a sold out, banner-wielding crowd at the Brixton Carling Academy last month and Fascination had them in the country two weeks before for upfront press and promotion.

Photo shoots for Super Super magazine, TOTP and Rock Sound will lead the way, while a "taster" single, entitled Scream, has been promoted at a club level over the past two months. The ...