Tom Kaulitz and his identical twin, Bill Kaulitz, are the twin pillars of Germany’s Tokio Hotel, a band that has made a lasting mark on the international music scene. Born in Leipzig, East Germany, the brothers moved from being Hamburg favorites to worldwide stars, winning fans with their polished sound and charismatic stage presence.
Although the twins are often identified as German, questions about their background pop up from time to time. To be clear, both of their parents, Simone Kaulitz and Jörg W., are German. The brothers relocated to the United States in 2010 and have since established their life there; more on their background can be found via this profile at ethnicelebs.
After Harassment Escalated, the German-Born Singer Moved to the U.S.
In late 2008, Tom and Bill Kaulitz found themselves the target of persistently obsessive fans who began shadowing Tom. What began as an intrusive invasion of privacy quickly became dangerous — including a violent attack on their mother at their German home. Tensions peaked in April 2009 when a distraught Tom reportedly struck one of his pursuers at a gas station and then left the scene.
The incident continued to follow him in the press, prompting talk of a possible assault case. By the end of 2009 those charges had been dropped, and Tom filed stalking complaints against the person he accused of harassing him.
A forced entry into their home proved to be the tipping point. Fearing for their safety, the twins packed up and relocated to Los Angeles in October 2010 — a move intended to put distance between themselves and the threats they had been facing and to begin anew.
Tom Kaulitz: His Music Teacher Became Family After His Parents Split
The 36-year-old was seven when his parents—Simone, a painter, and Jörg, a truck driver—went their separate ways. Simone later formed a relationship with Gordon Trümper, who had taught the twins music and played in the band Fatun. After dating for some time they were married on August 1, 2009, creating a new family life for Tom and Bill.
Trümper, who first taught Tom guitar at his RockScool, moved from being a musical instructor to taking on the role of stepfather. He frequently described his connection with the twins as similar to that of a “big brother.”
Their Father’s View on the Strain and a Wish for Mending Ties
While the Kaulitz twins were building careers in Hollywood, their father, Jörg, shared a more troubled perspective from afar. In a 2012 interview with BILD, he described a relationship marked by infrequent contact and growing worries about their welfare.
He singled out particular choices by Bill—like getting a new tattoo and taking steps to draft a will—that alarmed him and prompted serious concern for his son’s mental state. “He’s always been intrigued by death… now they’ve written their wills. That’s not normal,” he said, fearing Bill might follow a tragic path seen in others from the music world.
Looking back, Jörg recalled a warm family Christmas in 2009 when they last spent meaningful time together, enjoying drinks and long conversations. The twins’ subsequent move to the United States, he felt, created not only physical separation but also an emotional distance that widened over time.
Jörg contrasted his simpler way of life with Simone’s immersion in artistic circles—differences that deeply influenced how their sons were raised and that ultimately contributed to the couple’s breakup.
Simone’s stronger alignment with the creative world led her to take a larger role in fostering the twins’ artistic development, a shift that increased the rift between Jörg and his family.
Even so, Jörg has not given up hope for reconciliation. He spoke movingly about how the twins treat their dogs as their closest family members and rely on their constant loyalty. “Dogs are loyal their entire life. That really broke my heart,” he shared, revealing how painful it is to feel sidelined in favor of the pets.
