That’s how it was with TWENTY ONE PILOTS

May 01, 2025, Cologne, Lanxess Arena

Fans in this country have been eagerly awaiting Twenty One Pilots ‘ “Clancy World Tour” for a whole year. In the wake of the release of their album of the same name on May 24, 2024, the big concert tour of the genre-busting duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun was announced – and the run on tickets began shortly afterwards. And now the time had finally come: the grand finale of the German dates took place in the completely sold-out Lanxess Arena in Cologne. Although the entire tour was considered a complete success and fans and press alike raved about every single performance, frontman Tyler Joseph was pensive in the run-up to the evening in Cologne. He wondered whether they would be able to live up to expectations this time too. Would they really be able to live up to the hype they had created with their elaborately conceived universe of stories, symbolism and stage spectacle?

Symbolism of the gaffa tape

In front of the arena, fans celebrated their love for the band in beautiful spring weather. They weren’t just wearing Twenty One Pilots merchandise – many had also styled themselves in specially designed outfits to be part of something bigger. The followers of the so-called Skeleton Clique, a globally connected fan community that stands for cohesion and mutual support, decorated their clothing with red and yellow adhesive strips – a visual commitment to the band’s symbolism, in which yellow stands for hope and camouflage, while red stands for open resistance. 17,000 fans were now eagerly awaiting the start of their idols’ show.

Showtime

A red curtain initially obscured the view of the stage. It fell punctually at 8:45 p.m. to loud cheers – the start of an evening that would burn itself deep into the memory. Josh Dun played his heart out on a platform to the driving beats of “Overcompensate”, while the audience fell into collective ecstasy. A little later, Tyler Joseph stormed in, leapt over his piano in one elegant movement and – supported by an initial pyrotechnic effect – set the explosive tone for the show. As usual, he wore the distinctive black balaclava with the little ears – a mixture of anonymity, symbol and ritual. The fans, however, did not let this keep them at a distance: From the very first note, they euphorically sang along to every word flawlessly and made it clear that this music has long since become a part of their own history.

Within reach

With “Holding On to You”, one of the band’s earliest fan favorites, Twenty One Pilots hit straight to the emotional center – the song combines powerful rhythms with deeply personal lyrics about control, self-assertion and the courage to not give up. Tyler stormed into the pit and climbed onto a small platform held above their heads by fans. Waving cheerfully, he greeted individual concert guests and made the distance to the audience disappear for good. Back at the piano, he devoted himself to playing the keys while the rain poured down on the screens in the background. Together with Josh, he quickly stood on the piano before the drummer caused collective amazement with his impressive backflip.

Collective speechlessness

Tyler provided the most spectacular moment of the evening during the song “Car Radio” – a piece that combines the feeling of inner emptiness with eruptive energy like no other. In the middle of the song, he turned his gaze directly into the camera, his face filling the screens in close-up. Then he turned away from us without a word, stood at the end of his platform and jumped down the small step. Suddenly, a cone of light drew our attention to the upper tier – and there he stood: Tyler, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. The spectators were stunned. Was that really him? He nipped any faint doubts in the bud when he dramatically ripped the mask off his head – triggering a storm of cheers that thundered through the entire arena. If, like me, this super trick gives you no peace, you should read the last paragraph of this article – here we reveal the secret behind the magical moment. If you want to preserve your illusion, please skip the part in italics*.

Loving appreciation

A magical video showing individual fans in front of the arena was then played to calm the heartbeat. A touching tribute to the strength and cohesion of this special community. The clip was accompanied by the song “The Judge”, which the audience sang along to softly and soulfully – a moment of closeness that made the heartbeat of the concert palpable once again. The boys also returned to the stage. Tyler accompanied Josh with a ukulele and complimented his fans: “Everybody in here is a good singer. But what people don’t assume, it’s just how good looking Twenty One Pilot crowds are. I was fortune enough to be driving around outside the venue a little bit before the show and you didn’t see me, but I saw you. And I want you to know. Oh, I’m just so, so proud to call you guys our fans. I would take this group right here anywhere in the world. I really would so. Let’s sing it now.” They finished the song together – accompanied by the soft glow of thousands of cell phone lights, carried by 17,000 voices, a smile on their lips and the certain feeling of being part of something very special. Tyler was completely immersed in his role: with pitch-black hands and neck, he embodied his alter ego “Blurryface” – a character he created to symbolize inner fears and insecurities. The black neck stands for his voice, the black hands for what he creates – as well as the doubt about it. In moments like this, it became clear how much art and person interpenetrate in Twenty One Pilots.

Drum & Bass duel

For the track “Shy Away”, the duo first faced each other on stage – Josh on the electronic drum pad, Tyler Joseph on the keyboard. The song, which tells of self-discovery and the courage to break away from external expectations, unfolded its tension in a reduced, almost intimate arrangement. But a short time later, both returned to their original positions: Josh hit his drum set with full force, while Tyler energetically grabbed the strings of his bass – and tapped his instrument with his fist to the beat. The audience joined in and clapped along in sync. The two took it in turns to deliver a brutal duel of drum and bass solos that swept the crowd away with its intensity – until the song seamlessly segued into “Heathens”. The dark, suspenseful track, which brought the boys one of their biggest commercial successes and gained worldwide attention as the soundtrack to the blockbuster “Suicide Squad”, became more dramatic with every second. While the soundscape became increasingly dense, dark visuals swirled on the screen, the audience’s arms swayed to the beat and Tyler swept energetically across the stage – accompanied by pyro effects and dense columns of fog that immersed the arena in another world.

At eye level

During the song “Routines in the Night”, Josh Dun left his venue and crossed the inside of the arena to the side – of course not without shaking hands and being celebrated by the crowd along the way. Two smaller stage elements were set up to the left and right, roughly in the middle of the hall, which served as an additional action area for Twenty One Pilots. Tyler also made his way onto the stage – a folding chair in his hand, microphone firmly in his grasp. Unimpressed by the movement, he continued his chanting and even casually slapped the hands of the waiting paramedics. A moment of genuine closeness, without any pathos – just energy, spontaneity and that typical mix of coolness and approachability that makes the band so special.

Pause for a moment. Feel. Breathe out.

Tyler and Josh then performed “The Line” and “Burberry Street” on the mini-stages in the interior. The calm, reflective “The Line” made for a thoughtful sequence. As Tyler sang the lines “My body’s on the line now / I can’t fight this time now / I can feel the light shine on my face”, a silent sea of lights spread over the heads of the fans. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Tyler seemed slightly moved – and the subsequent cheers were all the louder. In contrast, “Burberry Street” exuded an almost summery lightness. The gentle flow of the song, paired with the relaxed stage presence of the two, allowed the audience to take a deep breath and gave the crowd a collective smile – a moment of light-heartedness in the midst of great emotions.

Calm before the storm

While Tyler still had the audience under control with cell phone flashlight games, Josh left the stage unnoticed – only to reappear a little later in the middle of the hall in a new look and with a burning torch in his hand. He collected Tyler with dignity and together they slowly and impressively made their way back to the main stage. Absolute silence reigned in the arena. Threatening sounds drifted through the room and the tension was almost unbearable. Suddenly, huge metal barrels piled up behind the drum set, the back of the stage was on fire and thick fog crept across the floor. With “Navigating”, all the pent-up energy was released – a powerful moment whose force and contrasting effect left a lasting impression. The party atmosphere that subsequently unfolded in front of and on stage was all the more exuberant.

Taken by storm

Heavydirtysoul” also caused quite a stir. With lightning-fast chanting and a tambourine in his hand, Tyler further heated up the atmosphere. Bursts of fire flashed through the air to the beat and the powerful sound was accompanied by spectacular fireworks. In the midst of the dense fog, the frontman lay down on his back on the stage – and simply continued to sing while his body slowly disappeared completely into the fog. The crowd went completely wild. Then Tyler patted his heart thoughtfully – a silent, powerful sign to his fans. For “My Blood”, the stage was bathed in bright pink while animated skulls flickered on the screens – a mixture of playfulness and dark symbolism. When Josh slipped his sweater off his body during the song, cheers erupted again: Beneath the fabric, a black tank top with the word “Cologne” was revealed – a charming detail that instantly won him the hearts of the audience.

Between show and mischief

“Lavish” caused great amusement in the Lanxess Arena. The two found each other again for the wonderfully laid-back song – in the truest sense of the word: Tyler and Josh danced back to back across the stage in sunglasses and delivered a small, charmingly absurd choreography, which the crowd celebrated loudly. Squealing and screaming, Josh finally took off his “Cologne” shirt and, with his upper body exposed, repeatedly indicated that he would throw the now almost sacred piece into the crowd. The fans collectively held their breath – until he took pity on them and the shirt flew into the audience in a high arc. A new owner was quickly found and the jubilation was boundless.

A moment for eternity

During the popular classic “Ride”, Tyler once again took to the second stage. “You smell really good”, he flattered the crowd with a wink on the way there – a little flirtation, charming as usual. There he welcomed a little girl called Lisa, who had the great honor of continuing the song together with Tyler. He cautiously inquired whether her headphones were working and glanced at the piece of paper in her hand on which the song lines were written. “Oh, oh, oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time on my ride. Brilliant lyrics, really” – he remarked with a grin at his own words. With great care, he explained to Lisa that she could sing as loud as she wanted and should take the specially cleaned microphone very close to her lips. There is no such thing as “too loud”. And if she was unsure about the lyrics – the crowd would help her. And then the heartwarming moment took its course: Lisa held on to her note with all her strength and didn’t take her eyes off it for a second. Together with Tyler, she sang the chorus – not quite in the right place, but full of courage. With every word she got louder, more confident, and the crowd supported her enthusiastically and at the top of their voices. In the end, 17,000 people celebrated a little girl – and one of the most beautiful moments of the evening.

Small but mighty

During “Paladin Street”, the Lanxess Arena was transformed into a colorful sea of lights: fans held colored parchment paper in front of their cell phone lights and bathed the room in warm, iridescent colors. A cozy atmosphere spread. Then another small “stage set” became visible in the first few rows: a stripped-down drum set stood on a sturdy board that was raised above the heads of the crowd. And as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Josh Dun climbed onto it without further ado, took a seat – and simply carried on playing. He let the sticks fly over the drums with rhythm and precision, while the crowd celebrated him with wide eyes and loud cheers. It was one of those typical Twenty One Pilots moments: playful, surprising, heartfelt – and absolutely close to the audience.

In the storm of flames

As Tyler and Josh left the stage, a gentle chirping of birds began – an almost fragile contrast to the previous force. The fans, however, knew exactly what to do: they thoughtfully sang the lines of “Leave the City”, switched on their cell phone lights and created their very own little show. A moment that gave me goosebumps – quiet, powerful, communal. Fog settled over the stage floor again as Tyler launched into “Jumpsuit” with his bass playing. A deafening bang shook the hall – and set off a cascade of fire. Columns of fog, pyros and blazing flames from all directions swept the audience away, but Tyler remained completely focused. With his eyes closed, he continued to play his melody – now on the piano, completely absorbed. When the storm subsided, golden confetti trickled from the hall ceiling and bathed the scene in a warm, almost dreamy light.

Good Old Days

“Stressed Out” brought back memories – of the song from 2015, which for many fans marked the beginning of their passion for Twenty One Pilots. The famous scene in which Josh and Tyler cruised along a road on their red tricycles flickered briefly on the screens – and sure enough, Tyler was once again wearing the red cap that has long since become an iconic symbol of the band. To the familiar sounds and Tyler’s unmistakable voice, a children’s carousel appeared on the screens – but it was getting on in years. Instead of shiny little horses, pale skeletal versions of the four-legged friends spun in circles. A perfect visual reflection of the song’s lyrics, which read:
“Wish we could turn back time to the good old days / When our mama sang us to sleep, but now we’re stressed out.” When Tyler asked the crowd what her name was, the answer was prompt, loud and united:
“My name’s Blurryface and I care what you think.” The boys delivered a wild performance, while the pyrotechnician delivered again. In the light of the sparks, you could see one thing above all: overjoyed faces, shining eyes – and a band that had once again managed to combine past and present in a magical way.

Where doubts burn out

The crowd couldn’t contain themselves for minutes – the cheering simply wouldn’t stop! Somewhat embarrassed and beaming at the same time, the duo were more than duly celebrated. For their grand finale, they asked the crowd to form a circle in a specific place. Helping hands placed the drums and keys there again, and the two musicians quickly rushed through the middle of the crowd. Once they had taken their places, they were surrounded by the fans – the perfect setting for “Trees”, the last song of the evening. One last time, a huge party ensued. The fact that Tyler missed a short stint in the middle of the crowd only made him even more likeable. Finally, Tyler and Josh played two drums together, which were held up by fans – an iconic moment. Red confetti shot into the air and scattered around the arena. You couldn’t have wished for a more beautiful finale! Back on stage, Tyler and Josh bowed arm in arm to their fans. “See you next time, peace!” – After a packed 130-minute set, Twenty One Pilots disappeared into the night.

But the inner fireworks were far from over. After that evening, it was hard to know what to do with all the sparks of joy. In addition to the spectacular trick scene, I was left with one question in particular: how could Tyler have doubted for a second that this show wouldn’t be enough? Because what happened that evening was nothing less than world class!

Setlist TWENTY ONE PILOTS:
“Overcompensate” – “Holding On to You” – “Vignette” – “Car Radio” – “The Judge” – “The Craving (Jenna’s Version) – “Tear in My Heart ” – “Backslide ” – “Shy Away” – “Heathens” – “Next Semester” – “Routines in the Night” – “The Line” – “Mulberry Street” – “Navigating” – “Nico and the Niners” – “Heavydirtysoul” – “My Blood” – “Doubt ” – “Guns For Hands” – “Lavish” – “Ride” – “Paladin Strait” — “Jumpsuit” – “Midwest Indigo” – “Stressed Out” – “Trees”

Text: Nadine Kloppert
Photos: Michael Gamon

* Psst! Here comes the Resolution of the “teleportation” trick: The amazing scene is based on a cleverly planned combination of lighting, a perfectly deployed body double and precisely timed image direction. In an unobserved moment, the double – masked and dressed identically – was replaced by Tyler. The close-up of his face had been recorded in advance and was projected onto the screens at exactly the right moment. As the double seemingly disappeared with the help of a black cloth, the real Tyler appeared – almost simultaneously – on the upper tier. The idea of being able to beam someone live to a different position unfortunately (still) remains science fiction. 😉