The late 80's was a big time for metal music in America, and around 1986 I remember hearing "The Final Countdown" and the ballad "Carrie" on the radio all the time over the summer. I didn't know a lot about Europe until researching for 80's Quest, but it turns out they are one of Sweden's most popular bands
Europe was formed in Upplands Väsby, Sweden in
1979. Originally the band was called
Force and consisted of Joey Tempest (vocals and keyboards), John Norum
(guitars), Peter Olsson (bass) and Tony Reno (drums). They started out playing cover songs and getting
better at their instruments, and then began writing original material.
The band sent demos out to record companies but were
told that they would have to cut their long hair and sing in Swedish in order
to be signed. After two years, Olsson
left the band and was replaced by John Leven on bass. Only a few months later Leven left the band
to join Yngwie Malmsteen’s band Rising Force, and Malmsteen’s former bassist,
Marcel Jacob joined Force. This was a
short lived 3-month arrangement, as Leven had difficulties with Malmsteen and
came back to Force and switched places once again with Jacob.
In 1982 the band changed their name to Europe. That same year, Tempest’s girlfriend entered
Europe into a talent contest for rock bands in Sweden called Rock-SM. Europe competed against 4,000 other bands and
won (Tempest also won for Best Lead Singer and Norum for best guitarist). Two of their songs in particular, “In the Future to Come” and “The King Will
Return” help land them a record deal with Hot Records. Their self-titled debut album was released in
1983 and did very well in Sweden and Japan.
The single “Seven Doors Hotel” was a big hit in Japan.
Their second album Wings of Tomorrow was released in 1984. Their single “Open Your Heart” caught the
attention of major label CBS Records who offered them an international
recording contract in 1985. Europe
brought on Mic Michaeli as a full-time keyboard player. Reno was fired because he was not attending
rehearsals and was unmotivated. He was
replaced by Ian Haugland on drums.
In 1985 Europe recorded a soundtrack album for the
movie On the Loose which contained
the single “Rock the Night”. That same
year Tempest was asked to write a song for the Swedish charity project called
Swedish Metal Aid, and wrote “Give a Helping Hand”. The biggest metal and rock stars in Sweden
recorded the song, and proceeds went to help the starving in Ethiopia.
In September 1985 Europe worked with Kevin Elson,
who was the producer for Journey on their next album The Final Countdown which was released in May 1986. The single of the same name was the song that
broke the band internationally. It
reached #8 on the American Billboard charts and was a worldwide success in
countries including the U.K., France, Spain, and Germany. The next single was a power ballad called
“Carrie” which hit #3 on the Billboard Charts in America. Other singles included “Cherokee” and a
re-recorded version of “Rock the Night”.
Guitarist Norum was not fond of the bands move
towards a more keyboard-driven sound which he felt was too bubble-gum sounding,
and left the band in November 1986 to pursue a solo career and play heavier,
guitar oriented music. Kee Marcello came
on as Europe’s new guitarist. The band
toured Europe and America in support of The
Final Countdown album.
Their follow-up album was called Out of This World and was released in
1988. It spawned the hit single
“Superstitious” which rose to #31 on the mainstream US Billboard Charts and #9
on the rock charts. This would be their
last song to chart in the USA. The band
toured America with Def Leppard, and played a big festival gig at the National
Bowl in Milton Keynes, England with Bon Jovi, Skid Row, and Vixen.
At the end of 1992 the band was tired from 10 years
of recording and touring and decided to take a break. Tempest and Marcello released solo albums and
the other band members participated in other music projects.
In 1998 the band began talking about a reunion. In 2000 Europe was asked to perform at a
millennium celebration in Stockholm on New Year’s Eve 1999. Both Norum and Marcello came back and played
guitar during that show.
In October 2003 the version of the band that
recorded The Final Countdown album
officially reunited, and made plans for a new album and world tour. The band again worked with Journey producer,
Elson for the new album, Start from the
Dark, which was released in September 2004.
Prior to its release the band toured Europe during the summer to rev-up
interest in the project.
Europe released another album in October 2006 called
Secret Society. In January 2008 the band performed along with
a string quartet performing reworked versions of their songs for the Almost
Unplugged event at rock club Nalen in Stockholm, Sweden. During the show they also played cover songs
of bands who had influenced them including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, UFO and
Thin Lizzy. The show was broadcast live
over the internet on Europe’s website, and released on CD in September 2008,
and on DVD in August 2009.
In July 2008 Europe performed with Whitesnake in
Padua Italy. In August 2008 they opened
for Deep Purple for two concerts in Lingköping and Ystad, Sweden.
On July 21, 2009 Marcel Jacobs (Yngwie Malmsteen’s
bassist, who had also played with Force for a short time) committed suicide at
the age of 45 after struggling with personal and health issues. His last recording was an album called Expressions
with a Swedish band called Impulsia in 2009.
Europe released an album in September 2009 called Last Look at Eden and a single of the
same name. The album had more of a
classic 1970’s rock sound. A second single “New Love in Town” was
released as a digital download.
In August 2011 Europe played before over 40,000 boy
scouts and guides at the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Rinkaby,
Sweden. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen
Silvia of Sweden were also in attendance.
Europe will release their 9th studio album, Bag of Bones in April 2012 in Japan and
Sweden.
Lyrics:
We're leaving together,
But still it's farewell
And maybe we'll come back,
To earth, who can tell ?
I guess there is no one to blame
We're leaving ground
Will things ever be the same again?
It's the final countdown
We're heading for Venus and still we stand tall
Cause maybe they've seen us and welcome us all
With so many light years to go and things to be found
I'm sure that we'll all miss her so.
It's the final countdown.
And maybe we'll come back,
To earth, who can tell ?
I guess there is no one to blame
We're leaving ground
Will things ever be the same again?
It's the final countdown
We're heading for Venus and still we stand tall
Cause maybe they've seen us and welcome us all
With so many light years to go and things to be found
I'm sure that we'll all miss her so.
It's the final countdown.
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