This Swedish heavy rock outfit enjoyed brief international success in the late 80s. The origins of the band can be traced back to 1978, when Joey Tempest (Joakim Larsson, 19 August 1963, Stockholm, Sweden; vocals/keyboards), John Norum (b. 23 February 1964, Vardö, Norway; guitar), and Tony Reno (b. Tony Niemstö; drums) joined Peter Olsson in Force. Olsson quit the band in 1981 and was replaced by John Levén (bass). After winning a national talent contest, the newly renamed Europe recorded two Rush -influenced albums for the Swedish market before signing to Epic Records in 1986. By this time, Reno had left the band and the new line-up featured his replacement Ian Haugland (drums) and Mic Michaeli (b. Gunnar Michaeli; keyboards). The first Epic album was produced by Kevin Elson and included three hits, ‘The Final Countdown’ (UK number 1/US number 8), ‘Rock The Night’ (UK number 12/US number 30), and ‘Carrie’ (UK number 22/US number 3). The Final Countdown went on to multi-platinum status, but also set the band a standard they subsequently failed to maintain.
Norum was replaced shortly after the release of The Final Countdown by Kee Marcello (b. Kjell Lövbom). The new line-up’s continued success in Japan and the USA was assisted by their lengthy world tours, and later hits included 1988’s ‘Superstitious’ from the Ron Nevison-produced second album. 1991’s Prisoners In Paradise, with Beau Hill as producer, sold poorly, despite containing the UK Top 30 hit ‘I’ll Cry For You’, and the band split-up a year later. Joey Tempest signed a solo contract with PolyGram Records in 1994 and released his debut, A Place To Call Home, in 1995. Both Tempest and Norum maintained solo careers before teaming up with Michaeli, Levén, and Haugland in 2003 to relaunch Europe. New albums began to follow in 2004.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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This Swedish heavy rock outfit enjoyed brief international success in the late 80s. The origins of the band can be traced back to 1978, when Joey Tempest (Joakim Larsson, 19 August 1963, Stockholm, Sweden; vocals/keyboards), John Norum (b. 23 February 1964, Vardö, Norway; guitar), and Tony Reno (b. Tony Niemstö; drums) joined Peter Olsson in Force. Olsson quit the band in 1981 and was replaced by John Levén (bass). After winning a national talent contest, the newly renamed Europe recorded two Rush -influenced albums for the Swedish market before signing to Epic Records in 1986. By this time, Reno had left the band and the new line-up featured his replacement Ian Haugland (drums) and Mic Michaeli (b. Gunnar Michaeli; keyboards). The first Epic album was produced by Kevin Elson and included three hits, ‘The Final Countdown’ (UK number 1/US number 8), ‘Rock The Night’ (UK number 12/US number 30), and ‘Carrie’ (UK number 22/US number 3). The Final Countdown went on to multi-platinum status, but also set the band a standard they subsequently failed to maintain.