Europe

Europe is a Swedish hard rock band from Upplands Väsby, formed in 1979 and active since 1982. The group is led by vocalist Joey Tempest and has also included guitarist John Norum, bass guitarist John Levén, drummer Tony Reno, keyboardist Mic Michaeli, drummer Ian Haugland, and guitarist Kee Marcello. The verified membership list also includes Peter Olsson in the band’s early line-up.

Formation and early success

The band begins as Force, a group formed in the Stockholm suburbs by Joey Tempest, John Norum, Peter Olsson and Tony Reno. It wins the televised Rock-SM competition in 1982, which gives it a breakthrough in Sweden. After the win, the group adopts the name Europe. The band’s early material establishes it in Scandinavia and Japan and leads to an international deal with Epic Records in New York.

Europe’s first two albums, Europe and Wings of Tomorrow, build its profile as a melodic hard rock band. In 1984, Mic Michaeli and Ian Haugland join, completing a line-up that becomes central to the band’s 1980s period.

International breakthrough

Europe reaches international fame with its third album, The Final Countdown, released in 1986 and produced by Kevin Elson. The title track becomes the band’s best-known song, with a prominent keyboard riff and a strong chart impact. The album sells more than 3 million copies in the United States and more than 15 million copies worldwide when album and single sales are combined. The band also sells over 25 million records worldwide. In the United States, Europe has two Top 20 albums on the Billboard 200, The Final Countdown and Out of This World, and two Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, “The Final Countdown” and “Carrie”.

During this period, John Norum leaves to pursue a solo career and is replaced by Kee Marcello. Europe then releases Out of This World, produced by Ron Nevison, followed by Prisoners in Paradise. The band tours widely and is described as the first international rock act to perform behind the “Bamboo Curtain” in Bombay, India, where it plays to an audience of 60,000.

Hiatus and reunion

Europe goes on hiatus in 1992 after touring for Prisoners in Paradise. It reunites for a one-off performance in Stockholm on New Year’s Eve 1999, performing “Rock the Night” and “The Final Countdown”. An official reunion follows in 2003, with John Norum back in the group.

Later albums

Since its reunion, Europe releases Start from the Dark in 2004, Secret Society in 2006, Last Look at Eden in 2009, Bag of Bones in 2012, War of Kings in 2015, and Walk the Earth in 2017. The band’s later work is described as moving between hard rock, arena rock, glam metal, heavy metal, AOR and pop metal, with continuing melodic emphasis. It also issues three live albums, three compilation albums and nineteen music videos across its career.

Recognition and influence

The Final Countdown becomes a major arena rock anthem and reaches number one in 24 countries. Europe’s continued visibility is also helped by a GEICO insurance television advertising campaign in the United States in 2015 and 2016. The band’s main influences include Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, UFO and Michael Schenker Group.