Download Free Europe * Songs

Europe music biography continued...

first incarnation of the band was named Force and came together in 1979, in Upplands Väsby, Stockholm. At the time the band consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum, bassist Peter Olsson and drummer Tony Reno. In 1982, the band won several awards in a Swedish rock talent contest and as a result was given a record deal. The band, which had been renamed Europe, broke out on their third album, The Final Countdown, which was released in May 1986. It established Europe as one of the hottest rock bands in the world. The power ballad "Carrie", which reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Cherokee", "Rock The Night" and the title track, also became runaway hits. Successive albums Start From the Dark (2004) and Secret Society (2006) also contained monster hits, but in 1992, after ten years of recording together, the band members opted out for solo careers.



Over the years, there were several reunion rumors, and on October 2, 2003 it was made official: Europe announced plans for a new album and world tour. The band then switched back to the classic The Final Countdown line-up, with John Norum as the only lead guitarist. In the summer of 2004 Europe went on a festival tour through the European continent. The concert set lists included several old classics, but also introduced the title track from their brand new album - Start from the Dark, released in September 2004. Europe released Secret Society in 2006 to coincide with a world tour that began with two performances at the Dalhalla in Rättvik, Sweden. The band's current line-up consists of Joey Tempest, John Norum, John Leven, Mic Michaeli and Ian Haugland. And while the names of the members have changed, Europe still remains as energetic and bold as it was back in the 80s.