Europe

Europe, a Swedish rock band, was formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 by lead vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum, bassist Peter Olsson, and drummer Tony Reno. Initially known as Force, the group gained its first significant recognition in Sweden in 1982 by winning the televised competition Rock-SM. This early success solidified their foundation and encouraged them to pursue their musical ambitions further. The band released its self-titled debut album in 1983, which performed moderately well in Sweden and Japan, charting at number 8 in their home country and producing the Top 10 hit ‘Seven Doors Hotel’ in Japan. This was followed by their second album, ‘Wings of Tomorrow,’ in 1984, which garnered interest from CBS Records and led to an international contract in 1985. Keyboardist Mic Michaeli and drummer Ian Haugland joined the band during this period, establishing the classic lineup that would achieve global success.

The band’s international breakthrough occurred with the release of their third album, ‘The Final Countdown,’ on May 26, 1986. The album became a worldwide phenomenon, achieving Triple Platinum certification in the USA and reaching number 8 on the Billboard 200 chart. The title track, based on a keyboard riff composed by Tempest, topped charts in 25 countries, including the UK, France, Spain, and Germany. Other hit singles from the album included ‘Rock the Night’ and the power ballad ‘Carrie,’ which peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Following the album’s success, guitarist John Norum departed in October 1986, citing creative differences and a dislike for the band’s commercialized image, and was replaced by Kee Marcello. The band continued to tour extensively and released ‘Out of This World’ in 1988, which featured the hit ‘Superstitious’ and also achieved platinum status in the US.

After a period of reduced activity and an unofficial hiatus in 1992, Europe officially reunited in 2003 with the ‘The Final Countdown’ lineup, featuring John Norum returning as lead guitarist. Since their reunion, the band has released six studio albums, including ‘Start from the Dark’ (2004), ‘Secret Society’ (2006), and ‘Walk the Earth’ (2017), demonstrating their continued commitment to creating new music. They have maintained a consistent touring schedule, performing at major festivals and co-headlining with other notable rock acts. Their enduring career was recognized in 2018 with their induction into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame, and their iconic song ‘The Final Countdown’ received the YouTube Billion Views Award in 2022, underscoring its lasting global impact. The band is set to release their twelfth studio album, ‘Come This Madness,’ in September 2026.