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1 Feb 2010

Sweden’s premiere hard rock band will undertake a nationwide UK tour this February. The tour follows the September 2009 release of Europe’s critically acclaimed new studio album Last Look at Eden. Best known for their 1986 smash anthem, The Final Countdown, the Swedish rockers return with a heavier bluesy, hip-shaking, metal sounding album.

Europe

After taking a break from the limelight for most of the 1990’s, the band announced their official reunion in 2003 by welcoming back original guitarist and founding member John Norum. Since then, Europe has released two studio albums - Start From The Dark (2004) and Secret Society (2006).

New album Last Look at Eden is a monumental hard rock album packed with skilled song writing and musicianship.

Take it away caught up with lead singer Joey Tempest and rhythm man Ian Haugland

How would you describe your creative lives?
(JT) I try to have a feel of what's happening around us. Musically, spiritually and trying to play and write everyday. The band itself gives me a lot of inspiration, being on the road and being together creates a great foundation to be creative.

(IH) I think it’s great, better than ever. We are so much more in control of the artistic and creative side these days, we love every minute of it.

Can you give us an insight into how you started out making music?
(JT) There was a piano and a guitar in my house when I was very young that my older sister used to practise on. I picked them up and loved playing and writing immediately. I was very much into Elton John and David Bowie on the radio so I tried to emulate their songs after I heard them.

(IH) I first heard Deep Purple on Swedish national radio in 1973, and was immediately taken by the power of the music. After that point I was forever lost in hard rock. In 1976 I heard Rainbow Rising and their drummer Cozy Powell banging away on the double kick drums. I remember thinking “that’s what I want to do, play the drums”. I started playing in 1977, after I got a second hand drum kit from my parents as a birthday present.

What's the process you go through in creating your input to the songs?
(JT) First you have to home in on the "idea" of the song. Is it driven by a lyric concept or a riff for instance? Then you try and let the song write itself. Of course with a lot of repeating and reworking, etc.

(IH) I think it’s fairly easy to hear how the drum parts should be. I just listen to the song, the mood and the structure, the drummer’s role is in my opinion to keep the song and the band together, like a shepherd.

What would you say to the youngsters out there experiencing your music for the first time?
(JT) Just enjoy...It’s meant to tickle your fancy. We always wanted to get better at our instruments and we always try to develop. We are on a journey and it's great when people can join us on this journey.

(IH) Just go crazy, sing along, scream and have a good time. That’s when we enjoy playing the most.

What is your favourite song in the world? Why?
(JT) One of my favourite songs is Space Oddity by David Bowie. It was the first single I bought. It really caught my attention, great melodies, production and lyrical content. The lyrics later inspired me to write the words for The Final Countdown. I was very much into "space" at the time.

(IH) That’s a tough one! But I have to say either Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, or Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. Simply because they’re the most complete songs there are, great melodies, dynamics, and emotionally superb.

Have you come up against difficulties when learning? How did you overcome them?
(JT) My father says that I played guitar before I went to school in the morning and as soon as I got back. If I ran into some difficulties with strange chords or techniques I tried to talk to someone else who I knew had played guitar for a longer time. It's always good to find like minded people who can give you inspiration and advice.

(IH) I constantly find it hard to learn new stuff, but the only way to learn something new is simply to practice and rehearse for hours. Eventually it will stick to your brain.

What or who inspired you to start and continue playing?
(JT) I wanted to get better and was interested in music in general. I also checked out music magazines and listened to new albums. The guys in the band all give me inspiration.

(IH) First of all, my parents who believed in me and supported my dream. My main inspirations have always been drummers like Cozy Powell, John Bonham, Ian Paice.

Any advice for those just starting playing and starting out?
(JT) Practise, practise and practise. Apart from that you could learn everything about your heroes. Read books about them, how they created their music and how they worked and lived. Even big artists like Bono or Bob Dylan had their own heroes that they learned from, borrowed techniques and moves from.

(IH) Do what you believe in; don’t listen to what everybody else tells you to do. Do your own thing. Try not to follow trends, try to lead them instead. Play together as much as possible both in rehearsal and live. It doesn’t matter if you play for 2 or 20,000 people, the experience you get from performing is the most important you can get.

What are your thoughts on the Arts Council’s Take it away scheme?
(JT) Take it away is a great scheme to move music forward. Music really makes our world a better place, it’s a great communicator and it brings people together all over the world.

The Arts Council’s Take it away scheme is a winner!

You can catch EUROPE on tour across the UK throughout February 2010
Very special guest is Diamond Head

Leeds 02 Academy (Feb 18)
Birmingham O2 Academy (Feb 19)
London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (Feb 20)
Oxford O2 Academy (Feb 22)
Bournemouth O2 Academy (Feb 23)
Bristol O2 Academy (Feb 24)
Manchester Academy 2 (Feb 26)
Newcastle O2 Academy (Feb 27)
Glasgow O2 ABC (Feb 28)

Ticket Hotline: 0844 477 2000, www.ticketweb.co.uk.
The album ‘Last Look at Eden’ is out now. More info: www.europetheband.com

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