Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 by vocalist Joey Tempest and guitarist John Norum. They originally performed under the name Force but rebranded as Europe after winning the national Rock-SM contest in 1982. Their early albums Europe (1983) and Wings of Tomorrow (1984) built a strong following in Sweden and Japan.
Their third album, The Final Countdown (1986), brought global fame with its title track—featuring an unforgettable keyboard riff—and top hits like “Rock the Night” and “Carrie.” The album peaked in the U.S. top ten, launched major tours, and remains a hallmark of '80s arena rock. After releasing Out of This World (1988) and Prisoners in Paradise (1991), the band went on hiatus in 1992.
The official reunion came in 2003, followed by a string of acclaimed albums: Start from the Dark (2004), Secret Society (2006), Last Look at Eden (2009), Bag of Bones (2012), War of Kings (2015), and Walk the Earth (2017). Bag of Bones marked a creative resurgence with hard-driving blues-rock and soulful arrangements, delighting fans and critics alike.
Europe’s discography includes eleven studio albums, numerous live releases, compilations, and over two dozen music videos. With more than ten million records sold worldwide, they remain a defining bridge between orchestrated melodičnost hard rocka i metal melodrama. The classic lineup—Joey Tempest, John Norum, John Levén, Mic Michaeli, and Ian Haugland—continues to tour enthusiastically, embodying decades-long relevance and musical integrity.
