John Norum: europe last look at eden details

EUROPE - "LAST LOOK AT EDEN"
UK Album Release: 14th September 09

Europe, Sweden's biggest selling hard rock band, are pleased to announce the 14th September release of their eighth studio album "Last Look At Eden" - the first studio album since 2006's critically acclaimed "Secret Society". The album will be released by Edel Germany's international rock music label earMUSIC.

TRACKLISTING

1. PRELUDE
2. LAST LOOK AT EDEN
3. GONNA GET READY
4. CATCH THE PLANE
5. NEW LOVE IN TOWN
6. THE BEAST
7. MOJITO GIRL
8. NO STONE UNTURNED
9. ONLY YOUNG TWICE
10. U DEVIL U
11. RUN WITH ANGEL
12. IN MY TIME

To coincide with the band's headline appearance at the Bloodstock Festival on August 16th (www.bloodstock.uk.com), Europe will release the 'Last Look at Eden' 5-track mini album on Monday August 10th, featuring the album's title track as well as a previously never-before-released live version of the Led Zeppelin classic 'Since I've Been Loving You'.

After shooting to fame in 1986 with the hugely successful single 'The Final Countdown',Europe spent the next 10 years touring the world and released two further albums 'Out of this World' and 'Prisoners in Paradise'. After taking a break from the limelight for most of the 1990's, a break which many fans thought would be the end of the band, Europe got back together for a one-off new year's eve performance in Stockholm in 1999 and 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).

Now back and stronger than ever before, Europe gear up to release 'Last Look at Eden' - a monumental hard rock album packed with undeniably skilled song writing and musicianship. The album features John Norum's signature guitar tones and proves that Joey Tempest still has one of the most powerful and gifted voices in rock music today.

From the epic title track to the melodic ballad 'New Love in Town' this album is on another level, less extreme than previous offering 'Secret Society' and with matured sound, 'Last Look at Eden' is a mix of all the elements that have made Europe famous the world over.

"This time we're taking a new direction with out songs, and we're exploring different styles," says Tempest. "There is a definite classic rock vibe on several tracks on this album - a tip of the hat to groovin', funkin' 70's rock songs, with a modern twist."

Adds Tempest - "We've got a couple of great ballads, plus some thundering rock tracks that will put you flat on your ass! We've taken the best bits from our recent albums and taken it to a new level 'Last Look at Eden' is more of a Europe album than 'Secret Society' or 'Start From The Dark'. We had to make those albums in order to do this."

EUROPE

BIOGRAPHY

THE VISIONARIES
When I was 15 years old, I discovered a guitar player, one year younger than myself, who player his instrument with heart and soul, and with a blues feeling that I'd never heard from a Swedish musician. His name was John Norum and after that day nothing would ever be the same again. Together we formed the band 'Force', started rehearsing frequently and playing local gigs. I had found a new love for writing songs and together we had a vision to become a touring rock band, just like the bands we looked up to like Thin Lizzy, UFO, and many more.

Around the same time, John also played guitar and bass in various local bands, with a short stint in Yngwie Malmsteen's 'Rising Force'. Mic Michaeli played keyboards in the band 'Avalon' and Ian Haugland sang and played drums in a band called 'Trilogy'. We all knew and respected each other. It wasn't long before the classic line-up of Europe was formed.

THE WORKERS
Over 1000 concerts later, Europe are still addicted to touring the world and pushing our limits in the recording studio. Ever since our first record in 1983, which came out as a result of winning first prize in rock band competition, we've never lost our focus. Europe started touring in Scandinavia in 1983-84 and by the time of the release of our first two records "Europe" and "Wings of Tomorrow", we also established ourselves in the Japanese market.

Managing to land a recording contract directly with CBS New York (now Sony) paved the way for our third album "The Final Countdown". For the first time we were working with an American producer, Kevin Elson, who earlier produced the band 'Journey'. That is when it really started to kick off. Radio and MTV began playing our music worldwide. We could finally do what we had always dreamt of - touring the world, and as a bonus, sell millions of records. When we were not on the road we were in the recording studio.

"Out of This World", the follow up to "The Final Countdown", was recorded at Olympic Studios in London. Soon after, we found ourselves on a massive world tour that lasted more than a year. From 1989-90 we set up base in California for the writing and recording of our fifth album "Prisoners In Paradise". Our American management made it possible for us to live and write in San Francisco and record in Los Angeles. After the release of "Prisoners In Paradise", we embarked on another world tour; one that would prove to be the last before taking our "break".

THE BREAK
We all kept in touch during the years that the Europe machine was down. We had never officially disbanded and I think we all knew we would get together again. The break turned out to be a bit longer than we expected. Each member of Europe was playing or recording with other projects, and after a while I started missing my partner in crime, John Norum. John was the first to leave the band in '86, and decided to focus on solo material in LA. This is how Steven Tyler must have felt when Joe Perry left Aerosmith for a few years. Even though Kee Marcello did a great job playing guitar on "Out of This World" and "Prisoners in Paradise", when John was not around I always felt that something was missing.

When we teamed up with Norum to perform in Stockholm on the millennium eve in front of 500,000 people, there was no turning back! There were just a few solo contracts that needed fulfilling before we could return to "The Master Plan".

THE SURVIVORS
The comeback album "Start From The Dark", was recorded in Stockholm, and released in 2004. Our decision to work together again was based on a long term commitment and to record "relevant" music to slowly establish the band again. We knew this would take time and that we had to work as hard as, if not harder, than ever before. The reaction to the "Start From The Dark Tour" exceeded all expectations and soon after we returned to the studio to record our seventh album "Secret Society".

The Europe machine was now in full motion - triumphant moments, personal tragedies, a music business that's forever changing and the Europe fans that have never given up on us.

Everything that has led us here has given us inspiration for our new album "Last Look At Eden". It feels like we've finally made a record that has those special ingredients - classic Europe melodies together with guitar and keyboard riffs that will grow and stay with you. With experience, hopefully, some of the lyrics will reflect what's going on in our world - perhaps this time with a touch of humour and irony. After all, it's only rock 'n roll.
-Joey Tempest, July 14th 2009

Current Band Members
Joey Tempest: lead vocals, acoustic/rhythm guitar, keyboards (1979-1992, 2003-present)
John Norum: lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1979-1986, 2003-present)
John Levén: bass (1981-1992, 2003-present)
Mic Michaeli: keyboards, backing vocals, rhythm guitar (1984-1992, 2003 - present)
Ian Haugland: drums, percussion, backing vocals (1984-1992, 2003-present)

Discography
Europe (1983)
Wings of Tomorrow (1984)
The Final Countdown (1986)
Out of This World (1988)
Prisoners in Paradise (1991)
Start from the Dark (2004)
Secret Society (2006)
Almost Unplugged (2008)
Last Look in Eden (2009)

Official Sites
www.europetheband.com
www.myspace.com/europe
www.ear-music.net