Biography
Sweden is rich in musical talents. This country was successfully represented by Roxette, ABBA, E-Type and Ace Of Base. Among Titans - and the rock band Europe, the most famous song The Final Countdown. Its author - Joey Tempest, soloist, rhythm guitarist and ideological inspirer of this team. When Europe's history was interrupted in the 1990s, he began a successful solo career. Now on his account dozens of years of activity.Childhood and youth
The present name of the Swedish singer - Rolf Magnus Yoakim Larsson. He was born on August 19, 1963 in the city of Uplands-Vesby, not far from Stockholm.
As a child, Joey Tempesta attracted the sport. He loved football and hockey, and in the future dreamed of becoming an instructor of gymnastics. But the house constantly played music - Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy. A young man could not ignore the attractive gutars overflows, do not hear the penetrated poems.
His older sister Liselott "Lotta" Larsson Waldmaa and the elder brother Thomas Larsson also plunged into rock culture. In his youth, they fell in love with Elton John. Inspired by this singer, Joey Tempest began to learn to play the piano. Then Elvis Presley appeared, and the Europe leader switched to the guitar - its main tool.
In the 5th grade of Joey Tempest and a couple of his friends "focused" the group, she was called Made in Hong Kong (later, Jet and Blazer options appeared). The repertoire was the only song - Keep Knockin, famous Little Richard. Of course, it was only school amateur. Instead of a drum plant at the drummer Made in Hong Kong was a box, guitarist played without an amplifier, and Joey Tempest sang through the old transistor.
Music
After many decades, Joey Tempest perfectly remembered the day of acquaintance with John Nerum."When I was 15 years old, I met a guitarist for the year younger than me. He played sensational blues not with his fingers, but a soul. I have never met such sensuality at the musician. His name was John Nerum, and he forever changed my life, "the Europe leader recalls.The guys became good friends in his youth. They were united not only the passion for music, but also interest in motorcycles.
A year after acquaintance, John Nerum offered Joey Tempestu to join his WC group. Together with the new participant, the name has changed - with WC on Force.
In 1982, they were joined in the National Rock-SM talent contest under the new name - Ultimate EUROPE. Then the Joey Tempest, John Nerum, John Leuven and Tony Reno. The guys won the main prize - a contract with Hot Records.
The history of Europe was long, and Joey Tempest played a major role in it. An impressive range of votes, multi-processalism, sensual poems - all this he put on the benefit of the collective.
Despite the fact that Joey Tempest is able to play and on the piano, and on the guitar, he primarily singer. The Europe leader has an amazingly melodious voice - something average between Freddie Mercury, the "king" of the Queen group, and Phil Linott, the founder of the Thin Lizzy group. The range varies from baritone to the tenor.
World Glory Europe managed to reach in 1986 - after the release of the Album The Final Countdown and the single single. Over time, the song has gained immortality, and the band, on the contrary, began to dive into oblivion. Subsequent musical innovations, clips and concerts were perceived calmly, without proper excitement. In 1992, Europe went to a 12-year-old break. This time Joey Tempest used for solo career.
The sole path began with the album a place to call home (1995). Even not particularly broken melomanany will celebrate the striking difference between solo creativity from the fact that Joey Tempest composed for Europe.
"I needed a change of sound. I wanted to create an album himself - to compose both music and texts. I tried to learn from the best - Bob Dilan and Van Morrison. These are the most famous executive authors, I wanted to become as distinctive as they, "said Joey Tempest in an interview.Listeners liked - a place to call home took the 7th place in the Sweden Chart. The following album Azalea Place (1997) reached the same results. Bardenes took from it, but there were notes of traditional Irish and Spanish music. And in the 3rd and final solo compilation of Joey Tempest (2002), Joey Tempest returned to Rock.
Heavy notes in the work were pushed to the thought that it was time to reincarnize Europe. Reunion occurred in 2003. Since then, to this day, Joey Tempest (vocals, rhythm guitar), John Nerum (Solo-Guitar), John Leuven (bass guitar), Mikaely (keyboards) and Yang Hoglund (drums).
The new Europe's discography is 7 albums, the most recent - Walk The Earth (2017). None of them and half did not approach the success of The Final Countdown.
Personal life
In 1992, Joey Tempest met a girl on Piccadilly in London, the capital of Great Britain. Her name was Lisa Worthington, and she lost his wallet. The Europe leader was so fascinated that he did not calm down until he found a loss. After half a year, they walked around.
The wedding took place many later - September 29, 2000. She was attended by all who had ever attached hand to Europe, except John Levena. John Nerum recalled that the songs of the Joey Tempest were the main soundtracks of the ceremony.
The Swedish singer first became a father in 44 years - October 12, 2007, James Joakim was born. This bright moment from his biography of Joey Tempest dedicated the Ballad of New Love In Town, it is part of the Album Last Look At Eden (2009). Jack Johnston, the 2nd Son, was born on July 23, 2014.
The Europe leader prefers not to advertise a personal life. Although it is known that he values his wife and sons much more stronger than the career.
Growth of Joey Tempest - 185 cm.
Joey Tempest Now
In 2020, Europe planned to make large-scale tour of Europe with WhitesNake and Foreigner, as well as for the United States with Foreigner and Kansas. But due to the epidemiological situation, all 57 concerts had to cancel.In order not to leave the fans at all, the musicians moved to the online format - launched the transmission "Friday evenings with Europe".
For 5 weeks, starting from October 23, 2020, in the group accounts in the social networks "Instagram" and "Facebook", as well as on "Youtyuba", some of the greatest Europe songs recorded re-in the pandemic period were broadcast. Each participant performed his party at home, alone, then their videos were in full-fledged live tracks.
About how Joey Thepest himself was worried about Quarantine, it remains only to guess - he has no individual accounts in social networks.
Discography
With a group of Europe:
- 1983 - EUROPE.
- 1984 - Wings Of Tomorrow
- 1986 - THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
- 1988 - Out Of this World
- 1991 - PRISONERS IN PARADISE
- 2004 - Start from the Dark
- 2006 - Secret Society
- 2009 - Last Look At Eden
- 2012 - Bag of Bones
- 2015 - War Of Kings
- 2017 - Walk The Earth
Solo:
- 1995 - A PLACE TO CALL HOME
- 1997 - Azalea Place
- 2002 - Joey Tempest