Back in March, I had the pleasure of seeing the band Europe live at Irving Plaza. The group’s setlist was a mix of old and new, far from a “greatest hits live” sort of experience. This intrigued me, as many of Europe’s peers are known to lean towards entirely giving the fans what they want. Brief covers of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” were part of their performance, further showing versatility and musicianship that not everyone associates with Europe.
Lead singer Joey Tempest, the sole writer of the classic “The Final Countdown,” has always been one of my favorite singers. He always seemed aware of what he was doing, not just acting like a “metal guy.” And yes, in 2015, he still hits all of the high notes with ease.
Joey, who grew up in Sweden and eventually relocated to England, answered some questions for me about life off-stage and outside of the studio. Judging by his responses, family and music appear to be his top two interests by a landslide. As a result, Joey Tempest is the rare sort of person who seems to want the things he has and is happy with exactly where he is.
Where did the name “Joey Tempest” come from?
Europe’s Joey Tempest: When I was in high school, I used to sneak off to the library to read music magazines like NME and Music Maker. I also checked out books and one day I saw Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” and that name caught my attention. I had been to the U.S. already with my parents and people there nicknamed me Joe after thinking “Joakim” was too long. So I just put it together. In school, I was dreaming hard about being in a world-touring band and played around with alter-egos. I guess I was the last generation of artist that took on stage names. I was intrigued with artists like Bob Dylan, Elton John, David Bowie, etc. who all had alternative personas. What a magical world that was to me!
Europe first began as Force in 1979, and seven years later was internationally-known with “The Final Countdown.” Yet Force wasn’t your first band. What was it that kept you going during the slower years of your early career?
J: I played in smaller local bands since I was 11 years old, but everything really kickstarted when I saw John Norum play with his band WC. I was around 15 years old and he completely blew my mind. Then we started Force together. I was always looking for like-minded souls to hook up with as a kid. It was kind of natural for me to dream about “one day” being in a touring rock band.
Little seems to be known about you besides your musical career. What do you like to do besides music?
J: When I’m not working and enjoying Europe, all I really want to do is spend time with my two young boys and my wife. There is no more time in my life for anything else! And it’s enough. I’m a very lucky man.
Is not participating on social media sites a conscious decision? Something you’re proud of?
J: I suppose we’re not really interested in being part of reality shows or sharing our private lives on social media, but professionally we work our Facebook and homepage very hard. We were one of the first bands to offer our music on our [web] site around 2004. We regularly post on our Facebook so that the fans know what’s going on, and it’s a great way for us to be closer to our fans and to now their views.
So much of today’s Top 40 hits in the U.S. and U.K. come from Swedish songwriters. Was there ever any temptation for you to get into the world of co-writing for other artists?
J: I know some of those writers and some of them actually grew up listening to Europe, which is really cool, but for me it’s about being in band. Feeling the soul of the band, and within that world creating music. I’ve done a few co-writes with outside writers but it’s not something that I strive for. The other guys in Europe have become such great writers and we have a good thing going on within the band.
Is there a part of the music field that you have not tried yet are curious about? Or something that you strive to do beyond music?
J: I do enjoy filmmaking. It intrigues me. We have started planning for some sort of documentation of our adventure with the band Europe and no doubt I will have an active part that venture.
You’ve lived outside of Sweden for over two decades, but do you still primarily identify as a Swedish artist?
J: I’ve lived in London with my family since 2001, and before that I lived with the band in the Caribbean and after that, five years just south of Dublin, Ireland. I go where life and opportunities takes me. I have now spent more years outside Sweden than I did growing up there. I think it gives me a good perspective on things. I can look at the Swedes from the outside and at the same time observe my adopted country, U.K., in the same way. I am a kind of world citizen I guess. Sometimes I feel I travel more than light itself…
Are there particular tools or apps that you primarily rely on to keep everything on-track in your professional life?
J: Well, in the studio it’s important to mix vintage analog outboard gear with the new digital media, to create a warm yet up-to-date sound. A lot of bands tend to overproduce and overwork their music. It’s about “digging deeper” finding that expression. Not overproduce, not emulate and not recreate the past. But go to “that place” and make new interesting heartfelt, emotional music.
Finally, Joey, any last words for the kids?
J: Rock ’n’ roll is not dead, it’s just been on vacation.
by Darren Paltrowitz
