Europe

Europe got its start in a Stockholm suburb, Upplands Väsby, in 1979. They were originally called Force, and the band consisted of Joey Tempest, John Norum, Peter Olsson, and Tony Reno. The name came from a UFO album that Tempest really liked. At the time, they played covers in a studio, trying to learn how to play well. One day, they decided to try writing their own songs, without really knowing what they were doing. That’s how it all began.

The band gradually made a name for itself on the local scene, playing at festivals and clubs. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. They were told that to get their songs released, they had to cut their hair and sing in Swedish. They didn’t do it, and so they remained in the underground scene. Although they didn’t know it, they were on the verge of becoming something bigger.