John Levén
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John Levén
John Gunnar Levén (born 25 October 1963 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish bassist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Levén and vocalist Joey Tempest are the only band members who have performed on all of Europe's studio albums. Career When Levén was 7 years old, he and his family moved to the suburb Upplands Väsby, where several members of Europe grew up. He joined the band in 1981, replacing Peter Olsson. In 1985 Levén was the one who suggested that Tempest should write a song based on an old keyboard riff that the vocalist had written around 1981-82. The result was the song " The Final Countdown". After Europe went on hiatus in 1992, Levén recorded and toured with bands like Brazen Abbot, Clockwise, Last Autumn's Dream, Southpaw, Europe colleague John Norum and former Black Sabbath / Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes. Europe reunited in 2003, and Levén co-wrote the single " Always the Pretenders" from the 2006 album '' Secret Society'', with Tempest. He also co-wrote t ...
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Bass Guitar
The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and scale length, and typically four to six strings or courses. Since the mid-1950s, the bass guitar has largely replaced the double bass in popular music. The four-string bass is usually tuned the same as the double bass, which corresponds to pitches one octave lower than the four lowest-pitched strings of a guitar (typically E, A, D, and G). It is played primarily with the fingers or thumb, or with a pick. To be heard at normal performance volumes, electric basses require external amplification. Terminology According to the ''New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'', an "Electric bass guitar sa Guitar, usually with four heavy strings tuned E1'–A1'–D2–G2." It also defines ''bass'' as "Bass (iv). A contraction of Double bas ...
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Joey Tempest
Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson (born 19 August 1963), known professionally as Joey Tempest, is a Swedish singer best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Europe. He has written the band's great hits such as " The Final Countdown", " Rock the Night", "Cherokee", and "Carrie". He started performing in 1979. Early life Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson was born in Stockholm, Sweden on 19 August 1963. When he was eight years old, he would sit in front of the television or radio with a tape recorder and try to capture songs from the UK or US that he liked and listen to them over and over again. He learned how to play the piano and a friend of his father's taught him three chords (A, D, and E) on his sister's acoustic guitar. Larsson played football and ice hockey and competed in go-cart racing; he once came in fourth place in the Junior Cart Race, a Swedish championship. Like many of the other Europe members, Larsson grew up in Stockholm suburb Upplands Väsby. His biggest influences ...
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The Final Countdown (album)
''The Final Countdown'' is the third studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. Released on 26 May 1986 through Epic Records, the album was a commercial success, peaking at number 8 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200 chart and reaching high positions in charts worldwide. It was recorded at Powerplay Studios in Zürich, Soundtrade Studios in Stockholm, Mastersound Studios in Atlanta and Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. ''The Final Countdown'' is the first album to feature keyboardist Mic Michaeli and drummer Ian Haugland and the last to feature guitarist John Norum until 2004's ''Start from the Dark''. Compared to the band’s last two albums that featured a classic heavy metal sound, in this album they switch to a more radio friendly glam metal sound. Five singles were released from the album: " The Final Countdown", " Love Chaser", " Rock the Night", "Carrie", and "Cherokee." The first single was responsible for launching Europe into mainstream popularity. Composition and recording " ...
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Wings Of Tomorrow
''Wings of Tomorrow'' is the second studio album by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It was released on 24 February 1984, by Hot Records. ''Wings of Tomorrow'' is the last album to feature drummer Tony Reno. The song "Scream of Anger" was originally titled "Black Journey Through My Soul". Track listing Personnel Europe *Joey Tempest – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards *John Norum – guitars, background vocals *John Levén – bass guitar *Tony Reno – drums Production *Leif Mases – producer, engineer *Peter Engberg – cover illustration *Magnus Elgquist – photography *Camilla B. – cover design Charts Cover versions "Wings of Tomorrow" and "Scream of Anger" have been covered by the melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. The latter, notes guitarist Michael Amott in the liner notes for ''Wages of Sin ''Wages of Sin'' is the fourth studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. It is the first Arch Enemy album to feature the vocals of ...
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Europe (Europe Album)
''Europe'' is the debut studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Europe, released on 14 March 1983 by Hot Records. Track listing Personnel Europe *Joey Tempest – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards *John Norum – guitars, background vocals *John Levén – bass *Tony Reno – drums Production *Europe – producer *Erik Videgård – co-producer, engineer *Thomas Erdtman – co-producer *Lennart Dannstedt – photography Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employe ... *Camilla B. – cover design Charts References {{DEFAULTSORT:Europe (Album) Europe (band) albums 1983 debut albums JVC Records albums Epic Records albums ...
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Last Look At Eden
A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes. Lasts typically come in pairs and have been made from various materials, including hardwoods, cast iron, and high-density plastics. The term is derived from the Proto-Germanic *''laistaz'' ("track, trace, footprint"); cognates include Swedish ''läst'', Danish ''læste'', German ''Leisten''. Production Lasts come in many styles and sizes, depending on the exact job they are designed for. Common variations include simple one-size lasts used for repairing soles and heels, durable lasts used in modern mass production, and custom-made lasts used in the making of bespoke footwear. Though a last is made approximately in the shape of a human foot, the precise shape is tailored to the kind of footwear being made. For example, a boot last would be designed to hug the instep for a close fit. Modern last shapes are typically designed using dedicated compu ...
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Secret Society (album)
''Secret Society'' is the seventh studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on 25 October 2006 by Sanctuary Records. "We think it's one of the strongest albums that Europe has ever done," vocalist Joey Tempest said, "There is definitely some more melodic stuff on this one. ''Start from the Dark'' was very raw and made a statement, which is cool but for us it felt like a debut album in a way, so we wanted to branch out a bit on this one and take it to new levels." Track listing Personnel *Joey Tempest – vocals, acoustic guitars, Pro Tools programming and additional engineering *John Norum – guitars *John Levén – bass *Mic Michaeli – keyboards, Pro Tools programming and additional engineering *Ian Haugland – drums *Archie Lamprell – choir vocals on "Let the Children Play" *Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and tradi ...
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Always The Pretenders
"Always the Pretenders" is a 2006 single released by the Swedish rock band Europe. It is the first single from Europe's album ''Secret Society'', and was released on 11 October 2006. The single peaked at number 2 on the Swedish singles chart. The song is co-written by vocalist Joey Tempest and bassist John Levén, and was inspired by a phonecall Tempest received on 11 September 2001. Track listing #"Always the Pretenders" (Radio Edit) #"Always the Pretenders" (Album Version) #"Flames" (Live at B.B.King's, New York 2005) #"Superstitious" (Live at B.B.King's, New York 2005) Personnel *Joey Tempest − vocals *John Norum − guitars *John Levén − bass guitar *Mic Michaeli − keyboards *Ian Haugland − drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ... Charts Weekly ch ...
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Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock music, but their musical style has changed over the course of its existence. Originally formed as a psychedelic rock, psychedelic and progressive rock band, they shifted to a heavier sound with their 1970 album ''Deep Purple in Rock''. Deep Purple, together with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid-seventies". They were listed in the 1975 Guinness World Records, ''Guinness Book of World Records'' as "Loudest band, the globe's loudest band" for a 1972 concert at London's Rainbow Theatre and have sold over 100 million records worldwide. Deep Purple have had several line-up changes and an eight-year hiatus (1976–1984). The first four line-ups, which constituted the band's original 1968–1976 run, are officially indica ...
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. The band helped define the genre with releases such as ''Black Sabbath (album), Black Sabbath'' (1970), ''Paranoid (album), Paranoid'' (1970) and ''Master of Reality'' (1971). The band had multiple line-up changes following Osbourne's departure in 1979 and Iommi is the only constant member throughout their history. After previous iterations of the group – the Polka Tulk Blues Band and Earth – the band settled on the name Black Sabbath in 1969. They distinguished themselves through occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics and down-tuned guitars. Signing to Philips Records in November 1969, they released their first single, "Evil Woman (Crow song), Evil Woman", in January 1970, and their debut album, ''Black Sabbath'', was rel ...
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John Norum
John Norum (born 23 February 1964) is a Norwegian-Swedish guitarist and one of the founders of the rock band Europe. Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a career as a solo artist. Biography As an infant, Norum moved with his parents to Upplands Väsby (a Stockholm suburb), where he grew up and has spent most of his life. During his career in music, Norum has played with Eddie Meduza & the Roaring Cadillacs, Dokken, Don Dokken's solo band, as well as collaborated with other well-known artists on his solo albums, including Glenn Hughes, Kelly Keeling, Peter Baltes, Simon Wright and Göran Edman. His influences include Gary Moore, Michael Schenker, Frank Marino, John Sykes and Ritchie Blackmore. In 1979, John Norum formed Force, which was Europe's first name, with vocalist Joey Tempest. Europe participated in and won the "Rock Sm", Swedish championship of rock, broadcast on television in 1982, with Norum being voted best guitarist and Joey best vocalist. The ...
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The Final Countdown (song)
"The Final Countdown" is a song by Swedish Rock music, rock band Europe (band), Europe, released in 1986. Written by lead singer Joey Tempest, it was based on a keyboard riff he made in the early 1980s, with lyrics inspired by David Bowie's "Space Oddity". Originally made to just be a concert opener, it is the first single and title track from the band's The Final Countdown (album), third studio album. The music video by Nick Morris, made to promote the single, has become iconic with 1 billion views on YouTube. The video features footage from the band's two concerts at Solnahallen in Solna Municipality, Solna, as well as extra footage of the sound checks and footage from Stockholm. Origin and recording The song was based on a keyboard riff which Joey Tempest had written, as early as 1981 or 1982, on a Korg Polysix keyboard which he had borrowed from keyboardist Mic Michaeli. In 1985, bassist John Levén suggested that Tempest should write a song based on that riff. Tempest record ...
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