Interview with Joey Tempest of EUROPE

Nine years later, Europe is back with “Come This Madness”—their 12th studio album and the most powerful and uncompromising statement of their career. The legendary Swedish band, which has seen and experienced it all in the history of rock, shows no signs of slowing down. Constantly evolving and adapting, Europe once again defies all expectations with a striking, uncompromising album. We spoke with Joey Tempest. 00:00 - Introduction & Welcome Joey Tempest 00:23 - Playing in Portugal & Missing EUROPE Live 00:01:21 - The Creative Evolution of "Come This Madness" 00:02:27 - Working with Producer Tom Dalgety 00:03:50 - Immediate Success vs. Long-Term Appeal of the New Album 00:05:24 - Songwriting Process During COVID & Themes of Democracy 00:07:22 - Why EUROPE Doesn't Write Music While on Tour 00:08:02 - Unearthing Older Ideas: "Nothing Can Follow This" & "This Time of Year" 00:09:46 - Finding Hope & Positivity in Darker Lyrics 00:11:47 - Special Guests: Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) & Tobias Forge (Ghost) 00:13:03 - Analogue Recording & The Neve Desk at Benny Andersson's Studio 00:14:23 - Reflecting on 40 Years of "The Final Countdown" 00:16:58 - 80s Music Scene Nostalgia & Michael Jackson Comparisons 00:18:15 - The Infamous Story of Trying to Drop "The Final Countdown" at Download 00:19:32 - Upcoming Tour Plans & Playing New Songs 00:20:13 - Hopes for a Headline Show in Portugal