The Times Interview to Joey Tempest - published Jan 8, 2016
Jan 10, 2016 17:47:20 GMT 2
Post by Michaela Italy on Jan 10, 2016 17:47:20 GMT 2
I appreciate how the American journalists are becoming more and more prepared on the subject and they hit the important points with their questions. It’s a very positive sign that EUROPE the band is getting some visibility and recognition over there and it’s very promising for this upcoming leg of the Tour.
Enchanting how Joey is able to pack so much information while delivering short and not-pretentious-at-all answers, like delivering little gems, with the usual modesty and sense of reality, but on the other hand clearly showing he is really prepared and with a solid know-how about this rock ‘n roll world.
www.timesonline.com/entertainment/local_entertainment/europe-singer-talks-geico-commercial-u-s-tour-and-more/article_c0be7a90-b2fe-11e5-a69e-4fd39ce6c572.html
Europe singer talks Geico commercial, U.S. tour and more
By Scott Tady - stady@timesonline.com - Updated Jan 8, 2016
You've seen that Geico commercial with the metal band Europe.
Pretty amusing stuff, at least the first few dozen times, with the office worker waiting for his microwaved lunch to finish being nuked, only to be startled, along with fellow mild-mannered co-workers, by the sudden emergence of Europe rocking out to its 1986 hit "The Final Countdown."
Boasting one of hard-rock's most epic keyboard riffs, "The Final Countdown" is one of those time capsule songs that whisks you back 30 years to the hair-metal/glam-metal era. The Swedish band, guided by original powerhouse singer Joey Tempest, seems to be good sports, appearing in the commercial wearing vintage-looking black leather and performing alongside pyrotechnics.
You might be surprised to know Europe has recorded and toured regularly since its 2004 comeback, with last year's U.S. excursion including shows as close as Cleveland, Niagara Falls and Baltimore. The upcoming U.S. winter tour launches Jan. 19 in San Jose, hitting 16 mostly warm-weather cities, none as near to us as Atlanta.
Reached at his home -- in Europe, of course -- here's what the 52-year-old Tempest had to say about Europe's comical commercial, the band's new DVD/album release, "War of Kings: Special Edition," and any future plans to visit Pittsburgh.
"War of Kings: Special Edition," is an excellent representation of new and old Europe. What was the motivation to release this collection with both new material and a live concert that spans the band's career?
Thanks so much. Our label wanted to keep working 'War Of Kings' and release it a second time with an additional live DVD filmed at Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany. Seventeen songs 'live', old and new! It’s a great way to showcase the band Europe today; the way we look and sound on stage together with perhaps our best album to date. We are extremely proud of this release and hope it can help spread the word in North America that since 2004 we are yet again a working band.
Europe is headed back to the United States for a tour that starts Jan. 19 in San Jose, Calif. That Geico commercial with "Final Countdown" is a big hit here. People find it to be amusing and entertaining. Were you ever worried how fans or other people would react? It is, after all, poking a bit of fun.
No, it's just a bit of fun, really, and maybe it will get people interested enough to go and see us live and check out our new albums. After seeing Iggy Pop doing a similar thing over here in the U.K, where he didn’t take himself too seriously and still coming across great, we thought, 'Why not? Let’s just have some fun but let’s do it properly.' We did, however, say to Geico that we wanted to present a current version of the song and that we wanted to present the band how we currently look, since we now have been touring and releasing albums since our 'comeback' in 2004. We also checked out all other commercials Geico had made and we thought they use great directors, light and set designers to make great short films with humor.
We've see veteran rock bands have rejuvenated careers, or reach new fan bases, after one of their songs appears in a commercial, TV show or movie. Are there ways in which Europe hopes to use the Geico commercial as a springboard toward more opportunities?
If they help to spread the word about Europe that's great, but it will take time and hard work to build things up in the U.S. We will just take it step by step.
One of your new songs, "Days of Rock and Roll," alludes to how rock has the ability to re-awaken the soul -- a wisdom best-shared by an experienced band like Europe. Who are you addressing on lines like, "I gotta believe that time's still ours/I gotta believe it's still ours to burn"?
Well time is still ours to burn … especially when we have new, young bands like Rival Sons out there. They are burning bright and are leading the way for a new generation of rock bands.
Earlier this morning, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2016 inductees, including one of your influences, Deep Purple. At this point, what do you think or hope Europe's legacy is in rock and roll history?
Amazing news about Deep Purple. They truly deserve this and it's about time, too. Their ‘Made In Japan’ live album was like a bible for us and made us want to become musicians and a touring band. Europe's journey is still very much ON. We have more avenues to explore musically and our live show to develop further. There's a lot to be done still.
What sparked you, at the age of 22, to write "The Final Countdown"?
We were a guitar-based progressive rock band but the arrival of interesting keyboards on the market made me interested to explore them as a songwriter. The lyric was inspired by the first single I ever bought -- "Space Oddity" by Bowie; the tempo and feel was very much inspired by British rock bands at the time.
Alas, Pittsburgh is not one of Europe's 2016 tour stops. Do you have any vivid memories of prior Pittsburgh visits, or does anything unique come to mind when you hear the name Pittsburgh? And any chance we'll be added on a future tour?
Don't recall ever playing Pittsburgh and we're sorry not to be playing on this run. I know that you have some great guitar players coming from around there; Paul Gilbert and Reb Beach. We’re indeed looking forward to playing your town on a future U.S. run once we make the routing and availability work.
Any last words you'd like to share with our readers?
Nice to make your acquaintance. Come down and see us live. It will be intense.
Enchanting how Joey is able to pack so much information while delivering short and not-pretentious-at-all answers, like delivering little gems, with the usual modesty and sense of reality, but on the other hand clearly showing he is really prepared and with a solid know-how about this rock ‘n roll world.
www.timesonline.com/entertainment/local_entertainment/europe-singer-talks-geico-commercial-u-s-tour-and-more/article_c0be7a90-b2fe-11e5-a69e-4fd39ce6c572.html
Europe singer talks Geico commercial, U.S. tour and more
By Scott Tady - stady@timesonline.com - Updated Jan 8, 2016
You've seen that Geico commercial with the metal band Europe.
Pretty amusing stuff, at least the first few dozen times, with the office worker waiting for his microwaved lunch to finish being nuked, only to be startled, along with fellow mild-mannered co-workers, by the sudden emergence of Europe rocking out to its 1986 hit "The Final Countdown."
Boasting one of hard-rock's most epic keyboard riffs, "The Final Countdown" is one of those time capsule songs that whisks you back 30 years to the hair-metal/glam-metal era. The Swedish band, guided by original powerhouse singer Joey Tempest, seems to be good sports, appearing in the commercial wearing vintage-looking black leather and performing alongside pyrotechnics.
You might be surprised to know Europe has recorded and toured regularly since its 2004 comeback, with last year's U.S. excursion including shows as close as Cleveland, Niagara Falls and Baltimore. The upcoming U.S. winter tour launches Jan. 19 in San Jose, hitting 16 mostly warm-weather cities, none as near to us as Atlanta.
Reached at his home -- in Europe, of course -- here's what the 52-year-old Tempest had to say about Europe's comical commercial, the band's new DVD/album release, "War of Kings: Special Edition," and any future plans to visit Pittsburgh.
"War of Kings: Special Edition," is an excellent representation of new and old Europe. What was the motivation to release this collection with both new material and a live concert that spans the band's career?
Thanks so much. Our label wanted to keep working 'War Of Kings' and release it a second time with an additional live DVD filmed at Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany. Seventeen songs 'live', old and new! It’s a great way to showcase the band Europe today; the way we look and sound on stage together with perhaps our best album to date. We are extremely proud of this release and hope it can help spread the word in North America that since 2004 we are yet again a working band.
Europe is headed back to the United States for a tour that starts Jan. 19 in San Jose, Calif. That Geico commercial with "Final Countdown" is a big hit here. People find it to be amusing and entertaining. Were you ever worried how fans or other people would react? It is, after all, poking a bit of fun.
No, it's just a bit of fun, really, and maybe it will get people interested enough to go and see us live and check out our new albums. After seeing Iggy Pop doing a similar thing over here in the U.K, where he didn’t take himself too seriously and still coming across great, we thought, 'Why not? Let’s just have some fun but let’s do it properly.' We did, however, say to Geico that we wanted to present a current version of the song and that we wanted to present the band how we currently look, since we now have been touring and releasing albums since our 'comeback' in 2004. We also checked out all other commercials Geico had made and we thought they use great directors, light and set designers to make great short films with humor.
We've see veteran rock bands have rejuvenated careers, or reach new fan bases, after one of their songs appears in a commercial, TV show or movie. Are there ways in which Europe hopes to use the Geico commercial as a springboard toward more opportunities?
If they help to spread the word about Europe that's great, but it will take time and hard work to build things up in the U.S. We will just take it step by step.
One of your new songs, "Days of Rock and Roll," alludes to how rock has the ability to re-awaken the soul -- a wisdom best-shared by an experienced band like Europe. Who are you addressing on lines like, "I gotta believe that time's still ours/I gotta believe it's still ours to burn"?
Well time is still ours to burn … especially when we have new, young bands like Rival Sons out there. They are burning bright and are leading the way for a new generation of rock bands.
Earlier this morning, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2016 inductees, including one of your influences, Deep Purple. At this point, what do you think or hope Europe's legacy is in rock and roll history?
Amazing news about Deep Purple. They truly deserve this and it's about time, too. Their ‘Made In Japan’ live album was like a bible for us and made us want to become musicians and a touring band. Europe's journey is still very much ON. We have more avenues to explore musically and our live show to develop further. There's a lot to be done still.
What sparked you, at the age of 22, to write "The Final Countdown"?
We were a guitar-based progressive rock band but the arrival of interesting keyboards on the market made me interested to explore them as a songwriter. The lyric was inspired by the first single I ever bought -- "Space Oddity" by Bowie; the tempo and feel was very much inspired by British rock bands at the time.
Alas, Pittsburgh is not one of Europe's 2016 tour stops. Do you have any vivid memories of prior Pittsburgh visits, or does anything unique come to mind when you hear the name Pittsburgh? And any chance we'll be added on a future tour?
Don't recall ever playing Pittsburgh and we're sorry not to be playing on this run. I know that you have some great guitar players coming from around there; Paul Gilbert and Reb Beach. We’re indeed looking forward to playing your town on a future U.S. run once we make the routing and availability work.
Any last words you'd like to share with our readers?
Nice to make your acquaintance. Come down and see us live. It will be intense.