Is John Norum an underrated guitarist ?

Who knows? He's certainly not underrated in my book. I guess there are many guitarists that don't perhaps get the recognition they fully deserve. I get the feeling John doesn't like being in the spotlight too much. He seems like a very modest, genuine and very nice guy from the times I met him. He probably doesn't mind being 'underrated'

Interesting opinions ...

EUROPE is possibly the most underrated rock band ... that is obvious and unfair but things are so. Fortunately I think it's not something that worries them to any of the band members, they have focused more on their music and on what they want to convey in live that in what others think, that freedom has left them to flow very good songs. Said this, ... I think John deserves more ... as EUROPE, they deserve greater projection, its quality is that of a "BIG" band, but even now with its reinvention with their new stage that it has enchanted press and fans, still playing in theaters not very big and they have to play with other bands headlining ... which is what they deserve.

I don't remember reading in an interview if they would have asked this issue to John, ... if not, it would be a good question to ask him if ever the target allows to us his fans the forgotten initiative of "QUESTIONS to John" 

I agree kat ... but I have to admit : I want more "NOISE" about John and this band !!!!


I guess that John is happy in both situations: doing a tour of small venues with his sweet sister Tone, and playing in front of 10,000 people in Madrid with Def Leppard & Whitesnake last year or in front of 30,000 at the Sweden Rock Festival , ... but for me to see him on stage front of thousands people cheering to him is an honor and a wonderful show.

I remember the "Girl from Lebanon" solo in Madrid, ... the dim light, people was expecting, a spotlight on John and begin the chords of this song, ... when the intro finished the room surrendered to him and embraced him with applause ... and I was fully excited and crying for to have lived that moment ... You know, I want this kind of noise for him !!

Yes , friend, I'm following the basketball world, I have to admit I played basketball in high school ...and the most important thing is also because in this country for a few days not only is talk about football !! And that is great news ...

Interesting discussion. My 2 cents:



If you are talking about mainstream recognition, I came to the conclusion that, sadly, there is no possibility for John and Europe to get much more recognition than what they are currently receiving (which is actually very good). This is because hard rock and heavy metal have become a niche phenomenon, with many devoted fans but unable to make it as popular as it was in the past. Being rock heroes in the seventies has given to bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd (to name only a few) and to guitarist like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton or Eddie Van Halen (to name a few), the permanent status of rock legends. It could have happened to Europe and John too. But they arrived a bit too late, when the golden age was about to end. And, worst, the image that they used to promote themselves worked for a while and then hit them back like a boomerang. That's why, also in the rock scene they are not considered at the same level of bands like for example Iron Maiden or Guns n' Roses. It wasn't a problem of musical quality or skill back then. And it isn't now. Even if Europe released a true masterpiece as new album, the top that they could get is a good position in the charts for some weeks, excellent reviews in rock magazines and sites, some mentions in the newspaper when there's the gig, big respect and appraisal from other musicians and a few new fans. Ironically that goes also for the rock legends above mentioned: if Van Halen or Iron Maiden would release the best album of their career (musically speaking) that wouldn't gain them a higher step in the music scene than the one they're currently standing on. It's simply too late.
That said, personally I don't mind. Listening to Europe music has always given me special feelings, back in the eighties as today. I've been lucky enough to live the age when Europe was at the top of the charts, when it was impossible to turn on the radio without hearing the countdown. It was great but, perhaps selfishly, I prefer the niche atmosphere of today. Not much noise but a good vibe. It all seems more "real". A good review or a nice word from another artist has no other meaning and reason than true appreciation. In my opinion, that's the best possible recognition. In the end it is better to be considered underrated and give genuine surprise to the people that suddendly discover them (yes, it still happens!) than being considered overrated and disappoint.