Europe

Europe is a Swedish rock band formed near Stockholm at the turn of the 1980s, originally performing under a different name before adopting «Europe» after winning a national talent competition. The band became a defining act of the melodic hard rock and glam metal movement, blending soaring vocal hooks with driving guitar riffs and keyboard-laden arrangements characteristic of the era.

Their breakthrough came in 1986 with «The Final Countdown», whose instantly recognizable synthesizer fanfare turned it into one of the most enduring rock anthems in popular music, propelling the band to international stardom. Follow-up hits such as «Rock the Night», «Carrie», «Superstitious», and «Open Your Heart» further showcased their range, moving between anthemic rockers and emotive power ballads.

The band's classic lineup, featuring vocalist Joey Tempest and guitarist John Norum, has remained largely stable across decades, allowing Europe to sustain an active recording and touring career long after their initial peak. Having marked over forty years together, they continue to perform and record, balancing nostalgia for their 1980s catalog with new material, cementing their legacy as one of Sweden's most successful rock exports.