Vocalist Joey Tempest of Swedish hard rockers EUROPE has revealed to Eamon O’Neill of GigsAndFestivals.com that the band is planning to celebrate the three-decade milestone of 1986’s “The Final Countdown” in a suitably epic way.
“There’ll be a few shows regarding the anniversary of the ‘The Final Countdown’ [in 2016],” the singer told the site.
“We’re putting together a few shows at the end of the year as a celebration,” he continued. “We don’t want to overdo it, but it will be something [special].”
Released in 1986, “The Final Countdown” turned EUROPE into global superstars, selling over three million copies and producing five hit singles including “Rock The Night” and “Carrie”. However, it was the album’s title track that propelled the record into the stratosphere, turning the group into household names, and topping the charts in over twenty-five countries.
Back in 2012, Tempest admitted to Classic Rock that he and his badmates have thought about dropping all of their older material from their live set to concentrate solely on songs from the last five studio albums since their reunion in 2003.
“We have seriously talked about it,” Tempest told Classic Rock, “and yes, it would include leaving out ‘The Final Countdown’. But right now, we don’t feel it’s the right thing to do. Fans come along to shows expecting to hear certain old favorites, and they wouldn’t be happy if we did this. But it is something we could certainly do in the future.”
“The Final Countdown” was the first single released from EUROPE’s third studio album in 1986. The band’s most recognizable and popular song, it peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 18 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The single was certified gold in the United Kingdom in 1986.
EUROPE’s latest album, “War Of Kings”, was released in March via UDR Music.
Source: Blabbermouth
