Joey Tempest interview

At the time of its passage to <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:PERSONNAME productid="la Foire" u1:st="on">the Fair</ST1:PERSONNAME> to the Wines of Colmar in August 2004, the Swedish group Europe had not given any interview, certainly due to the stress generated by their reformation. Fortunately, meanwhile the group gave many concerts enabling him to find its insurance and to be again available for interviews. So when the proposal to meet one of the members of the group was made to me at the time of its arrival in Z7 on last 9 March, I immediately accepted. With final, it is in company of a stimulating colleague of radio on Basle that maintenance proceeded in the presence of Joey Tempest very slackened and very open to our questions. (Yves) <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

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Do you remember the show that Europe gave last August to <ST1:PERSONNAME productid="la Foire" u1:st="on">the Fair</ST1:PERSONNAME> with the Wines of Colmar ?<o:p></o:p>

Oh yes, I remember it very well and when one found oneself after the concert with other members of the group have it is known as which one really had just carried out a show of hell and which it was in this manner there that it was necessary to continue to give concerts.<o:p></o:p>

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Precisely, that made a long time that you had not turned any more. How that does it occur ?<o:p></o:p>

Well, we began last year with Sweden Rock Festival, then we made festivals last summer, to connect by rounds in Scandinavia, Europe and in Japan in January, then to start again a new European round. To the exit of this one, we will go to America, to return to Ireland and in Scotland  then some festivals and after we let us compose our new album.<o:p></o:p>

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In the past, you had a phenomenal success and you played in great stages and large rooms whereas now you play in smaller places. Isn't that difficult ? : <o:p></o:p>

Not, we like to play and we already knew that in the past, because we did not always play in great places and then currently that depends on the countries, bus according to places', the rooms are more or less large, but that does not obstruct us. It is with us all to give and work hard to find larger places. <o:p></o:p>

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You made a lot of things during the separation of Europe like albums solos or other projects. Is Europe your only project ? <o:p></o:p>

Yes, absolutely, because I cannot concentrate at 100% out of two things at the same time. We worked very much on our future dvd which we recorded there is little in Hammersmith in London. It is super a dvd, because in more of the concert, there will be interviews and scenes backstage. <o:p></o:p>

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Your last album is entitled  "Start From The Dark". When you started again to turn, this title applied in the direction or that was  "a departure of the shade" ?<o:p></o:p>

Not, not really because to go with the meeting of the fans and to play was really easy. That was a true pleasure and we did not think that the answer of the fans would be so enthusiastic. It is something of fabulous. In fact, we kept secret our return and very was done discreetly in Sweden during the winter. We also put in this album what we feel. Very was done naturally. We began in June last year with John and three titles "Start From The Dark", "Got To Have Faith" then "Settle For Love"  and after very was connected : I wrote with Mick then then all alone. The only thing that we knew, it was that we had a more modern sound on the levels of the guitars. <o:p></o:p>

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Are you satisfied with the sales of the album ?<o:p></o:p>

Yes, we have three various companies which are occupied of the album : there are Sanctuary in Europe, Sony in Scandinavia and JVC in Japan. Each one works in a different way but they do it very well. Sanctuary for example is really important in Europe and especially they have groups live. The sales are not comparable with the eighties, but it is ok.<o:p></o:p>

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Do you appreciate new groups ?<o:p></o:p>

Yes, I appreciate Audioslave, Velvet Revolver, Lost Prophets, and what of other ?, perhaps certain tricks in Linkin Park.<o:p></o:p>

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Does the inspiration come you from everywhere, but this influence of old groups is always here ?<o:p></o:p>

Yes, because the old tricks always remain. We have all grown together and when we left together to drink a beer, we were going to see Deep Purple, Rainbow, Whitesnake, UFO, MSG, Thin Lizzy and that remains our roots. We do not have to seek, these influences arise in a natural way. <o:p></o:p>

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Are you tried by new experiments, in acoustics for example ?<o:p></o:p>

I do not know. Acoustics is resting, but for the moment we want especially to play extremely and all to explode.<o:p></o:p>

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Your set is composed of a mixture of old songs and the new ones. Does the public react well to the new pieces :<o:p></o:p>

Yes, there is no problem, because it appreciates the new songs well, because we chose to play those which really like. We play certain old songs which the public knows, but I must say that the mixture of both functions very well.<o:p></o:p>

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Everyone knows "The Final Countdown" which was diffused an incalculable number of times. To play this song each evening can it be regarded as forming part of a job or always take pleasure to interpret it ? <o:p></o:p>

Oh, we always appreciate to play it, because even if it is a song which was written it is a long time, it  always gathers people and environment is always fantastic on this title. <o:p></o:p>

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You spoke to us before new album. Can you say some to us more ?<o:p></o:p>

We started to think of it a few weeks ago and some ideas are already arisen but the writing really will begin after the summer. <o:p></o:p>

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Will this album follow the way of "Start From The Dark" where the guitars are more powerful and keyboards more in withdrawal :<o:p></o:p>

I do not know yet, because it is too early to speak about it. In fact, we perhaps will test tricks, but what is certain it is that we will make the album which we will feel.<o:p></o:p>

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The musical market is very different since your beginnings :<o:p></o:p>

Yes, it is hard especially if you do not form part of a group live. If you plays live, you can t'en leave, because when you plays and that you are in a super group, which is the case with Europe, it is super and that feels and people remember that and they speak about it between them afterwards. All changed nevertheless, since the large companies do not have to be able as much any more. You can now sell your album in various ways, such as for example in licence.<o:p></o:p>

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You spoke to us about new a dvd, but what happenhappen does of an album live since the group never recorded some and that moreover, the group sounds completely differently on scene that in studio, since the pieces are often played of more hard?<o:p></o:p>

They is in hand, because we recorded several shows in particular in Japan, but for the moment no decision was made on the choice of recording which will be reproduced on the album. It is true that some our albums have a very clear production whereas in live it is different, it is true<o:p></o:p>

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Especially that you have an acute direction of the communication :<o:p></o:p>

Yes, we realized there last summer with the shows and we really wanted to continue in this way, because people remember it after and then for some time, people want to re-examine truths groups on scene.<o:p></o:p>

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For some time the scene rock'n'roll developed in Scandinavia. What do you think about it ?<o:p></o:p>

Yes, I know that there are not badly young groups which come from Finland, of Sweden, but I find that their music is different from ours which is centered on our roots and the seventies. Certain groups are more heavy. The Gothic rock'n'roll is also very popular that I like with his with dimensions dark.<o:p></o:p>

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With what do allot you this profusion of groups coming from north ? At the winter which is very long ?<o:p></o:p>

Oh yes, that can be an explanation, because we have time to write during the winter.<o:p></o:p>

Thank you  Yves from the Web mag Rockzine Passion to have to authorize me to publish this interview!<o:p></o:p>

You can find the interview on its site of origin here:<o:p></o:p>

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Joey interview

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Valerie<o:p></o:p>

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