EUROPE Singer: 'We Have Seriously Talked About' Dropping 'Countdown' From Live Set

March 28, 2012

Vocalist Joey Tempest of Swedish hard rockers EUROPE has admitted to Classic Rock magazine 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 four 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, "The Final Countdown", in 1986. The band's most recognizable and popular song, it reached No. 1 in 25 countries, including the United Kingdom. In the United States the song 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.

Sweden's Expressen TV (Expressen newspaper's online video channel) in 2009 posted video footage of Joey Tempest commenting on what has been dubbed "the worst cover band ever" performing a disastrous version of the EUROPE mega-smash "The Final Countdown". Also available is the original YouTube clip of "the worst cover band ever"'s performance — which has been viewed nearly 3.5 million times so far — and footage of EUROPE playing the same song live in 1986.

EUROPE's ninth studio album, "Bag Of Bones", will be released on April 27 via earMusic/Edel. The CD, which features a guest appearance by blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION),was produced by Kevin Shirley, who has previously worked with IRON MAIDEN, JOE BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK STONE CHERRY and JOURNEY, among others.

EUROPE frontman comments on the "worst cover band ever":

"Worst cover band ever" performing EUROPE's "The Final Countdown":

EUROPE performing "The Final Countdown" in 1986:

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