{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Short description|Swedish singer (born 1963)}} {{for|his self-titled album|Joey Tempest (album)}}{{redirect|Joakim Larsson|the Swedish medical researcher|Joakim Larsson (researcher)}}{{Infobox musical artist | name = Joey Tempest | image = Joey Tempest (39754858224).jpg | caption = Tempest performing in 2018 | birth_name = Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1963|8|19}} | birth_place = [[Upplands Väsby]], [[Stockholm]], Sweden | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]] * [[hard rock]] * [[glam metal]] * [[country rock]] }} | occupations = {{flatlist| * Singer * songwriter * musician }} | instruments = {{flatlist| * Vocals * guitar * keyboards }} | current_member_of = [[Europe (band)|Europe]] | spouse = {{marriage |Lisa Worthington|2000|}} | label = {{flatlist| * [[Polar Music|Polar]] * [[Polydor Records|Polydor]] * [[Sonet Records|Sonet]] * [[Epic Records|Epic]] }} | years_active = 1979–present | website = {{URL|europetheband.com}} }}
'''Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson''' (born 19 August 1963), known professionally as '''Joey Tempest''', is a Swedish musician and the lead vocalist of the rock band [[Europe (band)|Europe]].<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=444}}</ref> He wrote most of the band's hit songs, including "[[The Final Countdown (song)|The Final Countdown]]", "[[Rock the Night (song)|Rock the Night]]", "[[Cherokee (Europe song)|Cherokee]]", "[[Open Your Heart (Europe song)|Open Your Heart]]" and "[[Carrie (Europe song)|Carrie]]".
== Early life == Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson was born in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]] on 19 August 1963. When he was eight years old, he would sit in front of the television or radio with a tape recorder and try to capture songs from the UK or US that he liked and listen to them over and over again. He learned how to play the [[piano]] and a friend of his father's taught him three [[Chord (music)|chords]] (A, D and E) on his sister's [[acoustic guitar]].<ref>[[Paul Stenning]] (24 November 2013). Success – By Those Who've Made It. Pg.114,115. In Flight Books. {{ISBN|978-1628475869}}.</ref>
Larsson played [[association football|football]] and [[ice hockey]] and competed in [[go-cart racing]]; he once came in fourth place in the Junior Cart Race, a Swedish championship. Like many of the other Europe members, Larsson grew up in [[Stockholm]] suburb [[Upplands Väsby]]. His biggest influences were [[Thin Lizzy]] and [[Led Zeppelin]].{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} During his teens, Larsson played in a number of bands such as Jet, Blazer, Made in Hong Kong and Roxanne. At that time, Larsson alternated between playing rhythm guitar and bass, in addition to lead vocals.
== Career == === Europe === Larsson started performing in 1979, creating the stage name "Joey Tempest", inspired by [[William Shakespeare]]'s [[tragicomedy]] ''[[The Tempest]]'' as well as the song "Sparks of the Tempest" by American progressive rock band [[Kansas (band)|Kansas]]. He formed the band Force with guitarist [[John Norum]], bassist [[Peter Olsson (bassist)|Peter Olsson]] and drummer [[Tony Reno]].<ref name="1982-1992 booklet">{{cite AV media notes |title=1982-1992 |title-link=1982–1992 (Europe album) |others=Europe |year=1993 |type=CD booklet |publisher=Epic Records |id=EPC 473589-1 }}</ref> Force immediately began building a reputation and a fanbase in the suburbs of Stockholm. In 1982, they changed their name to Europe and won the music competition Rock-SM. The first prize was a record deal with Hot Records.<ref name="1982-1992 booklet" /> With Tempest as the frontman, Europe released its [[Europe (Europe album)|self-titled debut studio album]] in 1983 and ''[[Wings of Tomorrow]]'' in 1984.
Tempest wrote the international hit "[[The Final Countdown (song)|The Final Countdown]]"; it topped the sales chart in 26 countries, sold 15 million copies, and was played at the closing ceremony of the [[EuroBasket 1987|1987 EuroBasket]] and the [[1988 Summer Olympics]].{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} After ''The Final Countdown'', Europe released two more studio albums, namely ''[[Out of This World (Europe album)|Out of This World]]'' (1988) and ''[[Prisoners in Paradise]]'' (1991), before their final concert in March 1992. Europe ended their final tour in [[Portsmouth]] and did not perform together again until New Year's Eve, 1999 to 2000.{{fact|date=May 2026}}
=== Solo career === [[File:Joey Tempest 2013.jpg|thumb|Tempest in 2013]] In 1995, Tempest's solo debut album, ''[[A Place to Call Home (album)|A Place to Call Home]]'', was released.<ref name="LarkinHR" /> He recalled it his "singer/songwriter album". The album, which was produced by [[Dan Sundquist]], was recorded in Stockholm and [[London]] using Swedish musicians.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA41&dq=dan+sundquist+++record+producer&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPwJODifOOAxU-k2oFHU8rO_MQ6AF6BAgGEAM#v=onepage&q=dan%20sundquist%20+%20record%20producerd&f=false |title=Billboard |date=1994-11-19 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en}}</ref> Europe bandmate [[John Norum]] guest-starred on one of the tracks. Tempest also played guitar on the album. ''A Place to Call Home'' which went platinum in Sweden.{{fact|date=May 2026}}
Later the same year, he commenced his first European tour as a solo artist. The following year, he was nominated for a "Best Swedish Artist" [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]].{{fact|date=May 2026}} Four singles were taken from the album, "A Place to Call Home", "Under the Influence", "We Come Alive" and "Don't Go Changing On Me".
Tempest's second solo album, ''[[Azalea Place]]'', was released in 1997. The next solo album was recorded in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] by producer Richard Dodd, who had produced artists such as [[Traveling Wilburys|The Traveling Wilburys]] and [[Tom Petty]]. Where ''A Place To Call Home'' had Tempest writing all the material, the new album was written together with others. Among these were Chris Difford from Squeeze and Will Jennings. "''Azalea Place'' was mostly written in the studio and was therefore more improvised and experimental.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} "The Match", "The One In The Glass" and "If I'd Only Known" were released as singles.
In the autumn of 2002, Tempest released his third solo album [[Joey Tempest (album)|named after himself]]. The production team behind the album was "DeadMono", consisting of Malcolm Pardon and Fredrik Rinman, who had worked with [[Eskobar]], [[Lisa Miskovsky]] and [[Stakka Bo]]. Also collaborating on the album were Chris Difford, former Europe member Mic Michaeli and guitarist Adam Lamprell.{{fact|date=May 2026}} The first session took place in Konk Studios, The Kinks old London studio, where Tempest jammed with the English musicians who had formerly played with Massive Attack.{{fact|date=May 2026}} This session produced "Magnificent", "Kill For A Girl Like You" (B-side of the first single "Forgiven") and "Sometimes". Work continued in Stockholm, this time with Swedish musicians, including Mic Michaeli. "Superhuman" originated from this session. After that, Tempest kept on working with Adam Lamprell in a temporary studio in London.{{fact|date=May 2026}}
=== Resurrection of Europe === Nearly twelve years after disbanding, Europe announced a comeback with the same lineup that made ''The Final Countdown''.{{fact|date=May 2026}} In 2004, they released their sixth studio album, ''[[Start from the Dark]]''. The seventh, ''[[Secret Society (album)|Secret Society]]'', followed in 2006, then ''[[Last Look at Eden]]'' in 2009, ''[[Bag of Bones (album)|Bag of Bones]]'' in 2012, ''[[War of Kings (album)|War of Kings]]'' in 2015, and ''[[Walk the Earth]]'' in 2017.
== Musicianship == Tempest played the keyboards on the first two Europe albums before the band decided to recruit keyboardist [[Mic Michaeli]] in April 1984.<ref name="1982-1992 booklet" /> A couple of years earlier, Tempest had borrowed a keyboard from Michaeli and used it to compose the main keyboard hook of the song "The Final Countdown".<ref name="1982-1992 booklet" /> After a [[jam session]] in 1985, Michaeli and Tempest co-wrote the ballad "[[Carrie (Europe song)|Carrie]]".<ref name="1982-1992 booklet" /> Later that year, Tempest wrote the soundtrack for the Swedish film ''[[On the Loose (1985 film)|On the Loose]]'', as well as the song "Give a Helping Hand" for the benefit project ''Swedish Metal Aid'', in the spirit of [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]].<ref>[[:sv:Swedish Metal Aid]] Swedish Metal Aid. Retrieved 12 December 2018</ref> The song was produced by future Europe bandmate [[Kee Marcello]].<ref name="1982-1992 booklet" /> In 1986 Tempest wrote and produced the album ''One of a Kind'' for [[Tone Norum]], John Norum's younger sister.<ref name="1982-1992 booklet" /> Tempest also collaborated with John Norum on the single "We Will Be Strong" from Norum's album ''[[Face the Truth (John Norum album)|Face the Truth]]'' in 1992. This was Tempest and Norum's first collaboration since Norum left Europe in November 1986.<ref name="1982-1992 booklet" />
After Europe went on hiatus in 1992, Tempest released three solo albums.<ref name="fireworks-18">{{cite web|url=http://www.rathole.com/fireworks/18/1.asp |title=RATHOLE.com – Fireworks Magazine: Issue 18 |access-date=15 April 2008 |work=RATHOLE.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214221440/http://www.rathole.com/fireworks/18/1.asp |archive-date=14 December 2007 }}</ref> The first album, ''[[A Place to Call Home (album)|A Place to Call Home]]'' featured a guest appearance from John Norum on the song "Right to Respect". Several songs on the third album, ''[[Joey Tempest (album)|Joey Tempest]]'', were co-written by Mic Michaeli.
In 2024, Tempest appeared on Swedish progressive rock and metal band [[Opeth]]'s on album ''[[The Last Will and Testament]]'' by providing guest backing vocals on the track "§2".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/mikael-akerfeldt-says-he-has-talked-to-joey-tempest-about-opeth-and-europe-touring-together/ |title=MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT Says He Has Talked To JOEY TEMPEST About OPETH And EUROPE Touring Together|date=4 August 2024|website=blabbermouth.net| access-date=23 November 2024}}</ref>
== Personal life == Tempest lives in London with his wife Lisa Worthington and two sons.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://people.com/parents/joey-tempest/ |title=Joey Tempest and wife welcome a son |publisher=People |date=22 March 2012 |access-date=1 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/rockbjornen/article19290084.ab |title=Dubbel bebislycka för Europe |publisher=Aftonbladet.se |date=4 March 2014 |access-date=1 August 2014}}</ref> Tempest talked to [[Bruce Dickinson]] about his decision to live in London on the latter's [[BBC Radio 6 Music|BBC 6 Music]] radio show in 2009.<ref name="BBC Online 11 September 2009">{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ml1nq |title= Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show: 11/09/2009|author= <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website= [[BBC Online]] |publisher= BBC | access-date= 22 January 2017 }}</ref> He does not have any social media pages apart from the official ones for Europe listed on their website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.europetheband.com/management.html |title=The Official EUROPE Website |publisher=Europetheband.Com |access-date=1 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922001024/http://europetheband.com/management.html |archive-date=22 September 2014 }}</ref>
Asked in 2009, by [[BBC]]'s Liam Allen, "Are you ever embarrassed by some of the hairstyles and clothes you wore back in the day?", Tempest replied, "Not really, we were very young, we were [[MTV]] generation – we were one of the biggest bands on MTV. I just wanted to look like [[Robert Plant]], to be honest."<ref name="BBC Talking Shop">{{cite web |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8251386.stm|title= Talking Shop: Europe's Joey Tempest |first= Liam| last= Allen |date= 15 September 2009 |website= [[BBC News Online]] |publisher= BBC | access-date= 22 January 2017 }}</ref>
== Discography == [[File:Joey Tempest (40423437612).jpg|thumb|Tempest performing in 2018]] === Solo studio albums ===
* ''[[A Place to Call Home (album)|A Place to Call Home]]'' (1995) * ''[[Azalea Place]]'' (1997) * ''[[Joey Tempest (album)|Joey Tempest]]'' (2002)
=== Studio albums with Europe ===
* ''[[Europe (Europe album)|Europe]]'' (1983) * ''[[Wings of Tomorrow]]'' (1984) * ''[[The Final Countdown (album)|The Final Countdown]]'' (1986) * ''[[Out of This World (Europe album)|Out of This World]]'' (1988) * ''[[Prisoners in Paradise]]'' (1991) * ''[[Start from the Dark]]'' (2004) * ''[[Secret Society (album)|Secret Society]]'' (2006) * ''[[Last Look at Eden]]'' (2009) * ''[[Bag of Bones (album)|Bag of Bones]]'' (2012) * ''[[War of Kings (album)|War of Kings]]'' (2015) * ''[[Walk the Earth]]'' (2017)
=== Guest appearances ===
* [[Opeth]] – ''[[The Last Will and Testament]]'' (2024) (backing vocals on "§2")
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{commonscat}} * [http://www.europetheband.com/ Europe's official site]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tempest, Joey}} [[Category:Europe (band) members]] [[Category:Swedish expatriates in England]] [[Category:Swedish rock singers]] [[Category:Swedish heavy metal singers]] [[Category:20th-century Swedish male singers]] [[Category:21st-century Swedish male singers]] [[Category:Swedish male singer-songwriters]] [[Category:Swedish singer-songwriters]] [[Category:1963 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Singers from Stockholm]] [[Category:Swedish tenors]] [[Category:English-language Swedish singers]] [[Category:Treat (band) members]]