Photo courtesy of Tallee Savage
PRESS RELEASE (Edited by Anselm Anderson)
John Norum, Europe’s founder/guitarist and solo artist, has signed a record deal with Frontiers Music Srl. He is set to enter the studio to record his tenth solo album, marking a new chapter in his career.
John Norum is characterised by melodic solos and writing style, balancing bluesy influences with classic hard rock and a distinctive singing and guitar playing style. His virtuosic, soulful, and imaginative playing makes his solo work a rewarding listen for both fans and newcomers. He released his first solo album, “Total Control,” in 1987 and has since released a total of nine solo albums. His latest album, “Gone to Stay,” was released in 2022.
John has spent the last couple of years working with Deep Purple’s frontman, Glenn Hughes, Don Dokken and many other top-notch musicians. International guest appearances are expected on the forthcoming album. He will play live both as a solo artist and with Europe in 2026. Europe are currently recording their twelfth studio album and planning their “The Final Countdown” 40th anniversary tour.
John expressed his enthusiasm for the signing by saying, “I'm thrilled to start my new solo project with the great people at Frontiers Music, a label I've known and appreciated for many years, and with whom I'll be working on the release of my 10th solo album. I'm super excited about the new songs, and I can't wait to get into the studio and start recording!”
Aldo Lonobile, Head of A&R Europe at Frontiers Label Group, commented: “We’re excited to welcome John Norum to the Frontiers Records family! An iconic guitarist and a true rock pioneer, John has crafted timeless anthems, and we can’t wait to join forces for the next chapter of his career!”
John Norum, born in Norway and adopted by Sweden, grew up in a musically inclined family. He began learning the guitar at the age of 10 and formed his first band, Dragonfly, when he was just 12 years old. By the time he turned 14, he had entered the professional music scene, recording and performing live with Swedish rocker Eddie Meduza.
At 16, Norum was both the guitarist and vocalist for the band WC, alongside drummer Tony Niemistö, also known as Tony Reno. Their next project, Force, was formed when their friend Joakim Larsson, who would go on to become known as Joey Tempest, joined the band as the lead singer.
John, together with bassist John Léven, played a significant role in transforming the band Force into the successful group Europe. This transformation occurred during the Lucia Rock competition in 1982, which showcased emerging rock bands and was organised by Aftonbladet and Thomas Erdtman. Europe won the contest, earning a contract with Hot Records to record their first album, “Europe.” This marked the beginning of their international success.
John has recorded nine studio and five live albums with Europe, toured the world, and has won Best Band and Best Album awards while with the band. He was awarded Comeback of the Year in 2015 by the Classic Rock Roll of Honour and for Best Hard Rock/Metal Album, “Walk The Earth”, by the Swedish Grammis in 2018, when Europe was also inducted into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame.
John began his solo career in 1987 after taking a break from Europe. He moved to the USA, where he lived until Europe reunited in 2003. In the US, he collaborated with well-known artists such as Glenn Hughes and Don Dokken, where he performed with the American rock group Dokken. Many other collaborations have been counted over the years with artists such as Michael Schenker and Mikkey Dee.
2026 will see the release of his 10th solo album, along with Europe’s 12th studio album and a massive world tour to promote his new works and the 40th anniversary of “The Final Countdown”.
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