Final Countdown hasn’t started yet for Joey and co

The big hair might be gone, but 1980s’ favourites Europe are still rocking, writes Ed Power

JOEY TEMPEST understood the jig was up the day he walked into his record company’s offices and heard Pearl Jam blaring from the speakers.

“Europe were signed to CBS in the United States,” says the singer. “It was the early 90s and I was visiting their HQ in New York. I noticed copies of the Pearl Jam record on a desk. Later I found out they were spending more promoting Pearl Jam than Europe. Nothing was ever said to us about it obviously. They wanted to put their money into new things. I had ambitions to record solo material anyway. It was a good time to take a break.”