Last night with the gang
On top of the charts almost all over Europe: "The Final Countdown" is an enormous Euro-hit. "What a great time to leave EUROPE," John thought and left, just when the results of six years of hard work started showing. No, he didn’t really think that, the guitarist who surprisingly actually did leave EUROPE just when it looks like they are going to win the battle for Europe.
The end in Holland
The end destination was Amsterdam in Holland.
OKEJ met EUROPE at the Hotel Sonesta right next to the central station in this fantastic city, unlike any other European capital. The day before that, EUROPE had done their second last TV show in Madrid, Spain, and now only the actual leaving was to be done – the final.
It’s October 31, 1986. It’s raining in Amsterdam. Of course. It’s been raining in several of the cities that EUROPE have visited during this promotion tour. But a little rain won’t stop us from peeping at the red-light districts just to the right of the central station. Here the citizens of Amsterdam are walking about, not as much looking for some fun as just enjoying the atmosphere, which is unique in itself. The channels of Amsterdam add a distinct charm to the fun districts. But there isn’t so much time left for the tourist activities.
At the nightclub "Escape", Sky Channel’s technician is working almost in panic to get things ready for the night’s live sent opening. A bunch of artists have shown up. We see Howard Jones walking by, and sitting next to us, with a cup of coffee, are several of the members of Cutting Crew. EUROPE have come to the club straight from the airport. They've got three rehearsals before it’s time for the live transmission. In a nearby hotel, two rooms have been made available as dressing rooms because the club has only got one extra room, which a Dutch dance band is using.
We have brought along some articles from Swedish newspapers discussing Kee’s break up with Easy Action.
"Hmm", John says thoughtfully while reading the article. "To think it would cause so much fuss." He looks thoughtful as he sits there in the hotel bed with a bottle of Dutch beer. Does he think about tonight’s show? The last one he’ll ever do with EUROPE.
"No," he says firmly. "I don’t regret my decision. It will feel great to get this over with. It has been quite frustrating to travel around and only do TV shows. It’s really not my style."
Mic, Ian and Jompa (John Levén), who are in the same room, are looking through the last couple of issues of OKEJ, commenting on the different articles.
"Look at the lighting Iron Maiden has got," Jompa sighs. "You think they'll get everything with them to Sweden?"
It’s time to go down to the stage for the first rehearsal. "The Final Countdown" booms out of the speakers, and the countdown has begun for real. Now the inescapable end is only a few hours away.
John bets everything. He gives it all and makes Thomas laugh wholeheartedly.
"Look at him," he says with both happiness and bitterness in his eyes. "Now the fellow is really doing it!!"
They have had their fights, Thomas and John. The last couple of months have also been frustrating for both of them. But now when it’s all over, it would be strange if the strong feelings between them all wouldn’t come out. They have lived together for the last four years. Thomas has been more than a manager. He has also been the father, and a father has the right to be angry, like the kids also can be. John breaks a chord. He laughs, makes an annoyed swing with the guitar and doesn’t care. He is not on live. After another rehearsal it’s time for the dressed rehearsal.
"Oh dear, now we have to put on our stage clothes," a tired Mic says and hurries with the half buttoned pants into the room to change quickly. In the back, Howard Jones is standing, looking at EUROPE’s second last performance with John Norum on the guitar. He doesn’t know anything. Nobody but us in the crowd knows anything, and everything looks as innocent as it can be.
Here we get a well needed food break. CBS offers dinner in the hotel’s fancy restaurant. Dutch food is probably the best you can find in Europe. Just coming home from Paris, by most people thought of as the gastronomic eldorado, I could only laugh at the French food art when I sit at a table in Amsterdam. The Dutch make their food with care. If you choose, like we did, a well-grilled Chateaubriand, you get an exquisite dish. Well-grilled, but never burned. Spiced with love and served with exquisite discretion from Europe’s most service minded servants. An excellent red wine tops off the dream.
"Smell this," Thomas says, who is sharing a bottle of Spanish wine from one of the better districts, with Jompa. "Do you know this special earth odor?"
Last countdown
We go to "Escape" together, which now, right after nine o’clock, is completely full. All of the famous people from Amsterdam are here to open the new club. Sky Channel’s cameras are ready, the lighting is ready. There are only few minutes until they go on air. EUROPE gets their makeup put on, and we get seated in the salon, listening to the real final countdown.
From several TV monitors we can follow the transmission. Between two taped parts Ian’s drum kit and Mic’s keyboards are carried onto the stage. They haven’t got a whole lot of time to get the instruments ready. Then the video fades out and EUROPE are on stage, which slowly is filled with smoke. Mick Wall, who normally works for "Kerrang", is working for Sky Channel today, and he walks up to Joey through the cheering audience.
"You are pretty high up on the charts now," he says.
Joey smiles and looks into the camera. "Of course, we are number one in several countries, it feels so great."
"And here they are, live on Sky Channel: EUROPE and "The Final Countdown"."
If he knew how right he was, Mick. It really is the ending countdown, which has started before our eyes. Now John has only few minutes left of his career in EUROPE. It feels kind of bitter. This is the last time Joey goes forward to the smiling John and sings the chorus together with him. This is the last time John turns himself inside out in the exploding solo.
The smoke and the light add a bizarre feeling to the quintet on stage. When "The Final Countdown" ends, "Rock the Night" begins. John’s very last song with EUROPE – ever!
The end couldn’t possibly have been better. EUROPE leaves the stage in a big sky of smoke after a really emotional show. I don’t know what John was thinking when the last notes went out. I don’t know what Joey was thinking either. All I know was that it was over now. The End. Finite!
"Thank God for that," John sighs, sweating all over from the hard work on stage. "Now I will go home and rest."
I ask Mic how he’s feeling. "It feels good. Of course it’s a bit sad, but we knew it would be like this. We had fun, that’s what counts. Now we have to look forward."
The next day EUROPE went home again. There their new guitarist Kee Marcello was waiting. They'll continue together with him.
John went home to his apartment in Söder and rested. When they will meet again, no one knows.
Another chapter in the story of EUROPE has ended. A new one can start…
