John Levén
Encyclopedia
John Gunnar Levén is the bassist
in the Swedish rock
band Europe
. Levén and vocalist Joey Tempest
are the only band members who have performed on all of Europe's studio albums.
When Levén was 7 years old, he and his family moved to the suburb
Upplands Väsby
, where several members of Europe grew up. He joined the band in 1981, replacing Peter Olsson
. In 1985 Levén was the one who suggested that Tempest should write a song based on an old keyboard riff that the vocalist had written around 1981-82. The result was the song "The Final Countdown
".
After Europe went on hiatus in 1992, Levén recorded and toured with bands like Brazen Abbot
, Clockwise
, Last Autumn's Dream
, Southpaw, Europe colleague John Norum
and former Black Sabbath
/ Deep Purple
vocalist Glenn Hughes.
Europe reunited in 2003, and Levén co-wrote the single "Always the Pretenders
" from the 2006 album Secret Society, with Tempest. He also co-wrote the song "The Beast" on the 2009 album Last Look at Eden
.
Levén is married and has three sons, Daniel, Alex and Adrian.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
in the Swedish rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
. Levén and vocalist Joey Tempest
Joey Tempest
Joey Tempest is the vocalist and main songwriter in the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. He has written hits like "The Final Countdown", "Rock the Night" and "Superstitious".-Early life:...
are the only band members who have performed on all of Europe's studio albums.
When Levén was 7 years old, he and his family moved to the suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
Upplands Väsby
Upplands Väsby
Upplands Väsby is a bimunicipal locality and the seat of Upplands Väsby Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 35,977 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:...
, where several members of Europe grew up. He joined the band in 1981, replacing Peter Olsson
Peter Olsson
Peter Olsson was the original bassist in the Swedish hard rock band Force, which would later change its name to Europe. Olsson formed Force in Upplands Väsby in 1979, together with vocalist and keyboardist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno.Olsson left the band in 1981 and...
. In 1985 Levén was the one who suggested that Tempest should write a song based on an old keyboard riff that the vocalist had written around 1981-82. The result was the song "The Final Countdown
The Final Countdown (song)
"The Final Countdown" is a rock song by the Swedish band Europe released in 1986. Written by Joey Tempest, it was the first single from the band's third studio album which was also named The Final Countdown. It is considered by some to be the band's most recognizable and popular song. The song...
".
After Europe went on hiatus in 1992, Levén recorded and toured with bands like Brazen Abbot
Brazen Abbot
Brazen Abbot is a Finnish rock band. Originally a studio project of Bulgarian guitarist, producer and song writer Nikolo Kotzev, who is a Finnish resident, the band has since made several live performances....
, Clockwise
Clockwise (Swedish band)
Clockwise is a Swedish music project, formed by Benny Söderberg in 1995The singer and songwriter Benny Söderberg Fortune asked the musicians John Levén Bass, Ian Haugland Drums from Europe and guitarplayer Jan Granvik to play on his coming album...
, Last Autumn's Dream
Last Autumn's Dream
Last Autumn's Dream is a hard rock band formed in 2002 by vocalist and keyboardist Mikael Erlandsson from Sweden and guitarist Andy Malecek from the German hard rock band Fair Warning....
, Southpaw, Europe colleague John Norum
John Norum
John Norum is a rock music guitarist and founder of the Swedish band Europe . Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a side solo project...
and former Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
/ Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
vocalist Glenn Hughes.
Europe reunited in 2003, and Levén co-wrote the single "Always the Pretenders
Always the Pretenders
"Always the Pretenders" is a 2006 single released by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It is the first single from Europe's album Secret Society, and was released on October 11, 2006...
" from the 2006 album Secret Society, with Tempest. He also co-wrote the song "The Beast" on the 2009 album Last Look at Eden
Last Look at Eden
Last Look at Eden is the eighth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on September 9, 2009 in Sweden by Universal and was released on September 14, 2009 in the UK, by Edel Music's international rock music label earMUSIC....
.
Levén is married and has three sons, Daniel, Alex and Adrian.
Discography
- EuropeEurope (band)Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
- EuropeEurope (album)Europe is the first studio album by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It was released on February 24, 1983, by Hot Records.-Track listing:All songs were written by Joey Tempest, except where noted.#"In the Future to Come" – 5:00#"Farewell" – 4:16...
(1983) - Europe - Wings of TomorrowWings of TomorrowWings of Tomorrow is the second studio album by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It was released on February 24, 1984, by Hot Records.The song "Scream of Anger" was originally titled "Black Journey Through My Soul"...
(1984) - Europe - The Final CountdownThe Final Countdown (album)The Final Countdown is the third studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. Released on 26 May 1986 through Epic Records, the album was a huge commercial success selling over 3 million units in the United States alone, peaking at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and reaching high...
(1986) - Europe - Out of This World (1988)
- Europe - Prisoners in ParadisePrisoners in ParadisePrisoners in Paradise is the fifth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on September 23, 1991, by Epic Records and spawned hits such as the title track, "Prisoners in Paradise" and "I'll Cry for You".-Track listing:...
(1991) - Glenn Hughes - From Now On...From Now On...From Now On... is a solo studio album by former Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Trapeze bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes. It was released in 1994 and had a distinctive AOR sound.-History:...
(1994) - Glenn Hughes - Burning Japan LiveBurning Japan LiveBurning Japan Live is a live album by former Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Trapeze vocalist/ bassist Glenn Hughes. It was recorded at the Club Chitta' in Kawasaki city, Japan on Tuesday the 24th of May and Wednesday the 25th of May 1994 in support of the studio album From Now On....-History:This...
(1994) - Thin Lizzy Tribute - The Lizzy Songs (1995)
- Johansson Brothers - Sonic Winter (1996)
- Brazen AbbotBrazen AbbotBrazen Abbot is a Finnish rock band. Originally a studio project of Bulgarian guitarist, producer and song writer Nikolo Kotzev, who is a Finnish resident, the band has since made several live performances....
- Eye of the Storm (1996) - ClockwiseClockwise (Swedish band)Clockwise is a Swedish music project, formed by Benny Söderberg in 1995The singer and songwriter Benny Söderberg Fortune asked the musicians John Levén Bass, Ian Haugland Drums from Europe and guitarplayer Jan Granvik to play on his coming album...
- Nostalgia (1996) - Brazen Abbot - Bad Religion (1997)
- Clockwise - Naïve (1998)
- Southpaw - Southpaw (1998)
- Thore SkogmanThore SkogmanThore Skogman was a Swedish entertainer.Skogman was born in Hallstahammar, Sweden. He made his debut recording in 1955 and came third in Sweden's national song contest Melodifestivalen in 1963. In the 1960s he wrote "Fröken Fräken" that became one of his most successful hits...
- Än Är Det Drag (1998) - Nikolo KotzevNikolo KotzevNikolo Kotzev is a Bulgarian guitarist, violinist, song writer and producer, perhaps most famous for his 2001 rock opera Nostradamus and his band Brazen Abbot.- Biography :...
- Nikolo Kotzev's NostradamusNikolo Kotzev's NostradamusNikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus is a rock opera in three acts written by Nikolo Kotzev about the life and times of Nostradamus. It was released in a 2-CD set in 2001; it has not been performed live, although it remains an ambition of Kotzev's to have the rock opera performed on stage...
(2001) - Brazen Abbot - Guilty as Sin (2003)
- Last Autumn's DreamLast Autumn's DreamLast Autumn's Dream is a hard rock band formed in 2002 by vocalist and keyboardist Mikael Erlandsson from Sweden and guitarist Andy Malecek from the German hard rock band Fair Warning....
- Last Autumn's Dream (2003) - Europe - Start from the DarkStart from the DarkStart from the Dark is the sixth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on September 22, 2004, by Sanctuary Records...
(2004) - Europe - Secret Society (2006)
- Europe - Almost UnpluggedAlmost UnpluggedAlmost Unplugged is a live album by the Swedish hard rock band Europe. It was released on CD on September 17, 2008 and on DVD on August 19, 2009.The album was recorded at Nalen, a venue in Stockholm on January 26, 2008...
(2008) - Europe - Last Look at EdenLast Look at EdenLast Look at Eden is the eighth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on September 9, 2009 in Sweden by Universal and was released on September 14, 2009 in the UK, by Edel Music's international rock music label earMUSIC....
(2009) - Jayce LandbergJayce LandbergErik Jayce Landberg is a Swedish guitar virtuoso, composer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and novelist.- Early life :Landberg grew up between Stockholm, Sweden, the Swedish countryside as well as Switzerland....
- Good Sleepless Night (2010)