Joey Tempest

Biography

Joey Tempest, born Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson on August 19, 1963, in Stockholm, Sweden, is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the hard rock band Europe. He developed an interest in music during his youth, drawing inspiration from major rock acts including Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Thin Lizzy. Before Europe became internationally known, Tempest performed with guitarist John Norum in the band Force, which formed in 1979 and later adopted the name Europe. His melodic voice, keyboard-informed songwriting, and interest in dramatic rock arrangements became central to the group’s emerging identity during the early 1980s.