Biography
Born Joakim Larsson on 19 August 1963 in Stockholm, Sweden, Tempest first rose to prominence as frontman of the heavy rock band Europe. His singular vocal style reached international audiences through the 1986 breakthrough of ‘The Final Countdown’. The 1995 self-titled debut album offered a set of strong songs, most built around at least one memorable melodic hook. Expertly produced, sung and performed, the collection nevertheless left little lasting impression. Tempest had shifted toward mainstream pop, a move some longtime listeners dismissed as excessively retro. Cuts such as ‘We Come Alive’ and ‘Pleasure And Pain’ supplied immediate appeal yet quickly faded from memory. Later solo efforts stayed on the same course, the 2002 self-titled release even moving toward 80s electronic pop. In 2003 Tempest rejoined the reunited Europe for a world tour.