In a new interview with BBC Radio Manchester, Europe frontman Joey Tempest reflected on how British rock and metal music significantly impacted his band, and named one metal band that highly influenced them.
While acknowledging noticeable distinctions between Europe and the band they have been influenced by, Tempest is aware that the band has had a significant impact on them. The lead singer revealed the British rockers’ name:
“I have to say that Iron Maiden, even though maybe our music differs slightly, was very instrumental, because we’re talking early ’80s, and they were on the go.”
Europe Was Inspired By Def Leppard, Too
Even though Maiden was the main inspiration for the band, another name influenced them as well. Following in the same interview, Tempest continued:
“Def Leppard was coming as well, but Iron Maiden was on the go, and we listened to those albums, even though our music didn’t sound exactly the same, but they were instrumental. They had the attitude, the melodies and they were just going for it, and we loved that as well.”
Earlier in the same interview, Joey Tempest highlighted the profound influence of Deep Purple on Europe’s sound, mentioning them as a key factor in shaping the band’s artistic perspective:
“We had Swedish bands, but we preferred to listen to English lyrics and English players. And the experience in Deep Purple’s early stuff, how they mixed jazz, blues and everything and hard rock, and also what I find interesting about hard rock coming from the British Isles or anywhere in Ireland, there was a classical influence, there [were] classical pieces in there.”
