John Norum

John Terry Norum (born 23 February 1964) is a Norwegian-born Swedish guitarist and one of the founders of the rock band Europe. Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a career as a solo artist.

Biography As an infant, Norum moved with his parents to Upplands Väsby (a Stockholm suburb), where he grew up and has spent most of his life.

During his career in music, Norum has played with Eddie Meduza & the Roaring Cadillacs, Dokken, Don Dokken's solo band, as well as collaborated with other well-known artists on his solo albums, including Glenn Hughes, Michael Schenker, Joey Tempest, Jeff Pilson, Kelly Keeling, Peter Baltes, Mikkey Dee, Simon Wright and Göran Edman. His influences include Gary Moore, Michael Schenker, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Sykes and Ritchie Blackmore.

In 1979, John Norum formed Force, which was Europe's first name, with vocalist Joey Tempest. Europe participated in and won the "Rock Sm", Swedish championship of rock, broadcast on television in 1982, with Norum being voted best guitarist and Joey best vocalist. The championship prize was the recording of a studio album by a small Swedish label.

The album Europe was released in February 1983, and became a hit in the band's home country and in Japan. In February 1984 Wings of Tomorrow, the band's next album was released, and the band started to become very popular on the Swedish scene, touring throughout the country, and also gaining recognition in Japan. The band signed to Epic Records in 1985 and recorded the album The Final Countdown at the end of the year. In May 1986, The Final Countdown was released, and quickly achieved success in several European countries, Japan, and United States. A series of disagreements between Norum and the band's manager Thomas Erdtman began to occur even before the tour began, which led the guitarist to decide to leave the band in November 1986.

After having left Europe, Norum signed a solo contract for three studio albums with Europe's label. His solo debut, Total Control, was released in October 1987. The couple had one son, Jake Thomas, born on 22 September 2004. On 21 May 2008, Michelle died from a cystic growth in her brain. On February 15, 2025, John and Camilla got married.

Norum is the older brother of singer Tone Norum. a former record producer, Columbia executive and drummer for Eddie Meduza.

Equipment

Fender Stratocaster guitars Gibson Les Paul guitars Gibson Flying V guitars Paoletti John Norum Signature guitars Marshall JCM 800 2205 head Marshall '72 4x12 Cabinets with Celestion Greenbacks Dunlop Cry Baby Joe Bonamassa Wah Wah pedal Boss CE-2 Chorus pedal MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay pedal MXR Phase 90 pedal Roland SDE 3000 Digital Delay Shure microphones His guitar goes through the Wah into the chorus pedal, from where the separate outputs connect to the two amp heads, with the delay connected in the effects loop of the JCM 800 only.

Discography

Eddie Meduza Eddie Meduza & the Roaring Cadillacs (1979) The Eddie Meduza Rock 'n' Roll Show (1979) Dåren É Lös! - The Roaring Cadillac's Live (1983) West A Fool Away (1984)

Europe Europe (1983) Wings of Tomorrow (1984) The Final Countdown (1986) Start from the Dark (2004) Secret Society (2006) Last Look at Eden (2009) Bag of Bones (2012) War of Kings (2015) Walk the Earth (2017) Come This Madness (2026)

As soloist Total Control (1987) Face the Truth (1992) Another Destination (1995) Worlds Away (1996) Slipped into Tomorrow (1999) Optimus (2005) Play Yard Blues (2010) Gone to stay (2022)

Don Dokken Up from the Ashes (1990)

Dokken Long Way Home (2002)