Europe gig no.8 - October 4th 2008 - Kopervik

Kopervik is situated at the island Karmøy, outside Haugesund, a small and not very pretty town... 
It's at the east-west-coast of Norway, and the weather there in fall is NOT NICE... It was raining sideways, as the regular bus took both citizens of Karmøy and other attendants to Oktoberrock to the destination of the concert. I met Atle Miguel there (at the bus, yes), and some friends of him. I had gotten to the island with plane, this time together with Nemi. 

After a long and winding journey with the bus, we had to get out into the rain and the wind, without any umbrellas... or some had them, and some didn't, but there wasn't enough for everyone to be comfy. I had already managed to make a huge hole in my wannabe-converse shoes, so I tried avoiding the water. 

So, we lined up in the cue outside the big circus tent that was the concert arena, in the end people with umbrellas started to cooperate and raise their umbrellas up and over, so that those without could breathe a bit more easily, and dryly for a moment.

So, we found our way to the front row, as usual. I was standing near Nemi, and Atle was a a few spots away. It was 7.30, and there was a local (?) guy playing acoustic guitar and singing. And you know what? His fans was already drunk...way to go, people. Kept yelling "Summer of 69" real loud. RUDE! 

anyway. First band, Ingenting (means Nothing in Norwegian) were pretty good, but I kept looking around me, to avoid the elbows of the hardcore-fan of Ingenting, a guy in his 20s, with a beer in each hand (and yep, he spilled half, jumping up and down, but managed to get more and more drunk anyway) 
Hardcore fans are nice... but not when they're loaded with beer, and armed (sorry for the pun) with fists and elbows.... 

So there was a bit of a yelling fight there, part to him, and part to the guard that just STOOD there...

forgot to write that inside the circus tent it started raining, too...a flap in the ceiling flew some way away, and the cold and wet audience had to get even colder and wetter. 


Nazareth arrived, and the crowd got crowdier. (I'm sorry, I've had 3 hours sleep for the last 3 nights, so my english isn't all that good, and the puns come out even when they're not meant to) 

They 

were

awesome! 

I was really loving their guitarist. He looked like... 😅... he was funny looking, but he played soooo good.. and of course on a Gibson. 

The drunk guy finally got so drunk he had to leave ( 😋) and then a new drunk guy took his place, but he wasn't as rude. The rain stopped, and I could enjoy the gig without even have to waste my energy on standing up. I could just place my feet on the ground, and lean back, and the crowd would be there to support me. It as that tight... But the good effects of that is that you don't feel how cold the rain is making you feel... cause when so many people stand together, they lend warmth to one another. 

The fence was really to high up, so I did have to be a bit cautious, so that my mouth wouldn't smash into it and break all the teeth. 

Then Nazareth was done (some of the guitar solos where just AWESOME, just had to say that once again), and they started readying the stage for Europe. 

The crowd didn't loose up, so I guess there must have been a fellow understanding of "let's stick together so tight, so that we won't have a cold tomorrow" (yes, I'm joking)... 

EUROPE! 

Set list: same as in Lakselv, but Prisoners in paradise replaced Open your heart. 
Yes, they played Prisoners in Paradise. They've never played that one after the reunion. Until now. It was Joey with an acoustic guitar, so I figured I could try to film Carrie on my camera phone. Cause when there's not too much bass, the sound doesn't get too distorted. And then it wasn't Carrie!

The gig was PERFECT. 

And John Levén standing there with a broken foot, and his jeans with tape all over it (looked a bit like "what-would-Macgyver-do"-thinking 😏

No seriously, he was still funny and charming to look at...He pulled out his leg when Joey was intending to go over to Mic 😋 I really love the energy between the guys on stage! 

Yesterdays news didn't include the Joey/Norum-duet, but I never get tired of hearing it anyway! 

Ian was really energetic, beat his slaves - the fellow band members - further, and making less space between the songs, but that was the thing that separated Europe from the others.. The usual ENERGY !

Mic stood a bit too himself, maybe because the stage was too small??? it did look quite normal sized, but it looked like he was a bit on his own. 

The audience could've been better... the drunks aside, people were kind of... failing to respond to the guys on stage. I would have expected more jumping... but after standing and taking it easy for the two first bands, at last I was jumping and dancing and trying to get my hair bigger again (totally wet and deflated by the previous rain) 

The lighting was brilliant, as usual! 
Sound was very good, too! I love being able to hear the nuances in the music! 

Oh yeah, and on rock the night, Joey sang "from my head, down to my toes"... Well, THAT would've been the perfect moment for John L to put his toes up on the monitor, like he'd been doing a minute before

I briefly met the guys at the hotel. Got to show them my tattoo, in a kind of childish "look-at-me-I-want-your-attention" kind of manner, but lack of social skills aside: they (Joey and John L) did look at it! Yay. And also said I should show it to Ian (who has a similar tattoo, but he wasn't around, so I didn't meet him)

Also, I had signs of recognitions from 4 of the band members.. that was so cool. 

John Norum quote:
"I recognise you!" (as the first thing he said when he saw me) (thankfully it was with a smile, not with a "oh...she again" -tone)
I responded with "oh yeah? from the audience, then?"
"No, we've met before... Was it Rockefeller?"


Mic Michaeli quote:
Tone Irén! (followed by a hug) 

Joey Tempest quote, when I asked if I could have a picture with him:
But you already have one? (Well yes I do, it was taken in 2006, two years before this...)


So I got another picture...

John Levén quote:
Nemi said: "You should write something about his broken leg in the forum"
And then he filled in with: "Yeah, you're the only one in the forum these days!" 
Guess they know who is who.


Thanks guys, you really made my day and night! 
The final countdown ended at around 1.20 a.m, so I guess it was a 1h 50min gig

Europe gig no.7 - July 12th 2008 - Lakselv

Finnmark... the northernmost county in Norway. Homeland of the mosquitos. Fly-sized mosquitos!! And the land of the midnight sun. The mountains stood tall and steady around the valley called Lakselv (meaning Salmon River) 

The people in Finnmark loves a good party, so everyone, from the age of... young ones, to the age of grandmothers and grandfathers were present. Some had travelled far... actually, most had travelled far. All of Northern-Norway, including the counties Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, are stretching a good distance between the cities. Not that you find very large cities in Finnmark. Mostly you'll find reindeer, mountains, large uninhabitated areas, and rivers and lakes and, well.. NATURE. 

I flew from Oslo on friday, to Alta, cause there was no direct route to Lakselv. that took me 1h 50 minutes... then, the next day, I had to fly to Lakselv as well, cause there was no express buses on saturday. (ALL other days, but saturday) So I flew. From Alta airport, an airport with the total number of 3 gates. 

I arrived in Lakselv some15 minutes later, after flying over one of the big, long, but flat-on-top mountains, then tipping down in the valley, circling over the festival area, then arriving at the airport (an airport with the total number of 2 gates!) This was my first trip with one of those tiny planes. 36 seats. Now, I have been known to have a tiny fear of planes. So naturally, I sit near the exits. This time, a stewardess approached me, to ask me if I knew how to open it, in case of emergency? 

I think I would have panicked right then and there, if it wasn't for the three previous nights of very little sleep. So I took it rather calmly. The propels started to rotate right outside my window, and brought me safely, and quite comfortably, to Lakselv. 

After fetching my luggage I headed for the exit, and was met by a biiiig poster saying Midnattsrocken, and Europe, and then the other bands playing there. Next to it stood a reindeer. 

Not a live one, but still a reindeer...  

3 guys picked me up at the airport, one of them a Europefan I've met a couple of months ago, who lives in Troms, where I lived for the last three years. He had brought two buddies, and they were all there just to see Europe. 

I met up with Silje, and she was just as I'd thought she'd be! wicked cool!!! Poor girl, she uttered at least twice "you're mad!" 
And by all means, we are. But I think her first meeting with other Europefans didn't go down too bad  

The hospitality of Finnmark is really warming. At least when you meet the right people. I was looking at the prospect of spending the night at Alta airport (closes at 00.30), but ended up in a really nice room, rented out by a nice lady who PICKED ME UP at the airport, and drove me back! saved me a lot of money for taxi! 

And the people I lived with in Lakselv, they couldn't meet me, cause they were working at the festival, so they just told me where the key was, my bed was made, and I could just come and go as I pleased. THANKS Unicorn. 

I like to think that Unicorn is the reason this ever happened at all. I mean, her boyfriend is the booking manager for the festival. She took him to a Europe gig in 2004, and voila, Europe played in Lakselv!

So, the festival began. I won't mention the other bands, cause I know you're not interested, plus you've probably never heard of any of the others. The important thing was that these other bands and artists, was the reason so many people came. Of course, Europe was the main one. At least that's what I think. 

Me, Silje and Vinjar (the fan from Troms) sat around a table with two of the other friends of Vinjar, and then suddenly, there was Stein-Vidar. I had been unable to reach him on his cellphone all day. The festival area was full of people. Some drunk, some not, some young, some old... all with good mood and high expectations. At least for the 4 hardcore-fans  A 5th fan, my hostess Unicorn, came just when the clock was around 23.15, because then the previous band was finished, and the crowd before the stage had gone to get more to drink, or watch the band at the smaller stage. 

Ok, NOW....after the waiting, the band arrived together, and I the intro-thing was really interesting. I can't remember exactly why, cause I'm so tired  But it was different than my last concert with them. 
Love is not the enemy started and we all started rocking. 
It's amazing how drunk I appeared to be. 
I had had nothing to drink, not alcohol, and very little other beverages. But I yelled, and jumped, and screamed... 
It sounds familiar, doesn't it? 

When I heard the intro to Ready or not, I just went JAAAAAAAA!!! 
I L O V E D it! 
And I think Sign of the times followed afterwards... another JAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! jAAAAHAHAHAHA! and more jumping

The band had a few technical problems during the gig. So Joey's energy was a bit focused on getting the crew and the sound guys to fix things while they were playing. I saw John Norum change guitars 3 times during a song, not looking very happy... but John, you still rocked me to the floor! 

Ian had a little technical problem as well... during one of the songs, me and Silje both noticed one of Ian's sticks flying through the air and land a bit farther of... poor Ian, he continued to pound with the stick he had left, which was a really nice and funny memory, but it must have been a bit of irritation. I don't know how, but suddenly he had both sticks again... 

John Levén looked like he always does. Handsome, paying attention to the public, and in total control of his bass. But at one point, a bottle of water came flying all the way to the stage, landing beside him (plastic bottle)... He looked to where it had come from, looked very sincere, and shook his head... 

I was really irritated about this. 

But you know, the show went on.

I was totally in awe about what Joey did vocally on Yesterdays News... I know John Norum was supposed to be the king of Midnattsrocken, but what Joey sang, for him to follow up on... it was just.. 

WOOOOAAAAAH! 

..... 

You know how Joey always has his sunglasses on during gigs? 
He didn't this time. 
Until around one hour after the gig started. 

why? 

Cause he needed them. The clouds shifted, and the spotlights had competition. Joey went, during one of his breaks, behind the stage, and fetched a camera, to take pictures of the crowd. I hope he got the midnight sun as well! 

Open your heart blew me awaaaaaay!!! It was magic!

The crowd was huge, and like always, drunk retards were present. I don't mean it as bad as it sounds, but I get a bit mad when they scream for The final countdown after 7 songs. I had wisely put in a pair of earplugs, so I could hear the people nearest, the band, and mostly my own voice screaming and singing and laughing like a kid on a swing, every time a new and unexpected song was announced, or when I particularly enjoyed John's solos or Mic's brilliance or Joeys amazing ad-libs

The final countdown started, and as usual, the crowd tightened. I was still in front row (surprisingly little fighting this time, actually), and one of the guards mouthed "you okay?" I just nodded and smiled, and thought to myself "I've done this before, you see, I know what to expect" 


When the gig ended and the pressure lifted, and I started walking towards the exit, I couldn't help being a little dizzy, and off balance. So I guess my body had gotten used to being held up by the pressure of others. Suddenly the support was gone, you know. 
So I walked a little drunkenly toward the never-setting sun, feeling exhausted, but not at all tired (who's tired when the sun is shining, even if it's 2 a.m?) 

This picture is taken well after midnight (Europe started around midnight, and were done around 2 am)

Europe gig no.6 July 21st 2007 - Mo i Rana

After Sandnes, a new date was already posted for a new gig in Norway. I figured Mo i Rana was too far north, I thought I had to fly there. However, I discovered I could go there by means of train! Avoiding both my phobia of planes, and high expenses... so, a little over a week after Sandnes, I had already planned my trip to Mo i Rana...

My friend Nemi was going to fly to Trondheim, so I was to be found alone in the trainstation early Friday morning, after having slept from 11 pm to 1 am (my day rhythm is just something else these days, as I am working nights. But still I was awake, and looking forward to the trip. 

I had been thinking about Europe and Harry Potter non-stop the day before, the very last Harry Potter book was due on the same day as this Europe concert. And you can imagine my surprise, when I found this sign propped up on one of the pillars in the train station: 

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/A ... rent=1.jpg


That was no accident, and I thought of the guys of the band "worrying" about a plot against them, and thought that I must remember to mention here that this poster was nothing else than a clear sign that someone was sticking up for Europe, spreading their message secretly (it happens that the exact phrase "Secret Society" is mentioned a couple of times in the book series about Harry Potter, actually)  [2013 note: This concert was a part of the "Secret Society" summer tour. The CD "Secret Society" had been released the previous year. About worrying about plots. It was just a funny thing. Nothing serious. However this review fails to let through that I was writing this while giggling]

And then I jumped on the train, getting a seat facing the back of the train, so that I had my back facing the direction of the destination all the way to Mo i Rana. I changed trains in Trondheim, but they had the same stupid seats there.... 

Taking the train from Oslo in the south to Mo i Rana in the north is something of an experience. Trains are wonderful transportation, it does not contribute to global warming, and you can walk around and stretch your legs, or pull your seat back and sleep. During the fiftheen hours, the landscape changed from main capital city of Oslo, to country sides with towering hills, farms, fjords and waterfalls to towering mountains, trees, forrests, and snow on the very top of the mountains. It's hard to describe, and next time I will take some pictures, but seeing the mountains again (they don't have them where I live with my parents, only in the north where I live rest of the year) made me realize that "wow, this is just BRILLIANT! Europe is coming to northern Norway, closer to the place where two of their members where born than they have ever been before!"

The people that met me on the train station were REALLY lovely. They were, in short, the parents of the girlfriend of a girl I have chatted with on the net for a couple of years. Haha. I hadn't met the girl I'd chatted to, OR her girlfriend, AT ALL in real life before meeting the parents at the railway station. But they drove me to their house, where I had supper, and a bed waited for me. They were really wonderful people. The girls were at the festival, so they couldn't meet me till the next day. 

However, they slept for a long time the next day, so I got a ride down to the city with the parents, and went straight to the bookstore to purchase my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I was then going to head for Checca's hotel, but I had barely got out of the city shopping center when I ran into her  

It was wonderful seeing her again, and being able to talk properly to her for the first time. We went to her room, where she showed me pictures from Samsø (edit 2016: a festival in Denmark, where Europe had played some nights before), before going to a café. 

We then met Nemi at the train station, and I left the girls to meet my two very nice hostesses. They were wonderful too, and told me that the festival had been great on the previous night, despite drunk people. 

I met up with Franscesca and Nemi again, before heading to the venue. 

We met Stein, and Annah and Laurah, plus a couple of local girls, one of which had been a fan since 1986, she was seeing Europe for the first time. 

Then front row, then the norwegian band Big Bang (which wasn't bad, I have to admit), then setting the stage, and then came a festival guy with a sussaphone/saxhorn slung around him, to announce the next band up: Europe.

Haha. You all know how it goes, when you hear Europe live. I wan't to point to a few strange things that happened during the concert, though. 

Front row was a fight, but I had no real problem holding on to my spot there, even though the row was actually moving left and right. For instance, before the Big Bang gig, I had put my purse down on the ground in front of the fence in front of me. When the gig was over, I had too walk 5 or 6 steps to the left to retrieve my purse again! 

And everywhere there was hands. My hair was a big issue this night (which wasn't night as you know it, but merely daylight without any visible sun) 

First, it was a bloke that patted my hair. I jerked my head irritably, hoping he would take the hint. But he continued, and I politely asked him to stop. 

"I just wan't to fix your hair!"
"Please don't!"
"Please let me!"
"No"
"I just want to fix your hair"
"NO"

And in the beginning of the Europe gig I had seen a girl a bit younger than me, right behind me, she had her cell phone at the ready, and I really think she was a fan. She had a hair almost like mine. But during the first part of the gig, I think she tried to move my hair to get pictures taking, which at that point, for me, was a bit annoying. 

Also, beer came down to visit a couple of times, as half-empty glasses of beverage was thrown forwards. 

And now we go from Hair, to Hands. They were everywhere. Undefinable hands touched my butt, but not in a groping sort of way, so I wasn't sure if it was coincidentally or what. But it didn't seem to go away, and it did feel like a hand was cupped carefully over my backside. I couldn't kick, without being sure not to hit someone hard, so I tried to show displeasure about this by shoving my behind a little further back, as to push the hand away with the backside. It kinda worked, although it can be the fact that Europe started playing and my focus was entirely upon them  

There was also a guy on the second row, that had his hands stretched diagonally in front of him, which really annoyed the side vision to my left. I kept taking hold of his hand and putting it backwards. However, the guy just grinned at me smartly and at the end of Europe's gig, he was no longer behind the person to my left, but behind me, and holding both his hands on the fence. This was kind of an advantage, cause then he shielded me from the rest of the beer-throwing and wild crowd, but those kind of things leaves a girl kind of uncertain, so please, all guys on here: if you don't know the girl, haven't spoken to her, and want to have your hands on either side of her: please ask first! 


It was an amazing gig, and it seems the guys (in the band) were all smiles and laughter. And what a sense of humour! There was guards standing beneath in front of the stage, and they were muttering into their buggy mics. Joey had the clever idea of lowering his mic stand, mic pointing towards their mouths, when they least expected it. It was so laughable, cause the guards were so suprised. One of them actually talked into his own radio or whaddawas, and it made the crowd laugh  

And the fun continued: Joey shouting into the megaphone: "Ooooh, can you feel it. Is anybody there?" in Norum's ear, and Norum's lips forming the words "I don't know!!" with a really puzzled expression. 

It might have been wishful thinking, but I think Joey recognized me from Sandnes. I'd been trying to catch his eyes for some time, to let him see that I was mouthing every word he sang, and that they had faithful supporters there that night. Anyway, I managed to catch his eye, and he pointed towards me and made some kind of movement that I kinda took to mean "hey! Keep on walking that road, girl, and stay strong"... Or something... 

Might have just been in my direction, but I kinda got the sense that he was showing some sign of recognition  

Yesterdays news was wonderful as always, and Franscesca, Nemi and I had planned to make a timed movement towards the stage in the pause in Yesterdays news (we were standing a bit apart from one another), and I suddenly remember this in the second verse of the song, and as I bend forward to look where Franscesca was, she looked over to see where I was. We had remembered at the same time. She was to give the 1-2-3. But when I looked at her in the pause, she was crying!! Later I learned that a guy close to her had broken her rib. I turned my focus on the show again, and hoping that it was something I had imagined. When I looked at her again, she was facing the stage again. So I watched the rest of the show, and LOVING the intro to the Final Countdown, which, for the first time, was heard CLEARLY over the masses (I have always had trouble hearing it, cause the crowd's so loud). 

But those people singing dadadaaaa daaaa in time with the intro, oh, I just wanted to strangle them! (In a very harmless way...) I hate it when they do that. 

But all in all, the gig was fantastic, the songs were fantastic, Joey was my hero when it came to putting all his energy out there, and I had a very enjoyable evening. 

After the gig, we followed Franscesca to the Red Cross, but there was nothing they could really do, other than advice her not to cough or laugh. Then we waited a bit backstage, but my hosts were heading home, so I went with them, getting to know them a little better by talking a lot on the way to their house. 

By the way, Ida's (one of the girls) parents hadn't purchased tickets, but had stood outside the fence the ENTIRE Europe gig  

Europe gig no.5 - May 18th 2007 - Sandnes

These are taken from the forum at www.europetheband.com

by ToneIrene » Sat May 19, 2007 2:43 am

"I'm standing in the lobby in the hotel, gig is ended, and John Levén is somewhere behind me, 
so, naturally, this is all for now  I'll update tomorrow or sunday "

 » Sat May 19, 2007 10:22 pm: Have you ever been in the presence of another Europefan, having attended a gig? Have you been with that fan at the time when all the things that has happened to her starts to sink in? Remember the giggling, the lost eyes, and a bit more giggling, without a conversation going on? 

Cloud nine is wonderful, folks... more will come, I am starting to write my review as soon as I've finished my lasagne and are no longer so busy on msn 

We start this encounter once again, (for you who have read my previous tour reports) with the journey. We're at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, and I'm sitting there, reading my incredibly exciting novel. Half an hour before the time of the flight, I am looking up at my surroundings, the not that crowded airport (I kinda feel at home here, normally having to fly to get from my parents in Oslo, to my residence in Tromsø). My surroundings is very nice. A couple of plants here and there, some stores, an escalator that doesn't escalate... 

There is a man at the airport, with long hair, with the back towards me... My imagination is, well, it's lively. Cause I am thinking; could this be Europe? Is that man Mic? 

Well, to face the real world, I have a closer look and.. hey! It IS Mic.. and John L. Ian strikes past me, to get some refreshments or something. I am experiencing that feeling of warmth and cold at the same time, rising from my toes upwards, leaving me kind of dizzy... I don't remember who I talked to first. I said hello to them, I know, but can't remember very much else (this blackout sensation has a tendency of occuring in the presence of band members...) 

Ok, so I'm gonna fly with Europe. I asked Mic.. or someone else. - Is there gonna be a soundcheck? I ask, and John N (where did he come from?) says yeah, if we get there in time... 

Then there is a delay in the flight schedule!! 

Did I mention I am at the airport by myself, with 4 of my heroes, and some of the crew? Well, I just had to go in circles around myself, and send a few texts (to my friends), and ask (band members) if I could sit by their table and stuff, I am a opportunity-seizer, although not a very gracious one, I never know what to say, and I babble... 

But I had a nice chat with John N, he told me he'd celebrated May 17th (Norwegian National day) and stuff  I got to see the set list (only thing I remember is that they start with Love is not the enemy, and finish with Final countdown) 

Ok, now we fly. Didn't totally hazzle them on the plane, just sitting by myself grinning (sometimes not, cause even if 4 precious guys were on the plane, I couldn't be quite sure the plane wouldn't crash)  [Commenting 2013: I was still, at this point, scared of flying, although ore used to it than before]

Picking up luggage, getting on a bus to the hotel, then taxi to the venue (without checking in, wouldn't wanna miss my very first soundcheck) 

Walking in the rain back to the hotel.... 

Soaked, in the rain, dragging my suitcase... for 20 minutes, then finding the hotel (in a straight line from the venue, it seems). 

Room is really nice, leave my stuff there and go find my roomies. (Three roomies, flying with three different flights with the airline SAS from Oslo to Stavanger, what's happened to the world?) 

Second roomie arrives, we hang around and wait for the third roomie. Third roomie comes, we go change, we go to eat, then to find more fans (there are some in Norway as well!) (did I mention I love parantheses?) 
Go to a room, have a few ciders, and listening to Europe, talking about everything and nada. 
More make up and changing and fitting clothes to bodies, then off to the venue (in festival buses, 10NOK, much better than walking in the rain).

First row, together with AtleMiguel. The venue is outdoors, and Europe's the last band on stage (I only saw the last songs of the band before, and I won't bother writing about it, cause I have so much else to tell. They were good, but there is a time for every tale) 

Love is not the enemy, Always the pretenders, Supersitious. The good things keeps on coming. It was the good old setlist (I haven't paid much attention, but this I know), minus a few. There is a rule you're supposed to stop at midnight, and Europe started at 11, so, there wasn't time for every song. Did miss Flames, Secret Society and Cherokee... 

The gig was FANTASTIC. You all know this, even if you weren't there. The rain did NOT pour down, only 10 drops occasionally, no worries! And I don't think the norwegian fans were cold (we're used to a bit of weather) 

It was windy, and Joey's hair was blowing in the wind, and his voice carried around the venue (I think, seeing as I were on front row) 

We sang, and jumped, and danced and screamed, and they sang, and played and jumped and turned and beat those naughtly drums... 

It was awesome. I don't know what more to say! I occasionally felt orgasms spreading through the crowd (or was it just me?), just provocated by the music. 

The people loved them!

Ok, gig ended with a countdown, then Atle took some of us in his car, to the hotel. 4 Europe fans in a car with Europe music in the CD player? He said it was a first time experience for him that someone in the car actually sang along to Europe-songs, except for him   

Then we arrived at the hotel, changed, and went down to the bar, were we joined a couple of other fans, mostly italian, and had some drinks. 

Europe in the lobby. Talked to Mic (and finally I didn't feel 10 years old when talking to him), saw the guys go out, headed up to sleep.

[Edit november 2013....can't believe this wasn't mentioned in the forum post. I had some pictures with Mic. A fellow fan took the picture with my camera phone. I watched it to approve, but Mic's face wasn't visible, so I deleted the picture and asked if I could have another picture. The reason however, that his face wasn't visible on the picture was because he was kissing me on the top of my head. Yes really. And I deleted the picture. It's nothing but a memory now. But it sticks!] 

Oh, what a beautiful morning! Passing out in bed at 3.30, up at 8 (no alarms ringing, just waking up) removing make-up, putting on new make-up, putting clothes on. (The state I am in right now, I don't recall if I slept with my clothes on or removed them, blackout again, and it's still not due to alcohol! 

I was alone arriving in the restaurant, and I sat beside an english-speaking group of men, finding out they were probably a band. So I asked, and yes, they had played the night before, but long before I got there. They were nice, but I guess some of them could've been my grandfather, at least one... or maybe just a father-and-a-half... 

Wonderful breakfast; oranges, pineapple, watermelon, bread, and a dash of Joey Tempest.. 

He just stood in the lobby, with his suitcase, so I thought "oh, now he's leaving". But he had breakfast there (or, I don't know, he might just have talked to a few guys, I didn't turn around too much) 

Then he talked to a guy in front of my table. And oh, this is frozen into my mind. 

Joey tuuurns around, looks at me. Reaches out to shake my hand, after saying "Hey darling" (I am nearly positive about this, although my hearing were kinda waking to life at this point). 

And some other phrases, like "Take care", me saying "safe journey" (in norwegian), and him: "det samma" ("same to you")... 

Him leaving, rest of band leaving, one of the guys in the other band trying to get me to his room (I was kinda flattered by this, even though the guy was much older than me)

-Do you like Solo?* 
-Yeah? 
-Wanna go for a Solo? 
-ehm... no? 
-whisky? 

The story about this trip ends with us fans going for dinner (later that day) in Stavanger, then Atle drove me to the airport, then I flew from Stavanger to Oslo, and from Oslo to Tromsø

Added in 2013: Reading this now... I have to add a few things. I see the day I wrote it is the same day I came back from Sandnes. I had a school paper that was due two days later, that I had been working on, very poorly, instead of celebrating May 17th. Or, that was the intention. I didn't get much done. So, when I came back home on May 19th, and the paper was due in two days, I was probably shock-full of adrenaline from the flights, the concert, the interaction with friends, meeting the band-members, this time NOT planned, AND stressed because of that paper. So I had to just write my head off, so I could focus on that paper. I think it went quite well anyway.

One thing I also remember, that I forgot to mention, was that at one point, John Levén was getting in the elevator at the same time I was. What an incredible normal thing for someone to do. Getting into an elevator in order to go up to the floor one's staying in. And we happened to be doing that at the same time. 

Europe gig no.4 - November 14th 2006 - Rockefeller, Oslo.

Written and last edited on November 17th, 3 days after the gig. I'm 20 years old, studying at the university college in Tromsø. This review was written directly into the Europe forum, by the means of severals posts. The people mentioned are Iren, a good friend and fan from Holmestrand, Atle, a fan I met on my last gig, and Thomas (how I met him, I have explained in the text)

"I have just come back to Tromsø. It's been 26-27 hours since I last slept, so I will probably

edit some of this blabbering tomorrow. I am still numb. Overexcitement hasn't found it's way into my body yet, I am so full of impressions.

First: Fan meet-up at Hard Rock Café, with 6-7 Norwegian fans, all lucky winners of

backstage passes to the gig. While there, someone in our group requested Europe to the DJ, so we got to hear: In the future to come, Open your heart, Rock the night, Carrie and Prisoners in paradise in that order (5 songs from 4 albums, not bad...) We didn't leave at the same time, some of us were a bit more eager than the others of getting in the line

But still, I think most of us ended up in or near first row, or at least decent spots.

I was benched at the same place as the last Rockefeller gig, in front of John Levén, he gave the press a real treat by standing there posing and looking gorgeous.

I was standing on front row with Thomas, Sara (Italy) and Alessia (Italy)

Oh, rushing now, first, Stereolith! They played.

Now then: Europe.

Still no dangerous amount of pressure, no more so the ENTIRE gig (at least for me, I cannotsay much for the others) There was just one moment where a really drunk guy came up to me and jumped up and down thinking he was best friends with everyone (sounds familiar, ey?) But the guards where pro and sent him away.

The guards were also really nice. Didn't say anything about the cameras that was brought in after the purse-check (how come they missed mine??) So, a little amount of pictures taken. One or two of John Norum, a few of Mic, some of Joey, and lots of John Levén (it must have been the posing...) Ian was a bit hidden, as always. But he played great  

I am not sure what you want to know about the setlist? Well, here goes,

in the order of the albums they originate from:

Seven Doors Hotel, Wings of tomorrow, Carrie, Rock the night, Cherokee, TFC,

Sign of the times, Superstitious, Let the good times rock, Yesterdays News,

Girl from Lebanon, Flames, Gotta have faith, Start from the dark, Getaway Plan, Secret Society, Always the pretenders, Love is not the enemy, Let the Children Play, Bass solo, Guitar solo, and Keyboard solo/intro.

You can count for yourselves, I have tried really hard for an amount of time, but I just can't

manage to count them.

Meet and greet: all got their VIP-passes, waiting, waiting, and then some more waiting,

then suddenly Mic was there. I was really surprised, he just mixed in with the crowd

(9 Europemania-Norway winners, creating maximum of maybe 20 VIPs)

STILL GOT THE PASS INTACT!

Then we met, and greeted, and took pictures and had hugs and signatures. I can tell you more about some of the stupid things I said some other day.. or maybe I wont...

I LOVED IT, simply. And by the way; yes, the guys were great  

Now my bed is calling for me... I think... My senses aren't working properly, after

spending the night with Thomas, one of the Norwegian backstagers, and a new friend since Sunday //the concert was on a Tuesday, after that Sunday// (that's when I first met him, but we've been speaking on msn for a long time, thanks to... yes..this vandervool forum), and then having breakfast with Atle at the airport and talking about the gig and meet and everything.

More impressions, added later on:

a few things I managed to say

- I asked John Norum if he practised scales and technique studies or just songs, he answered it was just songs

- I asked Mic if he could be my keyboard teacher, cause that would be my dream, dunno if

he catched it, cause then another thought hit me, being that I wanted to tell him I played the saxophone. It was just.. that I wanted to ask them all at once, but hadn't prepared (even though I had promised Iren I would...)

- Asked John Levén if they needed a sax, and he joked it away (which he was supposed to, of course, I didn't mean it seriously), but he toldl me he DID like saxophone sound, and something about listening to it when he was younger.

- Scared away Joey, I think, by being so wanna-talk-and-wanna-do-it-now-with-my-way-too-intense-expression (or so I can imagine). Later on I apologized. And in the end I asked for (yes, asked for it...) a hug, and when we hugged I said to him that he was my biggest hero ever!

-Think I told all the guys to come to Tromsø (thank you Stein, for reminding me )

-Mic remembered my name (Tone Iren, at least ) and was really nice patting me on the

shoulder, hugging me (didn't ask for it.. at least not the first time, I think I'd forgotten that I had

already got one earlier, mind not working properly)

- Videotaped Ian while he talked to a friend of mine about drum stuff.. paparazzi, I know.. but I am just so taken aback by these five guys, I adore them.. and just standing there looking at them talking just put me in

euphoria, so figured I would tape it with my cellphone...)

- Snuck in on Thomas' picture with Mic, which I deeeeeply regret, since I ruined Thomas' pic completely, by looking like an ***...

One more thing: I am sober, have been for weeks. So, no blaming all this babbling on my

drunkeness!)  (December 21st 2012: I meant here that I hadn't been partying or

drinking alcohol for weeks, I did NOT mean for it to sound like I was a 20 year old girl in need of rehab)

(Picture link) http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/A ... er%202006/