Exclusive interview with IAN HAUGLAND “EUROPE”
SUNRAY: First, I am infinitely grateful you granted us this interview. I have listened to the band since I was born, my parents loved your music, and now that my parents have passed away, they would be very proud to know that I am interviewing to Ian Haugland drummer of Europe.
With more than 40 years of experience, how does it feel to be the most legendary Swedish bands?
IAN HAUGLAND / Europe: It’s kind of hard to explain with words, what it feels like to be in a band that has become one of the most legendary rock bands out of Sweden But it’s truly amazing that we have been able to create music that has reached out to millions of people around the world and to have been part of that whole 80s scene. It’s just amazing! I am truly humble and grateful and thankful for it, every day of my life.
SUNRAY: “How would you say Europe has evolved over the years, especially after your reunion in the early 2000s?”
IAN HAUGLAND / Europe: I think Europe has evolved a lot since the reunion. Both as musicians and as people. I think we all have grown more mature and more self-esteem when it comes to playing and performing. We have also gained a lot more experience as a live band since the reunion. We are listening more to each other, and to what the other persons have to say, when thinking through ideas and stuff. In a way we have become much more of a band we are listening to each other and we’re developing ideas together much more as a band these days. Also, we have a totally different understanding of each other, of our different qualities and what each of us brings to the table for the whole of the band.
SUNRAY: “The Final Countdown,” released in 1986, remains their signature song and one of the defining tracks of the 1980s rock era. What does that song mean to you?
IAN HAUGLAND / Europe: The Final Countdown to us, well, it means everything. If it hadn’t been for The Final Countdown, we would not be where we are today. That’s the song that defines Europe and it’s opened up the door to the whole wide world for us. To be able to go out and to tour and to play to thousands and thousands of people all the time. And also, it’s a fucking great song! It’s one of the best songs written, ever! One of the most recognizable songs of the 80s, and its unbeatable, sort of. It keeps on living through the years, it’s caught on a life of its own. It’s just one of those songs that have become like runes in a stone, like the Vikings used to do. Yes, I would say The Final Countdown means everything to Europe.
SUNRAY: With several albums released, from Europe (1986) to the most recent Walk the Earth (2017), which one best identifies the band?
IAN HAUGLAND / Europe: It’s impossible to say which album identifies the band best because I think it changes with each album. Each album identifies the band the best at the time when the songs were written, and the album was recorded. I guess Walk the Earth is the latest sort of version of Europe, but I know that with the next album, it will be a different version again.
SUNRAY: Are you planning to release a new album soon?
IAN HAUGLAND / Europe: Yes, absolutely! We are planning on recording a new album this autumn. There’s going to be a lot of touring throughout the springtime and summer, but then in the autumn we are going to go into the studio and record the next Europe album. I’ve heard a bunch of demos that the guys have put together and some of the songs are the best one’s we’ve ever done! It’s going to be a kick ass album, and I can’t wait to get it recorded and released.
SUNRAY: How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
IAN HAUGLAND / Europe: The internet has had a huge impact on the music business. In my opinion, it’s like a double-edged sword. It’s great that everything moves so much faster now, it’s so much easier to send sound files between us when we are writing songs and for that matter its absolutely unbeatable. Also, it has brought us, the artist, closer to the fans through the social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. So, in that case, in that sense, I think it’s great. But at the same time, it has sort of killed the music industry and especially the record industry. Selling music, creating albums, and artwork and all that used to be in the 70s and 80s and its totally gone. It has also changed the way people are consuming and listening to music. When I grew up, I listened to a whole album, reading every word on the record sleeve, listening to every song. It was like a whole entity, the whole album. These days I guess people are more listening to a song. It’s not about an album; it’s about a song and I think that’s a bit of a pity. But still, I think Europe is fortunate because we made our mark, and we established ourselves back in the time when there was a live music business.
SUNRAY: If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
IAN HAUGLAND / Europe: If I could change something with the industry, I think it would be the money you earn from streaming. You can have your album, or your song being streamed on Spotify or whatever millions of times and still don’t earn more than a couple of bucks, which I think is unfair. I think it should be more like when you have your song played on the radio, you get a much more of a decent rate. I think this is biggest problem today; the artist doesn’t get their fair share of money from their music and that sucks.
SUNRAY: Now we would like to talk about the upcoming tour, the band will be performing in Argentina with the “Masters of Rock” next April 26th, with huge legends of rock, So, I won’t spoil too much, but, What can you tell us about the next concert?
IAN HAUGLAND / Europe: Yeah, “Masters of Rock”, that’s going be a blast! We are going to be playing with the Scorpions and Judas Priest, among others, around South America and that’s going to be amazing. To be on the same bill as some of our idols from when we grew up, it’s just mind boggling! We are going to do our best to just deliver a 100% great show. We are going to play the greatest songs that you know and some of the greatest songs you probably haven’t heard in a very long time. It’s just going to be great to be back in South America and give you guys a BLAST of a show.
Photo by Angelo Noziglia
Special Thanks to Michèle Coombe
Europe will be performing next April 26th at the “Masters of Rock” Tecnopolis Argentina, produced by Ake Music and Mercury Concerts. Press Agencia PR by Vicky Roa
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