JOHN NORUM, the main songwriter and accomplished guitarist behind the initial success of Swedish superstar outfit EUROPE, inexplicably quit the band on the eve of their chart busting 'Final Countdown' album's release. Opting instead for a solo career, Norum's debut solo album, 1987's 'Total Control', featured the talents of ex-MADISON and GLORY vocalist Göran Edman, later to team up with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, erstwhile 220 VOLT drummer Peter Hermansson, ex-TRASH drummer Hempo Hildén, former GRAND SLAM guitarist Mats Lindfors and ex-POWER and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN bassist Marcel Jacob. The latter had worked with Norum previously in EUROPE's early incarnation as FORCE.

The album proved a success with the single 'Let Me Love You' peaking at number 2 in the national Swedish charts as the band went on to support ACE FREHLEY at the ex-KISS guitarist's one-off show in Britain during 1988. During the early 90s Norum would team up with ex-DOKKEN frontman DON DOKKEN, performing on the American's solo album 'Up From The Ashes' and playing in a touring band that also included former ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes.

Norum continued to work with Baltes on the Swede's next solo outing, which also found EUROPE vocalist JOEY TEMPEST contributing vocals to the track 'We Will Be Strong'. The main vocal parts on the 'Face The Truth' album were handled by erstwhile DEEP PURPLE vocalist GLENN HUGHES. Hempo Hildén once more supplied the drums, although MOTÖRHEAD man Mikkey Dee also guested. The album featured a faithful cover of THIN LIZZY's 'Opium Trail' for good measure.

'Another Destination' saw contributions from ex BATON ROUGE and BLUE MURDER vocalist Kelly Keeling, FLEETWOOD MAC bassist Tom Lilly and former GARY MOORE drummer Gary Ferguson.

Having recorded the aforementioned 'Opium Trail' previously, Norum pursued his love of THIN LIZZY further theyear by contributing his version of the band's 'Massacre' to the S.M.C. Records tribute 'The Lizzy Songs'. Musicians for this session were former EUROPE bassist John Levén and former ELECTRIC BOYS drummer Niclas Sigevall.

Surprisingly, Norum would then team up with UFO lynchpins PHIL MOGG and PETE WAY in late 1995 following Michael Schenker's disappearance. The liaison was brief due to Schenker's enforcement of a contract stipulating the band could only be titled UFO with his involvement. Nevertheless, UFO drummer Simon Wright put in a session on Norum's 1997 Jeff Glixman produced World's Away' album which also saw Keeling and Baltes back on board.

Norum put together a live band for a Japanese tour, these shows being recorded for the 'Face It Live' album. Joining Norum onstage were MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP and GREAT KING RAT vocalist Leif Sundin and his GREAT KING RAT colleague Anders Fästader (previously known as Anders Nilsson).

Norum successfully lent his talents to many other artistes' recording sessions as a guest musician including EUROPE vocalist JOEY TEMPEST's solo album 'A Place Called Home', PHANTOM BLUE's 'Built To Perform' (he would later marry PHANTOM BLUE guitarist Michelle Meldrum) and GLENN HUGHES' 'L.A. Blues Authority' opus. During 1998 Norum joined DOKKEN for live work in America as rumours abounded that Norum was is in the throes of re-assembling EUROPE with Tempest, but this proved to be premature speculation.

In May of 2001 Norum teamed up with former THIN LIZZY and MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Brian Robertson for a short series of Norwegian dates performing THIN LIZZY and John Norum songs. Featured in the live band was STREET LEGAL and DA VINCI man Bjorn Boge on vocals and bass with "Wild Willy" Bendiksen of BAD HABITS and THE SNAKES.

By the summer of 2001 Norum had been announced as the new guitarist with DOKKEN filling the gap left by a departing REB BEACH. This union did not last the course though. In March of 2003, at the second time of trying, Norum, according to official press releases, finally joined the ranks of UFO. However, in typical fashion a matter of months passed before Norum issued a statement declining UFO's offer of employment. He would soon be back in the limelight, teaming back up with EUROPE for a reformation of the classic line up for a new studio album and major tour.

2005 found Norum recording a new studio album entitled 'Optimus' for Mascot Records. Bass tracks were handled by Thomas Torberg, additional guitar by Fredrik Åkesson of TIAMAT, TALISMAN and KRUX, keyboards by Mats Lindfors with drums coming from PAATOS and BUCKSPONY man Ricard "Hux Flux" Nettermalm. In 2005 Norum contributed his interpretation of 'Stay With Me' to a FRANK MARINO tribute album though WildMess Records entitled 'Secondhand Smoke'.