Ian Haugland Mixdown Master

Mon, Sep 26, 2022 8:57AM • 1:08:39

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

drummer, drums, band, playing, stacy, music, sweden, europe, absolutely, album, musicians, ian, stockholm, backstage pass, songs, stacey, pandemic, years, record, radio, Ian Haugland, Drummer, Europe, Rock The Night, Carrie, The Final Countdown, Stockholm, Walk The Earth, MTV, Backstage Pass Radio, Backstage Pass Radio Podcast, Randy Hulsey, Randy Hulsey Music, Randy Hulsey Podcast, Music Interview, Podcast, iHeart Radio, Spotify Podcast, Apple Podcast, Stitcher Podcast, Mr. Wonderful, AM FM, Cypress Texas

SPEAKERS

Stacey Steele, Randy Hulsey, Ian Haugland, Adam Gordon

Randy Hulsey  00:00

We are virtually traveling 5000 miles away to catch up with our guests today. Hey everyone, it's Randy Hulsey here with backstage pass radio, and I'm super excited to bring my guest today to you all the way from Stockholm, Sweden. He is the talented drummer for a band that has sold more than 10 million records worldwide. The band has had two records on the Billboard Top 200 charts. And he also had three hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Let's head over to Stockholm, and we will chat with Ian Howland of the ever popular band Europe when we return.

Adam Gordon  00:32

This is backstage pass radio, the podcast that's designed for the music junkie with a thirst for musical knowledge. Hi, this is Adam Gordon. And I want to thank you all for joining us today. Make sure you like subscribe and turn the alerts on for this and all upcoming podcasts. And now here's your host of backstage pass radio, Randy Halsey. Ian,

Ian Haugland  01:02

hey, hey, hey, Randy. What's up, man?

Randy Hulsey  01:05

Oh, it's good, man. How are you? Welcome to the show. And thanks so much for dropping in. How are things with you?

Ian Haugland  01:11

Just fine, man. It's the best time in Sweden of the year. You know, it's summertime and it's sunny and warm. You know? It's always dark and it's snowing in Sweden,

Randy Hulsey  01:23

right first of all, how did I do with my Swedish? Hello was I was I on point there with the Hey, hey.

Ian Haugland  01:29

Yeah, yeah, okay, exactly. Okay, that's that's the right one. Okay. Yeah, I

Randy Hulsey  01:35

was kind of doing a little fun research there. And there's apparently there's multiple ways to say hello in Sweden. So I'm like, Man, I hope I do the right one there. Yeah. Well, I would also like to also like to welcome a co host that normally I fly solo, as we were talking a little bit about in the the pre recording. My co host today is the bass player for Mr. Wonderful and the drummer for AMFM local bands out of the Houston Texas area here. Stacey Steele Stacy, welcome to the show with myself and Ian. Hey, Randy. Hey,

Ian Haugland  02:12

hey, how are you?

Stacey Steele  02:14

I'm doing great. Happy to be a part of this.

Randy Hulsey  02:17

Yeah. Well, welcome. And thank you, Randy. Yeah, my pleasure. So Ian, first of all, maybe you can explain this phenomenon for me. And I don't mean for you to maybe explain it scientifically, but share your thoughts on it, if you will. So in my research, Sweden is very interesting as it relates to daylight and it's my understanding that you know, it may be different in maybe northern Sweden versus maybe in the Stockholm area, but Is there truth to the fact that in the fall within the far north, the sun doesn't set in June so you have like a month of complete sunlight and then in January, it's completely dark is that can you speak to that a

Ian Haugland  03:06

little bit? Oh, yeah, absolutely. That's exactly how it is. The summertime in the northern part of Sweden is yeah, you know, the sun never sets. It's beautiful. And it's wonderful in a way but after you know, a couple of a couple of nights when you you I mean you can tell the difference between day and night. It certainly you know, messes up your sleeping routines so it's it can be kind of tricky, you know, to fall asleep in the summertime but then again in the wintertime it's dark all the time so then it's you know, as hard to to wake up in the morning Sure. So it's yeah it's kind of weird but it's

Randy Hulsey  03:52

it is what it is right well that's interesting because I think in like the north northwest like going up towards Alaska you know, there's certainly days where the you know, you have a long long periods of sunshine right and whatnot but here in the Houston area we don't we don't have those types of things it's you know, we do a daylight savings time so it might get a little bright outside earlier in the morning versus later depending on when we change times but we never go like 24 hour periods you know where there's like complete sunlight and complete darkness like that would be really really weird to me. Yeah,

Ian Haugland  04:31

it's kind of kind of like that with Sweden that you have you know the for pretty defined seasons you know, you have the winter you have the spring summer and an autumn they're all very significant. So it's it's kind of the same time. The summer is always too short. Yes, you want you always want more summer short slice you know when you get into the autumn and and the leaves and everything turn, yellow and brown and everything it it's a beautiful, you know, the countryside is really beautiful in the in the autumn and winter time, a lot of snow and so it's it is kind of you definitely know what season

Randy Hulsey  05:12

it is. Yeah, well, we we don't know what season it is here in Houston. It seems like it's summer like you're around here and in Texas. But you said you're in the summertime right now like what? Give the listeners maybe an idea of what kind of weather you have outside? What's the temperature? You know, that kind of thing? Yeah, it's

Ian Haugland  05:33

been this summer, it's been kind of, we had a couple of heat waves. And when it got up to I'm not sure what it is in Fahrenheit, but we went up to a 35 degrees centigrade. Yeah, so it's, it was really hot. So being sweet and you know, sure. On a regular summer when at the best, maybe 2025, I would say, and well, it's kind of dries. And for some, you know, maybe a week or two it rains heavily. So it's kind of you can never really be sure what it's going to be like, absolutely. It's yeah, when it's beautiful. It's gorgeous. You know, in the summertime,

Randy Hulsey  06:16

I can imagine. And we and you know here in Houston, we really don't get the snow. You know if it snows it's very rare here. You know, it'll get cold. Yeah, but it's not the same cold that like you guys probably get in the big, big difference. But anyway, enough of heliophysics here even like, that's not why I got you on the show. But it was interesting to find out a little bit more about that it you know, I learned so much just from coming up to speed on my guests and doing a little homework things that I would never know, because I've never lived in those parts of the world. So very interesting. And thanks for sharing. Yeah, yeah. And I believe correct me if I'm wrong. You were born in Norway then later moved. That would be east? Over to Sweden, correct?

Ian Haugland  07:04

Yeah, that's right. I was born up in actually north of the polar circle. So I was actually born on August 13. So it's almost my my birthday right on but yeah, I was I was born in a small like a fishing village. Up in the Norwegian fjords ashore. Yeah, my, that's that's my home. The home time Oh my My father. But they moved back to Sweden. My father got got to work in outside Stockholm. So they moved before I was, well, maybe eight or nine months old. So I never really grew up in Norway. Gotcha. But, but I still feel every time we go to Norway to play with Europe or I feel at home there. It's something in the DNA, I guess that I'm sure that draws me to the fjords. That

Randy Hulsey  07:59

makes sense. Well as a as a young boy, growing up in Sweden, but being born in Norway, what types of music or maybe even individual artists were you latching on to as a, as a young teenager growing up in Sweden? Well, I

Ian Haugland  08:16

remember quite quite clearly the first my first connect with music, it was my my older sister, she had a like one of those vinyl record player, you know, with with a speaker in the lid, you know, you put it up and play the vinyl singles on it. And she had a couple of singles with The Beatles and Rolling Stones. So I remember she loves you by The Beatles being one of the first songs that I really connected to the music and got the rush, you know, and felt like there was some kind of a energy that grabbed ahold of me. So that was the that was the earliest memory I have of listening to music. But other than that, I think my first my first connection with Hard Rock was in it must have been in 1970 or so when when I heard Black Sabbath paranoid on the Swedish national national radio is it was like a like a hit chart, week chart thing that they they ran every every Saturday morning or and Black Sabbath paranoid came on and I just remember, you know, being grabbed by that power of the of the rock music and one of the guitars and drums I could definitely tell that I wanted to be I was drawn to that power. You know, I wanted to be part of that I needed to know more. And so that was the first time I really got interested in in, in rock music. Went on to the purple Black Knights and all those early signs Haven't you stuff kind of?

Randy Hulsey  10:01

So you knew at an early age that you didn't want to be a construction worker when you got older? Right? You wanted to you wanted to play some kind of music for a living.

Ian Haugland  10:10

Yeah, that's right. I remember even many years before I started playing sort of playing drums, I usually ended up in my mother's kitchen, banging on the on the pots and pans, you know, just taking all the pans and, and building a, like a drum kit out of sure that cooking pans and bagging them with a fork and knife, you know, and it was something about about that, you know, banging on things, or made sound.

Randy Hulsey  10:37

I'd have to ask another drummer on the show here. Stacy, were you a pots and pans kind of guy too? Or were you did you go straight to the kit, so to speak?

Stacey Steele  10:47

Well, I got lucky because my parents were in a band. And my dad was a drummer, too. So there was a drum set in the house. So I would play on his drum set. But when he was using it, yes, I'd go to the kitchen cabinets and get Tupperware and pots and pans and everything that I could get to hit on. And of course I would make, you know, just a row of endless pots and pans to hit. Yeah, absolutely.

Randy Hulsey  11:10

So So Ian. So Ian, what Stacey saying is he was a privileged kid growing up, right? He didn't. He didn't have to bang on the furniture and funny objects. He actually had real toys to play with.

Stacey Steele  11:22

I did that too. Yeah. Absolutely. I can totally relate. Yes. Well, Ian,

Randy Hulsey  11:27

do you remember the first like the first live concert you went to? Do you remember? You remember back in those years like that?

Ian Haugland  11:35

Oh, yeah. Yeah, definitely the first my first real rock show. I went to with my schoolmate and his mother, which was a little bit uncool at the time. This was in 1976. I was 12 years old. And my friend's mother had got us, you know, bought us tickets to see Richard Blackmores rainbow nice at the concert house in Stockholm. And this was on the rainbow racing tour when they were at their very best. That's in my opinion, because rainbow rising is I would put the album that made me start playing drums. So that was the first my first real concert to see Richie Blackmore in coastal power with him. You know, Run DMC of Jim urbane, and Tony, carry on stage with that giant rainbow all across with all the lights going on?

Randy Hulsey  12:31

Sure. Well, you'll be glad to know that you are in good company on the show, because I will have Tony carry coming up at the end of the month. And I feel really honored because in talking to Tony, in the previous two or three weeks, he doesn't do interviews anymore. And I feel very honored that he was willing to sit down and chat with me. I think he's in Belgium right now playing some shows. But so when he comes back, I'll have him on the show. So you're you're you're in good company here. And I've always been a rainbow fan and a Tony Carey and planet P fan, you know from from the day for sure. Yeah, it's my understanding and correct me if I'm wrong, Ian, but I don't think you came from musical parents or a musical background. Is there? Is there some truth to that, like you kind of but you know, with the help of your sister, that was kind of, you know, the form formidable time for you. But you didn't have parents that were musicians like Stacy mentioned earlier. His mom and dad, we're traveling musicians, right? So they were very much into that lifestyle. Whereas your lifestyle was a little bit of the opposite, correct?

Ian Haugland  13:44

Yeah, definitely. My, my father could strum and maybe one or two chords on an old guitar when he had a couple of drinks. That was that was more, you know, but other than that, no, my mother, she was totally tone deaf. And my, my father, he was not well, not really, you know, they were a little bit. They listened to some records and stuff, but they were not really any interests. They didn't have any interest in music at all. So that was something that I found out for myself through my sister, you know, she was the one that introduced me, I would say, and what I can remember is that, that force that that power that the music had, on me, it was so significant that that I just, I immediately felt that there was nothing else you know, sure. When, when my classmates started playing football and started, you know, driving their bikes around chasing girls, I was you know, listening to to records and and later on, I was spending my time in the in the rehearsal room. Absolutely in some, you know, just playing drums all the time. So it was something that came to me, you know, from wherever, you

Randy Hulsey  15:09

know that that completely makes sense because my mother was a pianist, but my dad had no musical background. And I would probably venture to say that, you know, mom didn't spend years and years and years playing the piano, but but she had a good foundation of it. But they never really preached music, you know, it was never a prominent thing in our house, like you would think, you know, being a pianist, you would hear more music. So I'm kind of along the same lines as you were, I just, I somehow got hooked at some point in time. I just never looked back. Like it was just, it was a love for me that it was undeniable. So I get where you're coming from?

Ian Haugland  15:52

Yeah, well, I remember that what I used to do, because years before I started playing drums myself, apart from banging on the pots and pans, on my mother's pans and, and stuff. I used to draw stages with amplifiers and drum kits, and everything. I didn't really know what it was, or I had seen some pictures in a magazine. But I started constructing my own stages and stuff like that. So interesting. I was definitely interested in stuff.

Randy Hulsey  16:27

They call those visionaries. Ian, you were a visionary. Yeah, and I was gonna say Stacy's over there pointing at himself. And I was gonna say, Well, you are weird. Just like Stacey was weird. But But I said, they're not probably weird. They're they're visionaries. They knew what they wanted a long time ago. Right? They know exactly when the tide. And Stacy and Stacy is a professional painter. Go ahead, do your thing. Did you? Yeah, interesting. Absolutely. Well, two peas in a pod there. So see Stacy either you're on the show for a reason.

Stacey Steele  16:57

Live good lights, the lighting and everything.

Randy Hulsey  17:00

Yeah, interesting. Interesting. Definitely.

Stacey Steele  17:03

Yep.

Ian Haugland  17:04

I think I even started drawing dragons stuff like way before kiss in the

Randy Hulsey  17:10

stage,

Ian Haugland  17:11

you know, like designer,

Randy Hulsey  17:14

right? I don't ever remember drawing stages and whatnot. But I do remember trying to draw all of the faces of Kiss and how they put on their makeup. So I did, I did remember drawing that. If you guys will sit tight, real quick. I'm going to plug a sponsor, so don't go anywhere. Thank you guys, for being here. We're back with our special guests in hoblyn of the band Europe and my co host, Stacy Steele. And it's interesting to learn, have you and your your side hustle. They're in Stockholm as a radio host. Talk to the listeners a little bit about the show that you're on. And I think that you've been doing this for quite some time. But I would like to hear more about that, if you don't mind chatting

Ian Haugland  17:58

about it. Sure, definitely. i Well, it was one of those banana skin. Things that happened to me, I basically just slipped into the radio studio and got stuck there for for some reason. This was way back in. I was actually around the time when Europe played that Millennium show in Sweden, in Stockholm. And me and Mick Michaela, the keyboard player and the bass player, we were invited to this radio station called Rock Klassiker which is like, well, classic rock radio station. So we were invited there to just do some, you know, do an interview basically. So we got there, and we would sitting there chatting, and we're just had a good time. And I just felt like, this is fun. This is something that I I could do. Sure. So after the interview was finished, I said to the radio DJ, you know, like if you ever need a, you know, standing or, you know, someone vacation, standing or whatever, I would be interested to try it out. So when I just, you know, left my phone number on a piece of paper, and off we went. And I forgot about it. And I think six months went on. And all of a sudden the boss for the radio station called me up and asked me if I wanted to try, you know, try filling out for this guy go into on a vacation. So that's how it started. And this was in spring, well, early summer 2000. And, you know, I've been there ever since the same radio station. So I've been actually been working there for 22 years now. Yeah. And been doing all the different shows the morning show and the early day show and now Afternoon show and, and now I'm doing the night show. Well, the show between six and 10 at night. Sure. So and, you know, I, I used to say that it doesn't feel like I'm gone to work for one single day because it's, it's just an extension of my own, you know, musical tastes and my own sort of musical values. I got a story and a memory to basically every song that we play. So, yeah, it's more like being inside my own head. Yeah, basically one

Randy Hulsey  20:32

of my work. But what a great segue to go from being a world renowned musician like yourself, and you're always on the side of the microphone. You've done countless interviews over the years. I'm quite sure of I've seen you on MTV. You've done interviews on MTV. So you've been on that side of the mic? Well, there's really no different than being on this side of the mic. You just have to come up with the things to talk about. It's just a little different mindset. But it's a natural segue, I believe. And I say that because there's been quite a few notable musicians that have gone into a life of a DJ. I mean, one that comes to mind is Greg kin, right? Had a big song in the 80s great musician, spent time as a DJ yourself. So I think I think it's just a natural transition, right to go from being a musician to talking about music and play music. It's all kind of goes hand in hand.

Ian Haugland  21:29

Yeah, that's right. Yeah, I know there's there are a lot of other musicians doing the radio DJ in one way or another. So it's, um, well, the good thing with the format that we have is that everything comes natural you know, all the all the stories and and all my knowledge about the music that we're playing, it's all natural. So I believe that it sounds kind of you feel you feel trust through to the DJ, you know, if you listen to some of those, you know, hits FM, you know, talk for the stations, you can tell that the radio, the DJ is just he he or she could be working for any radio station. There is no soul. There's no heart in whatever Absolutely. They're talking about. So I agree. Yeah, well,

Randy Hulsey  22:19

congratulations. 22 years, that's nothing to bat an eye at that's a long time. And you know, it's it doesn't ever seem that long, when we're doing the things that we love, right? It just seems like it's, you know, fun to get out of bed and say I'm gonna go have a good time down at the station. You don't wake up, bitchin and moanin and, you know, fighting or, you know, resisting the fact that you have to get in the car and drive down to the station, you actually are looking forward to getting there. And that's important.

Ian Haugland  22:47

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's, I mean, there's so many people out there just hating their Yes, their work. And you know, like, just just getting up. Getting out of the bed in the morning is like, oh, god, yes, do this. And so I have to say, I've, I've been really fortunate with that, you know, yes. Being able to play music and and to, well do the radio thing as well. So it's, yeah, I'm truly blessed. Yeah, sense,

Randy Hulsey  23:17

for sure. And here in the United States, they would call that the daily grind, right? It's you have to wake up and get to the daily grind, which is just a, an ass weapon to get out of bed, fight traffic, we're driving our home fight more traffic is just a grind. So that's how we refer to it here. Go good old corporate America, right? If you stopped playing music tomorrow, you know, you put the drums in the closet? Do you think that that's what you'd be doing full time? Or do you think there's something else that you'd latch on or something that you haven't done that you'd really like to get into?

Ian Haugland  23:54

I don't know. Really, it's because that thought has never occurred to me, as I mean, during the panic pandemic, it was came to me. Well, I was forced into that thought, you know, when, you know, started thinking, well, this is going to be over is, are we ever going to be able to go out and tour and am I ever going to be able to play drums again? Those thoughts were came around, but I think I would definitely continue with the radio, the radio work, maybe I would get into doing you know, like, like clinics, drum clinics and those kinds of things where you travel around, maybe you go to different schools and you talk about your life as a as a drummer and rock star, whatever. Absolutely. And stuff like that. I think I could do that. But other than that, I'm I've never really thought about it. Yes, it's it's always it's always been, it's always been so definitely this thing playing drums You know? Yeah, well, I'm

Randy Hulsey  25:02

glad that I made you think a little bit because, you know, we talked about that a little bit before, like, you've been asked the same questions a million times over and over again at nauseam. But it's, uh, it's good when you get that one question that I never you know, I've never really thought about that. And I've had a few guests on my show, right? Namely guy gal, so the drummer for a band called Zebra who has done, done really great outside, you know, stamping his name on his drum skills and teaching and doing clinics, and things like that. And then you have Matt star that's playing out with black swan right now and drumming for Ace Frehley, who has his own consulting business and teaches drum. So I mean, you know, you got to use those skills, you've got the skill, so it did, you know, it makes sense to, to explore them, and to use them to your advantage for sure.

Ian Haugland  25:55

Exactly, definitely sort of that experience that you that you that you get when you're on the road for, you know, 3030 years, or whatever it's been for me, it's there's a lot of experience that you can't get it any other way. No. So it's I think it's really valuable, you know, a lot of young musicians, they want to know, what should I do? Or shouldn't I do? You know, and so, with the experience, you can help them sure to stay away from certain troubles and stuff like that. So,

Randy Hulsey  26:29

absolutely. And it's interesting that we're talking about that, because I came up on the piano, and I'm a guitar player, and I've never played the drums. And I'm going to put Stacey on the spot a little bit because I said, you know, I'm really interested in the drums. And I reached out to Stacey over a year ago. And I said, Hey, could you could just show me some stuff on the drums? And he was like, No, you don't want me to do that. So I don't know. And Stacy, you can speak to this, either. You don't have the patience to do it. Or maybe you didn't even like me, I don't really know what the what the situation was. But some people can either teach it, some people can either teach things, or they just can't or they just don't have the patience to do it. So Stacey, I don't know. If you remember me asking you about that. But you share your thoughts a little bit on, you know why you told me no, I don't like to be told no. But share with Ian, why you told me no.

Stacey Steele  27:21

Well, it really is just because I don't think I would make a good teacher because I'm 100%. Ear player. Yeah, I completely play by ear. I've never had a lesson. And, you know, maybe celebrates genetic, because of the family. But it's the same thing with a guitar and bass guitar, I play, every instrument that I play is completely by ear. I wouldn't know how to teach notes. I was in band in school. And I learned, you know, quarter notes and you know, some of the basic stuff, which I have completely forgotten over the years. So I think for myself, that's why I could never probably be a good shooter is because you can't really teach field or, you know, your type playing, which is what I do.

Randy Hulsey  28:12

Exactly. You can't teach what you don't know. Right? In short, I mean, you know how to play, but you don't know how to teach it. And Ian, are you? Are you a formal you taught drummer or musician? Because I know you're, you're a keyboard player yourself? Or were at one time? Are you formal on either one? Or are you uh, are you like, Stacey, more of an ear guy?

Ian Haugland  28:34

I'm a totally a guy. I'm totally, you know, fit into the two stasis frame. Exactly, because I had a couple of lessons when I, you know, the year when I started playing drums, but I never learned that to read music or to to read, you know, like, sheet music or anything. So, no, I'm all ears and all ear guy. But I have to say I had a couple of in the fall, maybe it's in the 90s I had a couple of couple of students that, that I taught drums. But it was I have to say it was really hard because as you say, you know, you it's hard to teach something that you can't really absolutely you don't know about. So it was very much. You know, I was just trying to, you know, try to make them listen to what they're doing and, and try to just show them how to do it to sure to make it feel or sound good. Because that was the way I learned myself. You know, I just tried to figure out by listening to to like albums with my favorite bands and just trying to figure out I mean, back in the day there were no like YouTube or any any possible way to slow things down or anything. It was just like I have to try and listen what is happening. So I tried to, to teach that, you know, to make them listen to music try to see themselves as part of the music. Instead of I mean a lot of musicians, no matter what the playing, they become, sort of they think that their instrument is all the risks, basically, they find it hard to see their instrument as a part of the whole unit. I agree. So, it's really hard to to teach when you don't have the skills to to have to

Randy Hulsey  30:35

say, but I'm also a believer that some of the best teachers don't know that much, technically about what they're teaching. They just are good instructors and know how to get points across, you know what I'm saying? And you mentioned it best, like we didn't have the beauty of like, tablature. For us guitarist right there was what was tablature it didn't even exist. We learned by putting a cassette tape in the deal and saying play, rewind, play, rewind, play, rewind, we listened to it over and over and over again. And that's how we learned. Now there's so you have the YouTubes you have the b&o all these training aids where musicians are learning at the fastest pace ever. So if it took me three weeks to learn a song when I was 10, a 10 year old now would probably learn that in one day or a half a day. It's a really, yeah, it's expedient now like it's fast learning. Yeah, I

Ian Haugland  31:32

think you know that the hard way makes you a better craft, man, you know, you learn your, your skills, with a with the different depths. If you have to, you know, just listen, rewind, listen, rewind, trying to figure out and try to you have to, you have to struggle. Yes. Struggle creates perfection. It's something Sure, yeah. And if you get 100% on a silver plate, and you just consume it, okay, you will sound good, but it will lack something. Yeah, you know, the, the personality and that soul that you that you can only reach by by doing rehearsing and grinding it. Yes,

Randy Hulsey  32:17

we call that cutting your teeth. You know, that's an expression here, where you cut your teeth, or you come from the school of hard knocks, which basically means you got your ass out there. And you just did it until you learned it like, and then that's where it becomes more polished over time, you know? Well, we can't have a conversation with you without talking more in depth about Europe. First of all, congratulations on on the success of the band over the years, the band's now been together. Let's see if my math is correct, what 40 would be 43 ish years. Right? But that's a long time probably is. That's a long time.

Ian Haugland  33:01

Yeah, yeah, probably says that the very first, the very first lineup of the band, when when, but we actually counted next year is going to be the official 40 authorities. So that's how we, how we, how we see it, but still 40 years. It's, that's, that's, that's an awful lot of time. It's amazing that we still are together. And at basically the same guys guess throughout the years, there's not

Randy Hulsey  33:28

many that are like that anymore. You know, you have the Aerosmith, you have the zebras, you have bands like that, that have been together for 40 plus years. And it's a it's a testament to a brotherhood, right? I mean, you guys not only have to think alike, but you also it's a culture thing to where you have to be brothers or it just doesn't work. And so I'm sure Stacy could attest to that just bringing in a great musician doesn't make it a band, because it has to be a feel thing too, you have to get along with these guys, you have to love these guys, because you spend a lot of time with them. So there has to be a lot of thought process. That's the same.

Ian Haugland  34:08

Absolutely. I mean, and the thing with with with Europe is that we the longer we're together and playing together, as years go by, we actually become tighter and tighter as as, as friends sort of, you know, in the 80s. There were a lot of fighting about, you know, small issues. I mean, just ego things, you know, but these days, we kind of, we've learned our differences, and we learned our, you know, strengths between the different band members, should we always lift each other up and as we instead of, instead of forcing someone to do something that they don't like or know how to do correct better that whoever is good enough to do it, can do it. And that's right. So we kind of tried to teach to work that way. And also I have to say, after the pandemic years, once we went out on tour again, as we've been with with your with Whitesnake and foreigner, early this summer, I could definitely sense a sort of a newborn feeling in the bad within the band. We've never been so humble towards each other and towards the music, and never been so thankful. And I can't remember, ever, you know, that, that we've been so you know, getting after the show, you know, telling each other man, you did a great job did a great gig tonight, you know, before it was more like it took things for granted. But after the pandemics were much more humble and more thank to the fact that we were still here and can do this. So it's, that's one of the good things with a pandemic, I have to say, for us in your life.

Randy Hulsey  35:58

I think they call that maturity to E and you guys, certainly the older we get, the more we mature. And we don't take things for granted like we used to. So I think it's, it's an age thing. It's a it's a maturity thing. And I think it's a it's a wonderful thing, you know, young guys are cocky, and we call it cock and bull right there. There's egos that drive five guys and abandoned five different directions. And as you mature and start to develop a mature thought process that becomes more of a single thought process versus five individuals or four individuals thinking in those different directions. Now you joined in when I was a senior in high school, so 1984 You are 20, a ripe 2020 year old lad that joined Europe, how did the band find you?

Ian Haugland  36:54

The band comes from a suburb called Oh, plans last year, and I come from another suburb around Stockholm. And we played in a while way before the band was even called Europe. They played in around plus welsby. Me with my band, we sometimes we played in the plus rhasspy as well and sometimes played the same, you know, little festival things and, you know, different schools and stuff, they had a live shows with local acts. So they had heard me with my band. So that was the reason why they knew about me they because I used to be not only the drummer, but also the lead vocalists at the same time in my band. It was a three piece band, and we were very much inspired by Russian bulgy. And those bands. Sure. So I was actually both lead vocalist and drummer. And I was kind of crazy as try to play as much as possible, you know, like, Neil Perry. I think I had a rumor around around the Stockholm area being, you know, a crazy driven drummer wanting to be on top of the world. So I was the first choice when they when they decided to get a new drummer. So they got in touch with me and asked me if I wanted to try out with them. I mean, at the time you were a pad. When they asked me they had two albums out, and they were by far the biggest rock band in Sweden. So to be offered that spot was, you know, that was the best, best job you could ever get sure, as a rock musician in Sweden at the time.

Randy Hulsey  38:42

Absolutely. Well, I think the band really had picked up momentum somewhere around 82 Correct me if I'm wrong, there was some type of maybe television type of competition or something that Europe was in that really kind of boosted their popularity there. Right? Wasn't that some somewhere around 1982?

Ian Haugland  39:03

Yeah, that's right. It was it was a national, like a battle of the bands thing that went from from city to city and every CD had a five or six bands that were competing on that night and one band got to get to the next level sort of you know, there was like a football tournament in rock and roll. And the final Well, the phenol was broadcasted on on Swedish national TV, and Europe was one of the bands that got to the finals, which was kind of well they never because in Sweden at that time being hardrock band that was kind of not cool, but being a hard rock band singing in English. That was no no that you that would never work continued at the time. And that was exactly what you're doing. They they took their inspiration from Felicity and UFO when they sang in English and and Um, you know, they, they wanted to be an international band. So it was really unexpected that they would get to the, to the all the way up to the final. But they got all the way there. And they, they won that contest. And the first price in this contest was to call it an album and to have a recording contract. That's what they did, they recorded the first album, that from that, from that contest, and it got really successful in Sweden, it's so like, almost gold, which was really unexpected. But that was around the time when, when everything started to change. I mean, scorpions had, had had their the first American success would black out that album, and so the world was started sort of started starting to to open up for Europe. I mean, America started to realize that while there are some great, you know, like hard rock bands in in, throughout Europe, absolutely. So the timing was really perfect for Europe. In that sense.

Randy Hulsey  41:06

It was, what two years after the contest, and I believe that was around the time the wings of tomorrow, record came out. Have you played on that? Or did they record that one before you join? Or were you actually playing on that one?

Ian Haugland  41:24

No, no, they recorded that with the with the first drummer. Okay, so yeah. And they did a tour on that album with with the first drummer. And after that tour, they decided to get a new drummer. So I auditioned, basically, well, the day before, after my 20th birthday. So that was a good birthday present to get to get that

Randy Hulsey  41:51

job. Absolutely. You joined in 84. You fast forward to 86 the LP The Final Countdown was released. And you know, the popularity for you guys absolutely went through the roof. You had songs like rock deny, carry the final countdown, of course, talk to me about how the popularity of the band increased at this time.

Ian Haugland  42:16

Well, it exploded, I would say, you know, once the album got out, because it was delayed for some reason I think it had to do with Well, first of all, it got delayed, because Joe, we had some problem with his voice. And so it took a couple of months extra to finish the vocals and to get it mixed and all that. So the first tour we did in Sweden was actually before the album was released. Okay, which was kind of stupid, because all the places that that were booked for, like half empty, yes. Because the new album was not out. But once it got out, and I remember we were in Japan at the time. And we had a phone call from the Dutch record company. And they said that the final count on ads started being requested on national radio because they played it on some show and it was, you know, storming up charged in Holland. So that was the first chart reaction we had. And then after that, it just, basically within a couple of weeks, it was number one in in 20 countries around the world. It was it was so weird. So it all happened so fast that he was we didn't really notice what happened. It was just like switching the light switch turning on the light switch. Yeah, exactly.

Randy Hulsey  43:40

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Well, how impactful was MTV for you guys at this time? Like you had you not only had a great record that came out in 86 with the final countdown, but then you know MTV comes out around 81 and just takes so many different bands to another level like how was that for you guys? Did you feel the the impact of MTV for you guys as well?

Ian Haugland  44:12

Oh, yeah, definitely. I think MTV had a big deal in the success thinking back at the video the fan count on video that is it's actually shot on his at a pretty small place, you know, a small venue with like, maybe 1000 people in there tops 1000 people it's fair the way it's filmed. It looks like a huge huge arena, you know, with the with everything and the helicopter and and five young handsome guys wiggling their little behinds, you know. So, you know, it was a it was just all 100% right to the market at the time. MTV definitely made it for us. Not only with a with a final count on But could drop the knife and cheering or tea and, and carry us? Well, yeah, we have a lot to sank MTB for when it comes to the success of the final countdown album.

Randy Hulsey  45:11

Absolutely, they put a lot of bands on the map, for sure. And it was really a time when, you know, you could put a face with a name. Like I remember listening to bands from the 70s that I loved, you know, Ace and 10, CC, and all all of these types of bands. You had no idea what these guys look like, you just didn't know you love the music better. Like they were just a figment of your imagination as far as you knew. But when MTV came out, like, wow, that's what Tom Petty looks like, or that's what your looks like, that's really cool. You know, so it, it definitely boosted a lot of careers for sure. So fast forward, you had another great release and 88 ish with out of this world, then, you know, have a few other releases. Then you got to 2017 with the release of walk the earth with this the last full length record that you guys recorded 2017 walked the earth or did I miss something somewhere?

Ian Haugland  46:12

No, you're absolutely correct. That's, that's the last album we've done so far. Okay, we're gonna be releasing new music next year, during the 40th anniversary, but I'm not sure if it's going to be a full album after me. I mean, right away, we might do like many artists today, they release maybe two or three songs before the album shirt gets released. But we're definitely working on new stuff. So also, that's going to be really exciting.

Randy Hulsey  46:40

Well, the fans, the fans will love to hear that for sure. Oh, yeah.

Ian Haugland  46:45

I mean, 2017 it's, that's a long time.

Randy Hulsey  46:49

That's a light. That's light years ago. Ian like that's like, yeah, that's old.

Ian Haugland  46:55

Oh, yeah. Well, career ago,

Randy Hulsey  46:58

yeah. Well, you know, when it doesn't help when the whole world shuts down for, you know, a pandemic, either, right? So everybody's alive, stop for two years, you know what you know. So you're talking 17 to 22. That's five years, but two of those don't even count because you know what I'm saying. So, I want to shift right shift gears just a little bit, and talk a little bit about the drums for a minute. And I preface my drum questions by saying that and I think I mentioned it earlier, I'm not the drummer Stacy's the drummer. So I'm gonna, you know, Stacy, feel free to jump in at any time and pick Ian's brain. But I will say first off that you are a left handed drummer, which I think is really cool, because I'm also a left handed person. You know, I think, you know, some of the greatest drummers out there were, were left handed drummers You of course, you have the Phil Collins of Genesis and Charles Connor from Little Richard was a left handed guy. And then I think even Ringo right was Yeah, if I remember correctly, he was a left handed drummer, but played a right handed kid, right. So

Stacey Steele  48:08

yeah, yeah, that's right. And I think didn't bunny Carlos from cheap trick play left and right handed? I'm not sure they can possibly.

Randy Hulsey  48:16

I don't know.

Stacey Steele  48:17

I think he went back and forth already. I think he did. Yeah. Which I always thought was strangely

Ian Haugland  48:25

cool. Yeah. And then you have the, one of my biggest, you know, influences Ian pace. Yeah. And

Randy Hulsey  48:37

PHILLIPS Yes. Yes.

Ian Haugland  48:38

I think Simon Phillips is how do you say he changes between? Right and left? Okay, you know, yeah, so he's, but he's a monster. You know, he he's, I don't know,

Randy Hulsey  48:49

I'm sure. Well, Ralph Johnson from Earth, Wind and Fire was a was a left handed drummer, as well.

Ian Haugland  48:54

All right, Gal,

Randy Hulsey  48:56

who would you say that you're drinking, you talk to be in paste? Other than en, who were some of the drummers that you were really latching on to or looking up to, as maybe, first of all, a young drummer, but even but who are the ones that you're looking to now as, as somebody that's, you know, aged over the years, so you have the ones that you love growing up, but who are the influences now, or do you have influences now?

Ian Haugland  49:25

Not Not so many, like new drummers because it's fine find most most of the drummers from new bands are in my opinion, they put technique way too, to match up from you know, instead of playing with the field, you know, and so I prefer, you know, the old school drummers that had personality. Before technique, you know, like, well, Ian pays Jon Bon I'm toasted Powell and Ginger Baker and Carmen a piece and, and brother Vinnie Appice II, which I think is he's one of the biggest later influences. And that was in, you know, at the end of 80s, that I sort of noticed him. So I'm pretty much stuck in the in the past. I mean, it's, I mean, listening to drummers playing with, I mean, like Mike Portnoy, and while the guys are playing with with the Five Finger Death Punch, and you know, those kinds of bands are disturbing. They're amazing drummers, you know, they're dead tight and and technically skilled, but I can't really hear a personality. That makes sense, which I, which I think it's a little bit a little bit sad. Yeah, I prefer personality before technique.

Randy Hulsey  50:55

That makes sense. Talk to me about drum endorsements, who or who's endorsing you, who are you endorsing these days from, from a manufacturer perspective.

Ian Haugland  51:05

When I joined Europe in the 80s, I played tama and I was endorsed by tama, and the first couple of years and then I went to Yamaha and at the end of the 90s, and then well actually, then I played Yamaha again when we reunited in the 2000s. And then after Yamaha up basically skipped endorsing, having an endorsers because playing in different festivals, I just found it more more of a hustle than being of any help, really, because sometimes, you know, when you get to the festival, and they don't have the certain kind of drums that you want, then it's uh, you know, you have to use something else. And if that, you know, if there's a photo that leaks onto social media, you playing Pearl kid, when you're endorsed by Yamaha is gonna be, that's gonna be a trouble. So, you know, I just stopped. Stop doing that. Because there are so many great drum drum brands out there now. I've been playing for myself, I bought two kits, like 10 years ago. And those are the ones that I'm using on tour and it's Ludwig basalite. Clear kit that I've been playing most of the time.

Randy Hulsey  52:26

Yep. Stacy, what do you what are you playing in AMFM?

Stacey Steele  52:31

The DW Design Series, the clear acrylic, the design series by dw?

Randy Hulsey  52:39

Do you sounds cool? Did you have a you had a couple of questions? Right drum drum questions for Ian?

Stacey Steele  52:45

Yeah, so I yeah, I guess first of all, okay, so back in the i during the final countdown tour. years when with key Marcelo on guitar. I remember during his guitar, so you guys, we're doing the Flight of the Bumblebee duck band, which I thought was really cool was even though it was a guitar solo, everybody in the band got to sign in that and how did that come about? Was that just was that something that KY wanted to do? Or did you guys as a band make that arrangement because I thought it was killer. It was a great highlight of the show.

Ian Haugland  53:23

Right I remember I remember he was key key came up with the idea to to do that kind of you know, the guitar version of it and then we I think we structured the thing together in the rehearsal as far as I can remember and I think we all had sort of input into the arrangement and of that piece but it turned out really good. I haven't had heard it in a long time but I'm definitely going to check it out again because I remember we had we had a lot of fun playing that piece of music and I remember KI KI was a monster on the guitar playing that you know the fast thing there it was absolutely played it flawless.

Stacey Steele  54:03

Yeah. And one thing about Europe that I don't know if you guys get enough credit as being great singers you guys live your harmonies are spot on. Yeah, and and you guys are up there singing and and it it did just sounds amazing. And I don't know if if y'all get enough credit for that as a band that you know, everybody can sing and the harmonies are always

Ian Haugland  54:33

well yeah, I mean we do get a lot of credit for it. I mean, it's basically the older stuff that we on the on the later Europe albums, there are not really that much harmony vocals and stuff like that. It's more like a more old Deep Purple kind of stuff. But yeah, definitely we we do get credit. I agree. Maybe Yeah, not as much as we should. And especially John, John Norum. He is a monster singer. He's, he's a great singer. But I think he has a he's lacking little self confidence on that. Because every time when you tell him, you know, man, you shouldn't sing, sing more, you know, you should have a like a, like Keith Richards does, you know a couple of songs where he's saying that he gets on, I'm going to be playing the guitar player. So

Randy Hulsey  55:27

Well, that was kind of my understanding about Randy Meisner from from the Eagles. Right. I and I, and my facts could be completely wrong. But I think it was. I think it was him. And you know, he was a great singer, but I don't know that he was comfortable singing, right. So that, but there was one of the eagles that wasn't comfortable singing, but have had a wonderful boy.

Stacey Steele  55:52

Yeah, take it to the limit, doing the live lives, he was never that confident about those high notes towards the end of the song. Yeah,

Randy Hulsey  56:02

gotcha. Well, that's, that's interesting. So Ian, you guys, you're accomplished musicians, wonderful singers. And you're all handsome guys. You say? So? I mean, you can't get any better there. I don't think all right. What advice would you would you would you give to someone that was wanting to learn drums? For the first time? Do you have any advice for a young or an old drummer that that is picking up the sticks for the first time?

Ian Haugland  56:34

Well, first of all, realize that it's it's going to take time, you know, it's going to take a lot of time and a lot of blisters, and a lot of agony to to get there. And don't count of any, on any, like, fast tracks or any short. Yes, shortcuts. Exactly. It's you have to, you have to learn the trade, you have to dig into it, and let it take time, let it let it, you know, grow on you. As I remember, back in the day, when I started playing drums, you could sit there and try to figure out a groove. Very simple, and it didn't work. It just sounded like shit. And then you gave up for the day and, and you come back the next day, and all of a sudden, it works. It's like, wow, I can do it. Like, like if something has sunk in, and your brain has worked out whatever information so and sometimes it took me weeks to to figure things out, you have to drop the thought of of becoming a great drummer within a week or two. But I mean, yeah, that's really you have to be really patient and you have to work hard, obviously, work really hard and and listen to your to your favorite to favorite drummers and try to figure it out. Don't look at them on YouTube, just try and listen to the music. Don't look at the music. That's that's the bad thing with the digital recording and digital editing. You look too much at the music, you don't listen to music. You know, back in the day, when you recorded the analog, what you hear is what you get, now, you're not looking at a grid with a with a with a wave thing and you go in and you can cut anywhere, you know, sure within a split second, it takes away doing that and cleaning up the grid, you know, the digital grid, it creates perfection but it kills personality. And I don't think that kind of music has any longevity. It's the dirt in the in the corners that create create life and and personality. I think that's really important to realize as as a youngster that perfectionist is not what you're aiming for perfection is personality is rather more protection than then perfection itself. No, I

Randy Hulsey  59:14

agree. And that's great advice. Because I go see Stacy play, I see you guys play. I look on YouTube and see players, whether it's the drums or the ukulele, it doesn't matter. But somebody that's good at the instrument will make it look so much more simple than it really is. And it's only because you guys have put in your time and you know, gone through hell before you got to heaven. Right. I guess there's an old adage there's just so many gimmicks out there that says learn the guitar in 14 days or learn to play drums in 14 days. The fact of the matter people is you don't learn to do hardly anything in 14 days. So you have to be a realist and understand You can't even callus your fingers in 14 days, right? Or you can't callus your hands from the sticks and 14 days, let alone learn to, to play these instruments with any any ability. So you're right, you have to you have to be patient, and put in the time, you're sure, from a human. Another

Ian Haugland  1:00:21

thing, another thing that I think is really important for for young musicians, is to try and play together with other musicians try and get groups together, time interacts, because that's what it's all about, when you're when you're, if you want to, you know, have a band successful band, you have to be able to interact, you have to be able not only musically but also socially. And so the sooner you can get a band together and start playing together, the better it is, I think I agree. Because you see so many musicians, great young players on YouTube, again, that sits there with a guitar and they're playing twice as fast as singly Malmsteen. With, you know, super perfection. Yes. They never been in a rehearsal room together with four or five other guys creating music together. You know,

Stacey Steele  1:01:16

that makes perfect sense.

Randy Hulsey  1:01:18

That makes perfect sense. You talked a little bit about new music, I wanted to go back to that for just a quick second and be respectful of your time. But what can the listeners expect from either Europe or any side projects? Maybe you do. Maybe you don't have side projects going on? Right now. But I wanted to make sure that I gave you that platform to talk about anything new that's coming up from Europe that you can talk about, and anything from yourself that you wanted to talk about, as well. Yeah,

Ian Haugland  1:01:52

well, well, from Europe, I think it's it's always tricky, because we never really know in advance what we're going to be doing, you know, well, how the, in what direction the music is going? Yeah. Because it's we are, we've always been like, letting the music take the band in a direction rather than the band taking the music in the direction. I think we we've on the last three albums with Europe, we've been on a on a journey towards more, maybe the more blues here, kind of 70s kind of stuff. And I know that we've we've been talking about this in the band, and I think we're all agreed that it's time to maybe try another direction and and see what, what when it comes to. And I know Joe, we said the other day that he had he'd been working on some some ideas and he said that, man, it's I get the feeling that it's it sounds a bit like Van Halen and a little bit like, like, more of the kind of eight is kind of stuff more mellow, melodic kind of things. So I really don't know if that is the the direction. But at the time when he was speaking about it, that was where he was, you know, it's like a living organism, you know, it forms as a way. Yes, absolutely. So it's really, it's exciting, actually, to see what it's going to be like, but if you ask me, I would really, I would really love to make an album that sounded a little bit more like the 80s, you know, with a more party kind of vibe to it, you know, like Van Halen, for instance? Sure. Especially now, after the pandemic, I think I think people are more open to more happier kind of music and more party directed music than then, you know, a couple of years ago. So that's what I'm hoping for, but I'm really not sure where he's gonna go,

Randy Hulsey  1:03:56

you guys will figure it out as you go. I'm sure just like every other every other band does. What about from a personal perspective? Is there any projects that you're working on from a, you know, a personal perspective that you'd like to share?

Ian Haugland  1:04:10

Well, I've been actually I've been working on during the pandemic, I've been working on a kind of a solo project. And this is something that I've been having, in my mind for at least 25 years, to do like a tribute album, to the artists and the songs that I that formed my musical kind of personality through the years. I was working on doing props, I've done some some, some drum drum tracks to it. But it's so it's basically a mishmash of, of songs by UFOs. And let's see the purple, Black Sabbath, so forth. So I've been working on that. And you know, it's sometimes it's it's really hectic right now. It's really not hectic about it. That's still it's dream that I have to get that all together so I can get that out one way or another. But I have no idea when it's going to be finished. But it's an ambition that I have something that drives me you know, so for sure, there you go.

Randy Hulsey  1:05:15

If you ever need any wonderful, fabulous guys to play on your record, Stacey and I are your guys, you know, give us a call. We don't even charge we're free. Like right Stacy, you're free like we don't even charge right?

Ian Haugland  1:05:32

We're can have a guitar player and I'm a bass player and a keyboard player. See,

Randy Hulsey  1:05:37

look, look, look no further and look no further. Right. Where can the listeners find Europe on social medias?

Ian Haugland  1:05:45

Europe the band official? I think it's called. I'm not I'm not really sure but on Facebook. Yeah. Okay, so if you look look up that Europe official, Europe the ban official, I think it is even. So try that and same goes for Instagram, I guess. Okay, so, yeah, definitely out there. Okay. Yeah.

Randy Hulsey  1:06:08

And Stacy, how about a plug for for your stuff, you want to tell the listeners where to go to, to find all of your your projects as well.

Stacey Steele  1:06:17

Oh, and just space city bands.com. That's for anything that I'm involved with musically, as Ben schedules are on there. And I can't let this finish without at least telling you and one thing that my very first band I was ever in. We knew five songs. And open your heart was one of them. Oh, really? That was one of our five songs in the very first band I ever played in our first gig, because we only had five songs. I think I told Randy there's a we just played those songs over and over again. Yeah, open your heart was one of those songs.

Ian Haugland  1:06:58

Right. Thanks for plugging us.

Randy Hulsey  1:07:00

Yeah, that's, that's That's great. You're a trivia there. Stacy. So good to have you on the show here. Well, Ian, listen. Thanks so much for being here today. This has been a blast. I appreciate Michelle you know kind of lining this out for us to chat. Stacey thank you for for being on as well and always add in your main hang out Yeah, your your musical knowledge. I'd like to ask the listeners to like, share and subscribe to the podcast and also don't forget to follow and check out everything Europe, on their social media platforms and then space city bands.com For Stacy and his endeavors. Just a quick reminder that you can follow the show on Facebook at backstage pass radio podcast on Instagram at backstage pass radio, Twitter, at backstage pass PC and on the website at backstage pass. radio.com You guys stay safe and healthy. And again. Thanks for tuning in to Backstage Pass radio.

Adam Gordon  1:08:03

Thanks so much for joining us. We hope you enjoyed today's episode of backstage pass radio. Make sure to follow Randy on Facebook and Instagram at Randy Halsey music and on Twitter at our Halsey music. Also, make sure to like, subscribe and turn on alerts for upcoming podcasts. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to share the link with a friend and tell them backstage pass radio is the best show on the web for everything music. We'll see you next time right here on backstage pass radio