John Norum

[Duojett71]

This entire thing with Billy White has me questioning everything I know. 
I've been researching him and it does seem he's all over the guitar work that I had previously assigned to Norum.
It makes me wonder what else I'm mistaken about .
Thanks Merlo.

axe 

 

Off the top of my head I know Norum plays the solo in "1000 Miles Away" on the album. That's a good one and the end solo to "Down In Flames". He is all over that album....it is just hard to distinguish him from Billy White at times.
 

[merlo_zeppelin]

Yeah, solos are split pretty evenly throughout the album, and I think I can really tell them apart. Norum even plays a solo that's almost identical to his Final Countdown solo

[mr_crowley]

Considering how great the band itself is on that Don Dokken album I think the content itself is a little underwhelming. I mean, it should rip and be really heavy but to me it just isn't...

That itself is the problem for Norum in my opinion, he is obviously a great guitar player but in Europe as well as solo and the odd bands he's been in he's playing and soloing is heads and shoulders above everything else. For he hasn't been in a band that could live up to his actual potential on the guitar. I think the most famous songs he is featured on, The Final Countdown, is the perfect example. His solo is fantastic - ferocious, fast and melodic! The song itself is terrible - that keyboard sound, cheesy lyrics and drab vocal melodies and predictable instrumentation overall just isn't even 1% as exciting as the solo. I think that he why he quit after the release as well. He didn't want to play in a pop band.

Please! Check him out, he's like George Lynch on steroids



 

Sorry but considering how much 'roids I believe George been on through the years this just cracked me up 
 
 
 
 

[eduardoritos]

I seen Norum playing live once, in Pamplona, with Europe, circa 2005 (don't know the exact date). Increble gig for the whole band.
The venue was sold out, just because "so they play home, come on", kinda joke. Everybody left the place mounth open and smashed because the so good gig we just saw.

Norum, guitar hero level, for sure.

[Duojett71]

Considering how great the band itself is on that Don Dokken album I think the content itself is a little underwhelming. I mean, it should rip and be really heavy but to me it just isn't...

That itself is the problem for Norum in my opinion, he is obviously a great guitar player but in Europe as well as solo and the odd bands he's been in he's playing and soloing is heads and shoulders above everything else. For he hasn't been in a band that could live up to his actual potential on the guitar. I think the most famous songs he is featured on, The Final Countdown, is the perfect example. His solo is fantastic - ferocious, fast and melodic! The song itself is terrible - that keyboard sound, cheesy lyrics and drab vocal melodies and predictable instrumentation overall just isn't even 1% as exciting as the solo. I think that he why he quit after the release as well. He didn't want to play in a pop band.

Please! Check him out, he's like George Lynch on steroids




 

Sorry but considering how much 'roids I believe George been on through the years this just cracked me up 
 
 
 
 

 

Based on your post I feel like we have heard completely different albums. The Don Dokken album 'Up From The Ashes' completely rips. With the exception of maybe a couple songs that could be considered filler(not really by me)...the songs are fantastic. Excellent songwriting, great production and amazing guitar playing by Norum and White. The only album I somewhat agree with you on is 'The Final Countdown'....which I do like but has some very simple songs compared to most other Norum related albums. The album before that 'Wings of Tomorrow' is an excellent Euro Heavy Metal album. Norum's solo albums for the most part are killer...especially 'Total Control', 'Another Destination', 'World's Away', 'Slipped Into Tomorrow', 'Face The Truth' and 'Play Yard Blues'. His live album 'Face It Live' is also killer. Norum has a great body of work and I would recommend revisiting his catalog. The only albums that I am not overly impressed with are the various reunion era Europe albums and the Dokken album 'Long Way Home'.