Scratch Radio’s Wil Vincent has made his way to this year’s Sonisphere Festival where he’s caught up with legendary Swedish heavy-metal band Europe…

Q: You played Bloodstock Festival last year, and you said people were surprised to see that you’re a lot heavier than they thought, does this happen often?
A: Yeah, everyone seems to attach us to “The Final Countdown”, and we went on the Bloodstock site and everyone was like “Europe are shit”, but when they actually saw us, they realised that we are heavier, and we can kick ass.

Q: Have you got a producer for you new album? Where you going to record it?
A: Yeah we have, we’re gonna record it back home. We don’t see any point in me flying all the way over to America to record an album, when I can do my bit in two days, and beside, I get to go home to a wife and a hot dinner, rather than some s***ty hotel food.

Q: Whats the worst bit about touring?
A: What really winds me up are all these refurbished venues. They all scream about how wonderful they are, yet nothing ever seems to work. On the last tour, I slept in the bus, thinking I could go into the venue and have a shower, and none of them ever worked! And everything either seemed to be dirty, or not working etc.

Q: Do your kids get any stick for being the son of the “Final Countdown bloke”?
A: Not as much as you’d think. My eldest son, who is almost 18, is with me at the moment, and came to the Peace and Love festival a few days back, and just camped by himself with his mates. He does get a bit proud though when he sees his dad rocking out with Europe.

Q: Do you think there is a difference between festivals now, and back in the day?
A: Yeah, cause there were hardly any festivals back then! In Sweeden there are so many now, and half of them are going bust as they cant get the line ups. Our tour manager says however that we always seem to play the good Festivals. I dunno if thats a compliment to them or us…