It's been 25 years since Joey Tempest and his band produced one of modern rocks' most enduring and popular anthems, the ever-present The Final Countdown. The song that has accompanied a thousand sports montages was the title track from the band's third studio album, released in 1986.

The record sold more than 3 million copies in the US alone and contributed to the Swedish hair rockers cumulative global album sales of more than 20 million. The single, which has caused many an office shrinking violet to pogo across the dance floor at the works Christmas do, was all-conquering - it topped the chart in 25 countries.

The album also produced a clutch of respectably received follow ups such as Rock the Night and lighter-waving power ballad Carrie but, for Europe, they never quite hit the peaks of the first single from the record, and why should they? It was absolutely bleedin' massive.

Not that Europe have been a one-hit wonder, not at all. The band's five subsequent albums (after The Final Countdown) have all reached the Swedish top five and 2009's Last Look at Eden gave the band their latest No 1 record there. A new album, Bag of Bones, is set for release in April and you'd be mad to bet against it earning Europe their fourth native chart-topper. The five-piece are touring the record here in the autumn.

Europe's UK tour kicks off at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on 21st November, followed by shows in Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham and more, before the final gig of the run at London's Shepherds Bush Empire on 1st December 2012.

We will have tickets available when they go on sale at 9am on Friday 9th March.