Kee Marcello
Encyclopedia
Kee Marcello is a Swedish musician
, best known as the former guitarist
in the rock
band Europe
. He is currently pursuing his solo career.
in 1982. They released two albums, Easy Action
and That Makes One. Easy Action was the first Scandinavian band to sign a worldwide major label deal with a US label, with the Warner
label Sire Records
in 1983. Zinny Zan later left the band and was replaced by Tommy Nilsson. They recorded That Makes One in 1985/1986 and released it in 1986, only months before Marcello left the band (in November 1986) to join Europe
, replacing their original guitarist John Norum
.
Marcello had previously collaborated with Europe vocalist Joey Tempest
on the hugely successful single "Give a Helpin' Hand" for the charity project 'Swedish Metal Aid'. Marcello produced the platinum selling record and subsequently gave Tempest his very first hit single. The success of this collaboration was probably instrumental for the decision of asking Marcello to become the new guitar player. When he joined Europe in 1986, the band had not done any extensive touring outside Sweden, but that was about to change when "The Final Countdown
" eventually reached number one on the singles charts in 25 countries. In 1987, Europe embarked on "The Final Countdown World Tour", their first world tour. In 1988, Marcello recorded his first studio album with Europe
, Out of This World, at Olympic Studios
in London. Later that same year they embarked on the "Out of This World Tour", which started off with a US leg together with Def Leppard
. Ex-Thin Lizzy
keyboardist Darren Wharton
's group Dare
supported the band on the European leg of the tour. Marcello, who in 1987 emigrated with the rest of the band to the Caribbean in an attempt to escape the then ferocious Swedish margin tax, was spending most of his time in Los Angeles when not in Providenciales
on Turks and Caicos Islands
. The writing and preproduction of the next album took place in LA and San Francisco. It was recorded in 1990/1991 at Enterprise Studios in Burbank, California
. Prisoners in Paradise
was released in 1991 and shortly after they embarked on the "Prisoners in Paradise World Tour". After the tour the band decided to go on hiatus in 1992.
In 1993, Marcello and former Easy Action drummer Freddie Von Gerber collaborated in the band Red Fun, and released a self-titled album that featured a melodic metal sound with heavy blues influences. In 1995 Marcello released his first solo album Shine On
, in the singer/songwriting tradition and therefore a take off from his previous work. During 1997-2001 Marcello produced and wrote/cowrote songs for various artists in his own studio, "GEM Studios", in Gothenburg
, Sweden. Namely, Canadian band The Moffats
number one hit single "Bang Bang Boom", the title song for R&R Hall Of Fame inductee Percy Sledge
's 2004 album Shining Through the Rain, and 3 consecutive platinum albums for Swedish singer Pandora
in Japan. He also did several guest appearances as a guitar player, (like on the1999 In Flames
album Colony, contributing the second guitar solo on the song "Coerced Coexistence".)
In 2003 Marcello released the album Melon Demon Divine
under the project/band name Kee Marcello's K2. The power trio consisted of Ken Sandin on bass and Snowy Shaw on drums. Over the following years of touring the band went through some member changes, with the exception on of bass player of Ken Sandin, who is in the band to this day.
When Europe reunited with John Norum later that year, Marcello decided not to be part of the reunion. "I told them I didn't want to participate in a [new] studio album because musically, I want to go in a different kind of direction than the music Europe stands for," he said in an interview, "Then we talked for a while about doing a six-piece tour – it didn't turn out that way because of different reasons." However Marcello also made it clear he's happy that Europe reformed and are touring without him. "I think it’s really great that the guys are travelling around playing all those songs to a lot of happy fans."
Easy Action reunited for a gig at the Sweden Rock Festival
in 2006 and rereleased their debut album Easy Action
with some previously unreleased live recordings. Kee Marcello's K2 toured extensively all over Europe and the East during 2008-2009. In 2009 Marcello signed a management deal with Gerry Helders (TMS Management), and started working on two new albums, due for release 2011/2012. He also became an endorsee of Gibson Guitars that year.
After having more that 2.000 applicants, Marcello and TMS Management put together an audition for members to his new band at Little Halings in London November 2010. The band have been doing showcases at Midem in Cannes, France, and ILMC in London, and will embark on their first tour in 2012. On October 19, 2011 Marcello's autobiography, The Rock Star God Forgot, was released in Sweden. An English translation will be released worldwide in 2012. His third solo album, Redux: Europe
, will be released on November 11, 2011 in Sweden and January 13, 2012 worldwide. It contains the brand new title track as well as re-recordings of Europe and Easy Action tracks.
As part of Europe
As Kee Marcello's K2
Solo albums
Featured with other artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the former guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
in the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
. He is currently pursuing his solo career.
Career
Throughout the years, Marcello played in various bands such as Stetson Cody Group, Norbom Hilke and Noice, before he formed Easy ActionEasy Action (band)
Easy Action is a glam metal band that was formed in 1982 by Kee Marcello and Alex Tyrone . The two played together in the Swedish glam act Noice when they decided to start the ultimate glam rock band, mixing their influences of 70's glam with a punk/metal attitude. They met the singer Zinny J...
in 1982. They released two albums, Easy Action
Easy Action (Easy Action album)
Easy Action is the first album of the Swedish glam rock band Easy Action.The band got signed to a Swedish indie label, Tandan Records, and released their first album in the Scandinavian countries in 1983...
and That Makes One. Easy Action was the first Scandinavian band to sign a worldwide major label deal with a US label, with the Warner
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
label Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
in 1983. Zinny Zan later left the band and was replaced by Tommy Nilsson. They recorded That Makes One in 1985/1986 and released it in 1986, only months before Marcello left the band (in November 1986) to join Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
, replacing their original guitarist John Norum
John Norum
John Norum is a rock music guitarist and founder of the Swedish band Europe . Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a side solo project...
.
Marcello had previously collaborated with Europe vocalist Joey Tempest
Joey Tempest
Joey Tempest is the vocalist and main songwriter in the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. He has written hits like "The Final Countdown", "Rock the Night" and "Superstitious".-Early life:...
on the hugely successful single "Give a Helpin' Hand" for the charity project 'Swedish Metal Aid'. Marcello produced the platinum selling record and subsequently gave Tempest his very first hit single. The success of this collaboration was probably instrumental for the decision of asking Marcello to become the new guitar player. When he joined Europe in 1986, the band had not done any extensive touring outside Sweden, but that was about to change when "The Final Countdown
The Final Countdown (song)
"The Final Countdown" is a rock song by the Swedish band Europe released in 1986. Written by Joey Tempest, it was the first single from the band's third studio album which was also named The Final Countdown. It is considered by some to be the band's most recognizable and popular song. The song...
" eventually reached number one on the singles charts in 25 countries. In 1987, Europe embarked on "The Final Countdown World Tour", their first world tour. In 1988, Marcello recorded his first studio album with Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
, Out of This World, at Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
in London. Later that same year they embarked on the "Out of This World Tour", which started off with a US leg together with Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
. Ex-Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
keyboardist Darren Wharton
Darren Wharton
Darren Wharton is a British keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He has fronted his own band, Dare since 1989, but first came to attention as a member of Thin Lizzy.-Biography:...
's group Dare
Dare (band)
Dare is a hard rock band from Oldham, England, fronted by Thin Lizzy keyboard player Darren Wharton. They formed in 1985, and have released seven albums to date, including the #48 UK hit, Blood from Stone.-History:...
supported the band on the European leg of the tour. Marcello, who in 1987 emigrated with the rest of the band to the Caribbean in an attempt to escape the then ferocious Swedish margin tax, was spending most of his time in Los Angeles when not in Providenciales
Providenciales
Providenciales is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The island has an area of and an approximate population of 15,542, making it the largest island in population and the third largest in area. It is served by the Providenciales International Airport...
on Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the Caribbean, the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands, known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.The Turks and...
. The writing and preproduction of the next album took place in LA and San Francisco. It was recorded in 1990/1991 at Enterprise Studios in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
. Prisoners in Paradise
Prisoners in Paradise
Prisoners in Paradise is the fifth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on September 23, 1991, by Epic Records and spawned hits such as the title track, "Prisoners in Paradise" and "I'll Cry for You".-Track listing:...
was released in 1991 and shortly after they embarked on the "Prisoners in Paradise World Tour". After the tour the band decided to go on hiatus in 1992.
In 1993, Marcello and former Easy Action drummer Freddie Von Gerber collaborated in the band Red Fun, and released a self-titled album that featured a melodic metal sound with heavy blues influences. In 1995 Marcello released his first solo album Shine On
Shine On (Kee Marcello album)
Shine On is the first solo album by Kee Marcello, the former guitarist in the Swedish hard rock band Europe.-Track listing:All songs written by Kee Marcello, except where noted.# "When the Rain Comes Falling" – 4:01# "Shine On" – 4:00...
, in the singer/songwriting tradition and therefore a take off from his previous work. During 1997-2001 Marcello produced and wrote/cowrote songs for various artists in his own studio, "GEM Studios", in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden. Namely, Canadian band The Moffats
The Moffats
The Moffats is a children's novel by the American author Eleanor Estes.First published in 1941, it tells the story of a fatherless family in Cranbury, Connecticut: Mama, Sylvie, Joey, Janey and Rufus. Of these, Janey and Rufus tend to be the focus of the stories, which are episodic in nature...
number one hit single "Bang Bang Boom", the title song for R&R Hall Of Fame inductee Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
's 2004 album Shining Through the Rain, and 3 consecutive platinum albums for Swedish singer Pandora
Pandora
In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman. As Hesiod related it, each god helped create her by giving her unique gifts...
in Japan. He also did several guest appearances as a guitar player, (like on the1999 In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
album Colony, contributing the second guitar solo on the song "Coerced Coexistence".)
In 2003 Marcello released the album Melon Demon Divine
Melon Demon Divine
Melon Demon Divine is the second solo album by Kee Marcello, the former guitarist in the Swedish hard rock band Europe.-Track listing:# "Pre-Fix" – 0:29# "E.M.D." – 4:37# "Enemies" – 4:32# "Blood" – 4:56# "Epic" – 4:36# "Raptor" – 4:38# "If" – 5:37...
under the project/band name Kee Marcello's K2. The power trio consisted of Ken Sandin on bass and Snowy Shaw on drums. Over the following years of touring the band went through some member changes, with the exception on of bass player of Ken Sandin, who is in the band to this day.
When Europe reunited with John Norum later that year, Marcello decided not to be part of the reunion. "I told them I didn't want to participate in a [new] studio album because musically, I want to go in a different kind of direction than the music Europe stands for," he said in an interview, "Then we talked for a while about doing a six-piece tour – it didn't turn out that way because of different reasons." However Marcello also made it clear he's happy that Europe reformed and are touring without him. "I think it’s really great that the guys are travelling around playing all those songs to a lot of happy fans."
Easy Action reunited for a gig at the Sweden Rock Festival
Sweden Rock Festival
Sweden Rock Festival is an annual rock/metal festival held in Sweden since 6 June 1992. While having a clear rock/metal focus, the festival is noted for its diversity across these genres, having featured southern rock bands such as Molly Hatchet to death metal legends like Obituary.The first...
in 2006 and rereleased their debut album Easy Action
Easy Action (Easy Action album)
Easy Action is the first album of the Swedish glam rock band Easy Action.The band got signed to a Swedish indie label, Tandan Records, and released their first album in the Scandinavian countries in 1983...
with some previously unreleased live recordings. Kee Marcello's K2 toured extensively all over Europe and the East during 2008-2009. In 2009 Marcello signed a management deal with Gerry Helders (TMS Management), and started working on two new albums, due for release 2011/2012. He also became an endorsee of Gibson Guitars that year.
After having more that 2.000 applicants, Marcello and TMS Management put together an audition for members to his new band at Little Halings in London November 2010. The band have been doing showcases at Midem in Cannes, France, and ILMC in London, and will embark on their first tour in 2012. On October 19, 2011 Marcello's autobiography, The Rock Star God Forgot, was released in Sweden. An English translation will be released worldwide in 2012. His third solo album, Redux: Europe
Redux: Europe
Redux: Europe is the third solo album by Kee Marcello, the former guitarist in the Swedish hard rock band Europe. It will be released on November 11, 2011 in Sweden and January 13, 2012 worldwide...
, will be released on November 11, 2011 in Sweden and January 13, 2012 worldwide. It contains the brand new title track as well as re-recordings of Europe and Easy Action tracks.
Discography
As part of Easy ActionEasy Action (band)
Easy Action is a glam metal band that was formed in 1982 by Kee Marcello and Alex Tyrone . The two played together in the Swedish glam act Noice when they decided to start the ultimate glam rock band, mixing their influences of 70's glam with a punk/metal attitude. They met the singer Zinny J...
- 1983: Easy ActionEasy Action (Easy Action album)Easy Action is the first album of the Swedish glam rock band Easy Action.The band got signed to a Swedish indie label, Tandan Records, and released their first album in the Scandinavian countries in 1983...
- 1986: That Makes One
As part of Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
- 1988: Out of This World
- 1991: Prisoners in ParadisePrisoners in ParadisePrisoners in Paradise is the fifth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on September 23, 1991, by Epic Records and spawned hits such as the title track, "Prisoners in Paradise" and "I'll Cry for You".-Track listing:...
As Kee Marcello's K2
- 2004: Melon Demon DivineMelon Demon DivineMelon Demon Divine is the second solo album by Kee Marcello, the former guitarist in the Swedish hard rock band Europe.-Track listing:# "Pre-Fix" – 0:29# "E.M.D." – 4:37# "Enemies" – 4:32# "Blood" – 4:56# "Epic" – 4:36# "Raptor" – 4:38# "If" – 5:37...
Solo albums
- 1995: Shine OnShine On (Kee Marcello album)Shine On is the first solo album by Kee Marcello, the former guitarist in the Swedish hard rock band Europe.-Track listing:All songs written by Kee Marcello, except where noted.# "When the Rain Comes Falling" – 4:01# "Shine On" – 4:00...
- 2011: Redux: EuropeRedux: EuropeRedux: Europe is the third solo album by Kee Marcello, the former guitarist in the Swedish hard rock band Europe. It will be released on November 11, 2011 in Sweden and January 13, 2012 worldwide...
Featured with other artists
- 1982: Noice - Europa
- 1986: Mikael RickforsMikael RickforsMikael Rickfors was born in Stockholm, Sweden, 4 December 1948. From 1968 he was the lead singer and bass guitarist in popular Swedish band Bamboo. The band released two singles before breaking up in 1970. Rickfors would later perform with the British rock group The Hollies for about two years....
- Rickfors - 1991: Torben Schmidt - A Bit on the Side
- 1992: Ulf WakeniusUlf WakeniusUlf Wakenius is a Swedish jazz guitarist. Wakenius was a member of the Oscar Peterson quartet from 1997. He was also a member of the Ray Brown trio...
featuring Kee Marcello - Back to the Roots - 1993: Red Fun - Red Fun
- 1997: Mikael Rickfors - Happy Man Don't Kill