After EUROPE’s huge worldwide success with “The Final Countdown” album and the tour in Japan, John decided that he had had enough of the cute image, play-back, TV shows, etc and he told the band he’d quit. He gave them enough time to find a replacement. Last John’s performance live with Europe was in Amsterdam on October 31st, 1986. The show was broadcast live on Sky Channel. On November 1st he was on his own.
Immediately after leaving Europe John formed a new band. His bassist friend Marcel Jacob (ex-Power and Yngwie Malmsteen, Talisman) joined it. The first single “LET ME LOVE YOU” was released on October 16th, 1987 (it reached the 2nd place in the Swedish charts), and on the same month 29th came out “TOTAL CONTROL”. John showed his great affection for Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy by recording Lizzy songs as B-sides. The band was, besides John and Marcel, drummers Henrik “Hempo” Hildén (ex-Trash) and Peter Hermansson (220 Volt), vocalist Göran Edman (ex-Madison and Glory) and Mats Lindfors on rhythm guitar and keyboards. “TOTAL CONTROL” is dedicated to Tommy Östervik, one of John’s friends and heroes, who drowned the same night as Europe played the show that later was broadcast on Swedish TV. The tour started on February 2nd, 1988 and finished on March 19th supporting Ace Frehley at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in March (part of that show has been released as Ace Frehley “12 PICKS”). Other two singles and video clips were released to promote this album: “LOVE IS MEANT (TO LAST FOREVER)” and “BACK ON THE STREETS”. (Check more in BIOGRAPHY)