Swedish rockers Europe have issued the following update:

"Friends! A cool thing just happened over in America: Europe has made it to #1 on the official Hard Rock digital download Billboard chart! This after the Geico commercial has proven to be a big success. We think it's amazing and we can't wait to build a new relationship and to introduce everyone to our new albums. Looking forward to the U.S. tour January - February 2016!"

Europe are featured in a new Geico commercial, in circulations since September, performing their breakthrough hit "The Final Coutdown". It can be viewed below along with behind-the-scenes video from the shoot.

Following is an excerpt from an interview conducted by Geico.com with the band:

Currently touring in support of their 10th studio album, the punchy, hard-hitting War of Kings—their fifth album since formally reuniting in 2004—Europe is far from being portrayed as a nostalgia act, merely trading on past glories.

“We usually turn most of these things down, but this one was interesting,” says Tempest. “It’s going to be good for us—people can get reacquainted with us before we come on tour.”

The old joke among concertgoers is that it’s usually time to head to the bathroom or the concession stand when bands announce, “We’d like to play you something from our new album.” Europe is playing four or five new songs on the current tour, but Tempest says they’re being greeted enthusiastically, even inspiring sing-alongs in some venues, as War of Kings has garnered largely positive reviews in the rock press.

Tempest says there are no immediate plans to stop recording or touring. “We have talked about doing five or 10 more years and then we’ll talk about it again, [but] we don’t have a stop in mind,” he says. “We just want to be on the journey as long as we can. We’re enjoying it at the moment.”

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Europe’s place as a legendary hard rock band was platinum-stamped early in their career. Having enjoyed an explosive period of worldwide success in the ‘80s (under-pinned by their hit album and single “The Final Countdown”), 2015’s War Of Kings has seen them take full advantage of the global groundwork Europe have keenly re-established over the last few years.

Recently, it was decided that Europe’s momentous live appearance at Wacken 2015 should not only be filmed and recorded, but released as a DVD & BluRay. Europe’s War Of Kings Special Edition will include the original War Of Kings CD plus said Wacken 2015 DVD & BluRay, and will hit stores in North America on December 4th via Hell & Back Recordings/UDR Music.

The set will come in three formats (2-disc Ecolbook CD+DVD, 2-disc Ecolbook CD+ BluRay, Limited Edition Deluxe Package with War Of Kings CD + DVD + BluRay and Photobook), and an audio-only edition of the Wacken 2015 performance will also be available via digital format. Pre-orders will available beginning next Wednesday, October 21st.

Joey Tempest states, “Very excited to have the War Of Kings Special Edition coming out with our Wacken Festival performance as bonus disc and so great to soon be back in the USA after our very successful east coast shows earlier this year – covering a lot more States this time.. The War Of Kings tour continues!”

CD tracklisting:

“War Of Kings”
“Hole In My Pocket”
“The Second Day”
“Praise You”
“Nothin’ To Ya”
“California 405”
“Days Of Rock ‘N’ Roll”
“Children Of The Mind”
“Rainbow Bridge”
“Angels (With Broken Hearts)”
“Light It Up”
“Vasastan” (Instrumental)

DVD & BluRay tracklisting:

“War Of Kings”
“Hole In My Pocket”
“Superstitious”
“Scream Of Anger”
“Last Look At Eden”
“Second Day”
“Firebox”
“Sign Of The Times”
“Praise You”
“The Beast”
“Ready Or Not”
“Girl From Lebanon”
“Nothin’ To Ya”
“Let The Good Times Rock”
“Rock The Night”
“Days Of Rock ‘N’ Roll”
“The Final Countdown”

In celebration of this release, Europe is announcing the War Of Kings US Tour 2016. The tour begins in San Jose, CA on January 19th, and hits 16 cities before coming to a close in Atlanta, GA on February 6th. General on-sale begins next Friday, October 23rd at 9 AM, PT/12 PM, ET via all major ticketing sites or Europetheband.com.

Tour dates:

January
19 - San Jose, CA - Rockbar Theater
20 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove
22 - Los Angeles, CA - Saban Theater
23 - Las Vegas, NV - Hard Rock Live
24 - San Diego, CA - Music Box Theater
25 - Chandler, AZ - Wild Horse Pass Casino
27 - Lawrence, KS - The Granada Theater
28 - Sioux Falls, SD - Badlands Pawn
29 - Shawnee, OK - The Grand Events Ctr
30 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
31 - Houston, TX - House of Blues

February
2 - Fort Lauderdale, IL - Revolution<
3 - St. Petersburg, FL - The Concert Courtyard - Ferg’s
4 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues
5 - Biloxi, MS - Hard Rock Casino
6 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade