Roxette

Swedish band Roxette, singing in English, was formed in the middle of the eighties in Halmstad. The story of the duo began when Per was asked to write a song for one Swedish singer, but she refused that composition. Then Gessle offered Marie to collaborate, as they had wanted to record something jointly before. The song was slightly changed, and when the sound satisfied Per and Marie, they performed the song as a duo. Thereby the song Neverending Love became the first step in Roxette's career.

The band’s debut album Pearls Of Passion was released in 1986. The long play peaked at number 2 of Swedish Albums Chart, and that fact proved both the high level of that record and listeners’ interest in duo’s creativity. The second album Look Sharp! was issued in 1981 and reached the very top of Swedish Chart and a bit later it was certified Platinum. The same year Roxette presented the song Listen To Your Heart that became one of their most recognizable songs. The band was gaining popularity and the fan base, and in 1991 listeners enjoyed Roxette’s new album titled Joyride. That record proved to be as interesting as its predecessors and was critically acclaimed. The album Tourism, which included songs recorded in studio and during the shows was released in 1992.

The fifth studio album Crash! Boom! Bang! appeared in 1994 and it was really enjoyed by the fans, and the Double Platinum status proved that greatly. Five years later the traditionally strong record Have A Nice Day was released. It was followed by Room Service (2001), and after the release of that long play the musicians started their solo projects. In 2002 Marie was diagnosed with a brain tumor, but luckily the timely treatment and rehabilitation helped Fredriksson to overcome the illness, and by 2005 the singer was healthy. In 2009 Marie and Per started working together again: during one of Gessle’s concerts Fredriksson appeared as the “invited guest”, and in summer of 2009 the duo performed at the New Wave festival. For the long career Roxette gained a huge fan base, and in spite of all the difficulties the musicians remained faithful to their creativity. There is no doubt that any Roxette’s album will be enjoyed by lovers of good music, because Marie and Per have a well-deserved reputation of talented and sincere performers.