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Roxette
"The whole story"
Per became a solo artist in the early 80's having previously played in the new wave band Gyllene Tider. He was "discovered' by former Abba manager Thomas Johannson who was looking for songs for a Frida album. Meanwhile Marie had released three popular solo albums. Per and Marie met in Halmstad, as they were sharing the same rehearsal studio and they became very good friends, they had been friends since 1979, Marie performed with Per's band Gyllene Tider on some tracks of their album The Heartland Café, an album which was later to be released in the USA but was no great success and the band later split up. As the name Gyllene Tider was deemed too complex for the American audience, a new name was needed. Johannson teamed them up in 1985 and they became Roxette. Recording at Gessle's studio in Halmstad, the band released their debut set the following year.
Roxette name came from a Dr. Feelgood song: "Roxette"
1984 - The Heartland Cafe credited to Gyllene Tider, though a six-track EP was released in the United States by The Capitol Records and credited to Roxette.
1986 - First single "Neverending love" was released and got to no. 1 in Sweden. Per and Marie quickly recorded a full album, using many songs Per had written for his planned third solo album. With the release of Pearls of Passion in 1986 Roxette became a hit in Sweden and later also abroad, and it was quickly followed with a remix album, Dance Passion.
1987 - First tour in Sweden, being a success and the christmas single "It must have been love" was released in Sweden and topped the charts!
1988 - Second album "Look sharp!" was released in Sweden, it's was a huge hit, but nothing happened outside Sweden - An American exchange student from Minneapolis brought a copy of the Look Sharp! album home with him during Christmas break, and asked a friend at a local radio station to play it. Convinced he had a hit single in his hands, the station director copied the album and sent the copies to colleague stations, and with success.
1989 - "The Look" went to #1 on the Billboard Top 100 in April, it also topped the charts in 24 other countries! the album "Look sharp!" sold platinum worldwide and their second worldwide release "Listen to your heart" topped the US charts again! This was the first #1 which was available only in cassette form: previously all singles had been released on vinyl as well. The third single, "Dressed For Success", went to #14 in July 1989, and the fourth single.
1990 - A track which was by this time 3 years old, It Must Have Been Love (Christmas For The Broken Hearted), was used in the hit movie Pretty Woman , without the Christmas references. The soundtrack sold over 8 million copies in the USA alone. Dangerous" got to #2 in February.
1991 - Roxette's third album "Joyride" named after a comment made by Paul McCartney (he said that writing songs with John Lennon was a long joyride). The album sold 10 million units and the hit 'Joyride' reached #1 in many countries, and prompted a worldwide tour that incorporated 108 concerts in more than 87 countries including Russia and China in front of almost 2 million people! Title track reached pole in the USA and in many other countries.
1992 - The tour album "Tourism" was released together with the hit single "How do you do!" recorded in many countries, like Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Switzerland and USA. 'Tourism' sold about 7 million albums. Marie released her fourth swedish solo album "Den ständiga resan".
1993 - MTV Unplugged was recorded with Roxette as first non - english - speaking band to appear on this show. "Almost unreal" the soundtrack single from "Super Mario bros." became a big hit that summer. Some of the tracks from that recording, as well as more single-only tracks, were released on the album Rarities, which was only available in Japan and parts of South America.
1994 - It was time for a change. "Crash! Boom! Bang!" showed the rocking side of Roxette! the lead single "Sleeping in my car" and the album went to the top of the charts worldwide. Roxette started their second world tour in September. The album wasn't successful in the USA, allegedly due to mismanagement by EMI.
1995 - The Crash! Boom! Bang! world tour ended in May in Moscow. Roxette played about 50 shows on 4 continents. Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus! was released which featured the single versions of tracks, as well as rare songs such as "Almost Unreal",
1996 - "Baladas in español" - an album with the Roxette ballad classics sung in spanish - was released in the most spanish speaking countries and sold more than 1 million copies. The same time Gyllene Tider joined the big reunion in Sweden! Marie released "I en tid som var".
1997 - While Roxette was on a break, Per releases his first english - speaking solo album "The world according to Gessle". it was a big success in Sweden.
1998 - When the break was over - Roxette started to record songs for the new album in Spain.
1999 - For the next three years nothing was heard from Roxette, and rumours went about that they had split up, but they returned with a new look and sound and the album"Have a nice day" was released and the lead single "Wish I could fly" took the european radio charts by storm! with "Stars" the first dancetrack of Roxette hit the charts. Originally criticized by many, including fans, because of the changed sound and the use of techno and house elements, fans nevertheless warmed to the songs.
2000 - Marie went on Summer tour in Sweden. Roxette recorded songs for their new album in Stockholm.
2001 - "Room service" - the last Roxette album - sees the light of day. Roxette hit off for their third world tour! after 24 concerts it ended in November in Göteburg.2002 - Two compilation albums appeared: The Ballad Hits The limited edition two disc set included one new single (A Thing About You), four previously unreleased songs (Breathe, The Weight of the World, It Hurts & Every Day) the B-side to the "Salvation" single - "See Me" and the 13 ballads that have defined Roxette's career and
Roxette's future is uncertain, it was announced that Marie had a brain tumor which would have to be removed immediately. She quickly went through the surgery. Apparently she even wanted to go on tour right out of the hospital but Per and Mike wouldn't let her!
2003 - "The Pop Hits" was released. The lead single was "Opportunity Nox" The first ever cartoon Roxette video. The song is still on European charts but didn't go much past 40 on the North American charts. "The Pop Hits" like "The Ballad Hits" includes 13 pop songs that have defined Roxette's career as well as 6 new ones. Opportunity Nox & Little Miss Sorrow.
2004 Marie Fredriksson is recovering from the brain tumor, and Per is back with a reunited Gyllene Tider.
2006 A collection of Roxette hits - Their 20 greatest hits is the forthcoming Greatest Hits album celebrating 20 years of successful hit singles and albums. The tracks "One Wish" and "Reveal" were recorded especially for this album in May 2006. A deluxe version is also being released that comes with a DVD featuring the videos of the 18 hits included on this album.
2006 The RoxBox / Roxette 1986 - 2006. It's a 4 cds and DVD compilation.