The Swedish musician Per Gessle announced the return to activity of his pop-rock band Roxette with a new soloist, his compatriot Lena Philipsson, five years after the death of the band's iconic vocalist, Marie Fredriksson, informs EFE, quoted by Agerpres.
Per Gessle and Lena Philipsson. PHOTO Facebook Per Gessle
The official Instagram page of the musical duo states that in 2025 there will be a tour that will also include two concerts in South Africa: one on February 25 in Cape Town, and another, on February 28, in Pretoria.
“It's about my songs for Roxette that I've been writing for over three decades. I'm not going to start a new duo. Marie will always be irreplaceable. However, I am very lucky to have found an incredible voice and a brilliant performer in Lena“, Gessle testified.
Lena Philipsson is a very well-known artist in Sweden, including for loyal Eurovision viewers, since she represented her country in the 2004 edition with the song “It Hurts“, with which he reached fifth place.
“I am excited to start this tournament. I really want to work with Per: he is a phenomenal composer and an inexhaustible musical force”said the singer, whose first hit from 1986 was written in collaboration with Gessle.
Roxette became one of the most successful Swedish groups internationally, especially after the release of their second studio album, “Look Sharp!” (1988), which included the hits “Dressed For Success”, “Listen To Your Heart” and “The Look”.
They followed “Joyride” (1991), which is among the 100 best-selling albums in the world thanks to such hits as “Spending My Time”and “Crash! Boom! Bang!” (1994), which included the single “Sleeping In My Car”.
The disease that killed Marie Frederiksson
A brain tumor forced Marie Frederiksson to take a long break from recovery, and although she later released a solo album in 2004, Roxette did not release new material until 2011, when they produced “Charm School”, followed by two more studio albums, “traveling” (2012) and “Good Karma“.
After the disease recurred, Marie Frederiksson canceled the Roxette 30th anniversary tour.
The artist died in 2019.
