Roxette

Biography

Roxette was a Swedish pop rock duo, consisting of Marie Fredriksson (vocals and keyboards) and Per Gessle (vocals and guitar). Formed in 1986, the duo became a global act in the late 1980s. Before forming the duo, both Fredriksson and Gessle were already established artists in Sweden. Fredriksson had released several solo albums, and Gessle was the lead singer and songwriter of Gyllene Tider, which had three number-one albums. On the advice of their record label's managing director, they came together to record "Neverending Love," which became a hit single in Sweden.

International Breakthrough

Their international breakthrough came with the album Look Sharp! in 1988. An American exchange student who had been studying in Sweden brought a copy of the album to a radio station in Minneapolis. The station began playing "The Look," and based on positive feedback from listeners, the song became a hit. This led to the duo getting a record deal in the US. "The Look" and "Listen to Your Heart" from the album both reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. The album also included the hit singles "Dressed for Success" and "Dangerous."

In 1990, their song "It Must Have Been Love," originally a Christmas song released in 1987, was featured in the soundtrack of the movie Pretty Woman and became their third number-one hit in the US.

Continued Success with Joyride

Their third album, Joyride, released in 1991, became their most successful album, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. The title track became their fourth and final US number one. The album also included the hit singles "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)," "The Big L.," "Spending My Time," and "Church of Your Heart." The "Join the Joyride! Tour" saw them play to over 1.5 million people.

Later Years and Hiatus

Roxette continued to release successful albums throughout the 1990s, including Tourism (1992) and Crash! Boom! Bang! (1994), both of which sold over 5 million copies each. In 1995, they released their first greatest hits compilation, Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus!, which also sold over 5 million copies. The albums Have a Nice Day (1999) and Room Service (2001) were also commercially successful in Europe and Latin America.

In 2002, the duo took a break from recording and touring when Marie Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After undergoing treatment, Fredriksson continued to record as a solo artist.

Reformation and Final Years

Roxette reunited in 2009 and embarked on a world tour that lasted until 2016. They released the albums Charm School (2011), Travelling (2012), and Good Karma (2016). In 2016, Fredriksson was advised by her doctors to stop touring due to her health. She passed away on December 9, 2019, from complications related to her brain tumor. Roxette has sold over 80 million records worldwide, making them Sweden's second-best-selling music act after ABBA.