13 albums, about 40 singles, several tours in 18 years. Yes, that's Roxette. The pop-duo from Sweden, today, its members, Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle, are known all over the world. But let's see how it all started...

1986-1991 | »1992-1998 | »1999-2004

1986

Roxette was formed in 1986 by Swedish musicians Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle. Formerly both Marie and Per had been singing only in Swedish in various bands, but their record company, EMI Svenska, suggested that they should do something together. Per translated one of his songs (Svarta glass - Black Glasses), which he recorded in English with Marie. "Neverending Love" was the beginning of a story of success, what we've been calling Roxette for 17 years now...

1987

"Neverending Love" was followed by their first album, called "Pearls Of Passion". Although the song was recorded just to see if Marie and Per could do something together in English, it became a major summer hit in Sweden. After the release of the album Roxette went on tour in Sweden (Rock Runt Ricket - Rock Around The Country) in 1987.

1988

Next year, the album Look Sharp! was released, with the first hit single called "The Look". People in Sweden loved it, but nobody knew Roxette outside the country at that time. The international debut of the band has a strange story indeed... An exchange student from the US bought the album in Sweden, and after getting back to Minneapolis, he took the record of "Look Sharp!" to a local radio station, called KDWB. The DJ of the radio liked "The Look" a lot and started to play it. Soon, copies of the song started to spread from station to station - until it was a major hit throughout the country (without even being officially released).

1989

Early 1989, the record company released "Look Sharp!" worldwide, and "The Look" went immediately No.1 in many countries. The album sold 8 million copies all over the world. This year, Roxette began their first European tour. Following "The Look", "Listen To Your Heart", "Dangerous", "Chances" and "Dressed For Success" were released as singles.

1990

Back in 1987, Roxette recorded a song called "It Must Have Been Love (Christmas For The Broken Hearted)". Three years later, the song was featured in the movie (without the X-mas references) "Pretty Woman" starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. "It Must Have Been Love" went to No.1, the soundtrack sold 9 million copies.

1991

The third album, "Joyride" was a massive success. Besides getting to No.1 in many places, the video for the first single, "Joyride" was shown 12 times a day on MTV. The album was followed by a huge tour, starting in 1991, containing 108 concerts all around the world, playing for over 1,7 million people. The album, which features hits like "Big Love", "Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave)", "Church Of Your Heart", "Spending My Time" and "Do You Get Excited" sold an astonishing 10 million copies.

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