Interview

Roxette to perform 25 songs on the forthcoming tour

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Per Gessle has revealed in today’s inteview for Swedish radio station Mix Megapol that Roxette would probably perform 25 songs on the new tour – they rehearsed 5 songs from the new album as well. In the new German interview for Frankfurter Rundschau he also reveals that they will play their biggest hit mostly

That’s simply because I’m a fan myself. If I go to see U2, the Stones or AC/DC, I want to hear their greatest hits. I remember going to a concert of The Police’s Reunion Tour once and they only played three of their hits – and then all this other shit they had been doing. I hated it and left. If David Bowie ever goes on tour again, I’ll want to hear the hits that have meant so much to me. Not the ones he happens to be desperate to play. If I pay – play for me!

Listen to the interview (5 mintues in to the clip)
Picture 1 | Picture 2

Thanks to Daniel and Mr Jefferson for those pieces of information.

Update February 10: Roxette.ro features an English translation of the whole interview. Thanks Mixella!

Per Gessle about Roxette: “Marie decided to go on with Roxette after Amsterdam”

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German newspaper Aachner Zeitung published an article including some quotes of Per Gessle during the presentation of “Charm School” which took place in Cologne some weeks ago.

Per explains Marie’s illness was a big shock for him, and he took two important decisions after the first schock-phase. He decided he would not go on with Roxette without Marie, because “our interweaved voices had contributed to the big success of our songs.” And that it would be up to Marie to decide if she wanted to go on with Roxette or not.

His view on Roxette is that when they work together, “there is this magic in the air, this idea of easy to recognise but still meaningfull pop.” The new album is released when Roxette turns 25 years, “I think we can really affirm that our carrier has been a joyide.”

Marie didn’t join Per during this visit to Germany, “the reason is that she is unsure,” Per explains. He thinks that the music business can be sometimes merciless and that one has to function (100%), “and this is for such a sensible person as Marie hard to bear.”

Of course, we all agree that it is a miracle that a new studio album is being released next week. Per explained how and when Marie took the decision to go on with Roxette: it was at his Party Crasher Tour concert in Amsterdam, where Marie joined Per on stage to play two Roxette songs, “the audience cried of the emotion,” he adds showing goosebumps on his arm, “we were so touched about this reaction, that she decided that evening to go on with Roxette.”

He also tells that if there is anything they have learnt during the 25 years of Roxette, “then this must have been patience.”