Per Gessle

Per Gessle on Nordic Rox – April 2025

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Nordic Rox is back on the air again and Sven and Per are ready to continue the Swedish ’80s list. The guys are sitting in Stockholm for a change. Normally, they record in Halmstad on the Swedish west coast, but today they moved up to Stockholm. Sven says it’s good to be here sometimes, not too often. Per says Sven is such a small town boy. Haha.

They are going to check out the Swedish ’80s list from position 20 to 16, but before they dig deep into that, they are playing some real hard-hitting Swedish garage rock. Per introduces the first song, Something Wicked by The Teenage Idols and asks the listeners to check out this guitar sound.

Gemini by Johnossi feat. GERD comes next. It’s a duet and they recorded this one for their album last year. Making a duet is a good idea, Per says. It’s a great song, he likes it a lot. It’s very nice.

Blow My Cool by The Soundtrack Of Our Lives is the third song played. It’s from their 1996 debut album, Welcome To The Infant Freebase. Sven says it was a jam-packed CD. It was a very long, but a very good CD with lots of great songs, Per says. It was a very promising first album and they fulfilled that promise with a lot of great albums and many great songs, Sven adds. According to PG, they are one of the best bands ever in Sweden. Sven agrees. The singer Ebbot Lundberg played in Union Carbide Productions, another band, a sort of punkish band. They had broken up, but he had written a lot of songs. Then he got the band Soundtrack together, and band members came up with songs as well. So he had between 60 and 70 songs for the debut album. They went to the record company and said, you know, we want to record everything and release our debut CD box. 70 songs. But in the end, they made a debut CD, which is 70 minutes long. It’s like a double album and it includes only 20 songs. Haha. It’s a good band.

The guys are talking about an article that Per read from a well-known music journalist saying that the guitars are coming back into pop music. He welcomes that. If there was a band thing happening in pop music, that would be fantastic. People playing the same song together at the same time. How about that? Haha.

The ’80s list is approaching with record speed, but before that, they play Canine Prey by Tapefly.

Then comes One Track Mind by The Facer, a crazy sound from 2000. It’s 25 years ago, Jesus Christ. Time flies when you’re having fun. That’s modern music compared to the ’80s list.

The guys are at No. 20 and they picked a song from X Models. A great track that was all over Swedish radio in the early ’80s. 1981, just when the digital thing happened and people started using drum machines and stuff like that. This was a number one song for a very long time. The singer is Efva Attling who nowadays is a very famous jewelry designer. Back then she was an ex photo model. The band was label mates with Per’s power pop band. They were at EMI Records. Per adds that this song was produced by Lasse Lindbom who was also producing PG’s band, Gyllene Tider and who eventually became the boyfriend to Marie Fredriksson in Roxette. He produced Marie’s solo albums in the ’80s as well, so there is a lot of common ground there. Två av oss by X Models is a big hit from 1981. It translates into Two Of Us.

Moving to No. 19, we find Marie Fredriksson on the list with Ännu doftar kärlek. A familiar voice, Per says. Marie, of course, was the singer in Roxette. This is her breakthrough song, her first big hit in the ’80s, 1984, taken from her debut solo album. It’s still her biggest song as a solo artist. Mr. G thinks it’s a wonderful little song and it made Marie a big star immediately. There are a lot of cover versions of this one. Sven says, the funny thing is, even though it wasn’t funny in those years, that Marie’s star was rising as Per’s was going down. Per lost his recording contract in 1985. When they started Roxette in 1986, PG was the underdog. Five years earlier it was the opposite, Sven says. Mr. G says that’s how it works in life. Anyway, talking about Ännu doftar kärlek, Per still thinks it’s a really beautiful melody and a beautiful lyric and it’s always a treat to hear Marie singing.

At the next position the guys are playing a great Swedish female artist called Titiyo. Talking To The Man In The Moon was a very big song in 1989. It was produced and written by Magnus Frykberg, who was a percussionist and also, Per guesses, the boyfriend of Titiyo. He did a great job on that song. It’s a great track. Original. It occupied the airwaves in Sweden. Titiyo is the half-sister of Neneh Cherry. She has been around forever and she had a really big song called Come Along in 2001. That’s her biggest track and she is a great singer. Sven agrees.

At No. 17 the guys are changing direction a bit, because they are going back to Swedish ’80s garage rock. The prime movers back in those days, Sven thinks, were The Nomads. Per says it’s a great band and he thinks the song is from 1984. Sven says he hates to correct Per, but it’s 1983. PG says Sven is always welcome to correct him. Haha. The Nomads made an album called Temptation Pays Double and this song is called Where The Wolf Bane Blooms. It’s an outstanding track in PG’s book.

No. 16 is Himlen är oskyldigt blå by an amazing artist who is unfortunately not with us anymore. Ted Gärdestad was an amazing composer who was huge in the ’70s. His brother wrote the lyrics to this song and it was released in 1980, that’s why it fit into this list. The title translates into The Sky Is Innocent Blue. It’s actually a Swedish translation of an English song that he made in 1979. The original was called Blue Virgin Isles. It’s really beautiful. Per thinks Ted’s sense of melodies is outstanding. He was 15 or so when he had his breakthrough. He was just one of a kind. He was produced by Björn and Benny from ABBA, so he was in good hands and an amazing talent.

Nordic Rox continues with great style, Sven says. A Roxette song sneaked in here from the Room Service album 2001. It’s the last song on the album My World, My Love, My Life.

This Perfect Day by Fishtank is wrapping up today’s Nordic Rox and the show ends with Cigarettes by Anita Lindblom, as usual.

Still is from the Bag Of Trix talks recorded by Anders Roos.

Thanks for your support, Sven!

Per Gessle on SVT about “Joyride – The Musical” in Stockholm

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Per Gessle and Hanna Hedlund were guests on Morgonstudion, SVT. The program leaders ask Per how he is doing. Mr. G says he feels great, but a bit jet-lagged after Australia.

The program leaders inform that Joyride – The Musical moves from Malmö to Stockholm in autumn and they are curious how it feels for Per. Mr. G says it feels fantastic. It has been a tremendous success down in Malmö with 84 sold-out performances and it will be absolutely wonderful in Stockholm. It will be a bit different to Malmö, because in Malmö there is a special round stage and China Teatern in Stockholm is a different type of theatre. It’s going to be exciting.

Turning to Hanna, the program leaders ask her about how this musical came into her life. Hanna says she went to auditions. She was thirteen when the Look Sharp! album was released and she really wanted to get the role, because it’s a part of her in a way and her upbringing in the songs. She also says that it’s really a dream role for her. For someone her age, there aren’t that many musical roles like this. It’s a funny, crazy, wacky, annoying and wonderful character that she is going to play. The program leaders say it’s hard to imagine how crazy it must be to have a relationship like this with Roxette and then to stand on stage and do this. Hanna confirms it and she admits she is a little starstruck today, sitting next to Per.

The guys talk about the base book of the musical, Got You Back, written by Jane Fallon. Per explains she is an English author who in Sweden, is best known for being the partner of Ricky Gervais. She is a very talented writer and this book is magically good. They have been working on the idea of a Roxette musical for many, many years. But it always failed because the scripts simply didn’t work. When this book came into sight, it turned out that it was possible to make a musical out of it. They are grateful for that.

To the question how many songs fit in, Per replies it’s probably 25, 27, 28 songs. When he is asked if he has a favourite Roxette song, Per replies it’s The Look. Hanna says there are so many great songs, but Listen To Your Heart is really a favourite for her.

Here they show some footage from the rehearsals, so you can hear how Hanna sings LTYH. She has listened to this one so much. It’s her youth. You were never more in love than you were then and never more heartbroken than then. There is a lot of emotion in that song, she thinks.

For Per, it’s a magical song. Marie sang it and her vocals made this song really big. It was recorded in 1988 before they broke through. The break-through was in 1989. Back then they said, now we’re going to make a production that’s as American as it can be. And it eventually became No. 1 in the US. It’s fantastic.

Per is also a co-producer of the musical in Stockholm. The program leaders are curious how much he will be involved. PG says he will get involved when needed, but he trusts those who can do it better than him. He is mostly a producer to show that he cares and it’s important for him that it turns out well, so he would really like to be involved.

Hanna says she plays a character who helps the main character in her career. She is an annoying lady, but also lovely. Hanna went to see the musical at Malmö Opera and she says that you stand up at the end and just want to dance. It’s really, really good. It feels luxurious to have been able to see it. She is proud to be in the next production of the musical.

The program leaders ask Per about the Roxette tour in South Africa and Australia. Here they show a short footage where Lina Philipsson sings It Must Have Been Love. The reception was absolutely magical. It’s just like it was in the old days. People sing along. Per says that the Roxette audience is very active. They want to sing, sing, sing and they let them do it. Lena has done a fantastic job. It’s a tough situation for her, to put herself into Marie’s shoes, but she does it magically well. She does it in her own way. And that’s what makes it so good. She is such an enormously talented front person.

The program leaders are curious how the audience accepted her. Per says they love her. They are singing along. It’s two fantastic hours. Per has to pinch his arm every now and then that this is happening. It’s awesome.

To the question if it brings back a lot of memories when they are out there again Per replies that of course it does. They are playing the classic Roxette catalogue. There are 24-25 songs from the past. So of course you are talking about old memories backstage after the show. But when you are performing the songs, you are thinking ahead. You are there and then. You are not digging up the old stuff right away. It’s great fun to do this. It’s the classic Roxette band and we have Lena and a new drummer.

They are doing a pretty big European tour this summer. And then they will see if there is a continuation later.

With the musical, the ambition is of course to take it abroad as well, so Per hopes it goes further.

Hanna says they have just started the whole process for Stockholm. There is a new translation in the works which they haven’t read yet. Rehearsals start in July.

The program leaders ask Hanna if she is nervous to do this in a good way so that Per is happy. Hanna says she is not nervous, she has been given the trust and got the role. So it should work. They have six weeks of rehearsal time and that’s needed for it to land in a proper place.

Stills are from the morning show.

Per Gessle about the Roxette musical in Expressen – ”Marie is sitting there on your shoulder. Her whole being, her spirit is there.”

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Expressen met Per Gessle in what was once EMI Studios in Skärmarbrink. This is where Roxette’s first three albums were recorded, and on the now bare facade, the alert eye can catch a commemorative plaque engraved with the simple lines: “In memoriam Marie Fredriksson”.

On press day for Joyride – The Musical that premieres on 11th September at China Teatern in Stockholm, Maria Brander from Expressen talked to Per about the show. Before the get down to the hot topic, Expressen informs that Per is in the middle of a Roxette tour with Lena Philipsson, and has a 25-hour journey home from Melbourne behind him.

The time difference means that you get one day twice.

Expressen asks him if that is how he prolongs his life. Per answers:

Or shorten it, hahaha.

Regarding the musical in Stockholm, Mr. G says that the biggest thing is that it’s a completely different type of venue. Then it’s a different translation.

We thought there were some awesome things in the original book that didn’t really come across in the Swedish one, so we made a new version.

In addition to this, there is a largely new ensemble including Hanna Hedlund who was also on spot in the studio. She says:

My background is musicals, and I often get asked what my dream role is. But you have realized that you may be too old for some of them, and then suddenly a dream role appears that you didn’t know was coming.

She will sing one of her favourite songs, Listen To Your Heart.

Per turns to Hanna and says:

It’s a great role, the coolest in the musical, and it will be great with you.

Mr. G was not involved in the audition part, even though he can now call himself a co-producer.

It’s actually a way for me to show that I care. I really want to be part of Joyride – The Musical’s journey around the world, because I hope it will reach outside of Sweden.

To the question how many times he has seen the production in Malmö, Per replies:

Four, five times, and it’s been good all the way through. But it’s been a long process over many years that has led to “Joyride”. Before we ended up in Malmö, there was an English production company that wanted to put on a musical. They made one with eight songs just for me and Marie. She was still with us at the time. I was struck by how well they fit into this format, the choreography and gestures. Then I stopped it anyway, because I didn’t like the script. It was too depressing, and it was a depressing time, because Marie was sick. At the same time, it didn’t really suit Roxette either.

To the question if Per can feel that Marie is still with him in this musical, he replies:

Yes, it’s her and my journey, and the legacy from it is being carried forward. It’s the same with my tour with Lena. Marie is sitting there on your shoulder the whole time. You can’t get away from that. And all of us who work with this – actors, singers, choreographers – we talk a lot about Marie: “Marie would have liked this. These clothes are so typical of Marie”. So her whole being, her spirit is there.

Expressen is curious if Per feels that the memories have been strengthened now during his and Lena’s Roxette tour.

No, when you play live you look forward, not back. Lena and I didn’t even have a rehearsal before we stood on stage together for the first time in front of 10,000 people in Cape Town. Anything can happen, and you have to learn along the way. For us, there was a huge difference between the first and now eleventh gig, in how relaxed we were.

Earlier Per said said that musicals are not really his area of interest.

No. How can I put it without stepping on some toes now? There’s a kind of manner in the musical world where you sing nicely and cleanly. I myself come from a different tradition, where it’s a lot about personality instead. But in Malmö we’ve gone around it a lot with different types of singers, and it will be the same in Stockholm.

Maria thinks Per seems careful and she wants to know if Per’s word is law in the production.

No, my whole career has been built on being careful, as you say. But I have also put a lot of focus on finding collaborators. I could never have written all these songs for Roxette if Marie hadn’t had the capacity to sing them. I also needed a producer like Clarence Öfwerman. It’s the same with the musical. I need help, but in my life I have succeeded in finding good people and long-term relationships. Whether it’s my business manager, my record label or my wife.

Per says Åsa thinks that the musical is fantastic. She has also seen it five times.

Yes, damn it. I’m not allowed to see it myself. Haha.

PG about what Jane Fallon, who wrote the book, thinks:

Both she and her husband Ricky (Gervais) were at the premiere in Malmö. He was quite serious as a person, but proud to be next to Jane. I have met her several times at meetings in London, and she has been super positive since day one.

To the question what he feels when he sees the musical, Per replies:

I feel proud. That it works, and that the audience stays and sings along. You are reminded of the power of these songs. To get a response from an audience, it is magical.

Stills are from the video included in the original article.

Joyride – the Roxette musical is coming to Stockholm

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After having sold out at Malmö Opera, Joyride – The Musical is finally coming to Stockholm.

The hit musical, which premieres at China Teatern on 11th September, is this time co-produced by Per Gessle himself, while the music now has a more intimate band feel in the original Roxette style.

Per says:

I have really been completely knocked out by the response to Joyride – The Musical in Malmö. Sold out for more than six months and an absolutely fantastic atmosphere inside the theatre. Now it’s time for a brand new production in Stockholm at the lovely China Teatern. It will be magical.

Listen To Your Heart, It Must Have Been Love, The Look, Dangerous, Dressed for Success… Everyone has a relationship to the classics that made Roxette a multi-million-selling global phenomenon in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

These songs also form the basis for the equally energetic, grand and inventive performance Joyride – The Musical, which will have its Stockholm premiere at the China Theatre on 11th September.

The musical, based on the successful English author Jane Fallon’s relationship comedy Got You Back, is handled in Stockholm by partly new creators and in a different production than in Malmö where it had its world premiere and was a great success. Among other things, adjustments are being made to both the script and translation, the latter by Calle Norlén. The choreography is by Jennie Widegren (Bounce) and Miles Hoare. In addition, Per Gessle himself is now stepping in as co-producer.

Organizer and musical director Joakim Hallin says:

It is exciting to see how well Roxette’s pop songs fit into the telling of this rather dramatic story. We have fewer musicians than in Malmö and that means we will work very dynamically with a tight Roxette band sound, but without losing the majesty of songs like “Listen To Your Heart” and “It Must Have Been Love”.

Joyride – The Musical serves both as a nostalgia trip for the part of the audience that grew up with these songs and an introduction to Roxette’s music for a new generation that is curious about one of Sweden’s greatest music export successes ever. Inspired by Roxette’s iconic music videos and a consistently ’90s aesthetic, the acclaimed star director Guy Unsworth, co-director Johanna Hybinette and award-winning set designer David Woodhead are building a completely unique world for this love triangle drama that takes place in London. The plot revolves around Stephanie and Katie, who both have a relationship with Joe, whose double life the women eventually get fed up with – with various complications and intrigues as a result.

The ensemble consists of Lucas Krüger (Joe), Emilie Evbäck (Katie), Jessica Marberger (Stephanie), Anton Lundqvist (Gary), Pia Ternström (Natasha) and Hanna Hedlund (Meredith).

Per says:

It’s fantastic to follow this journey. There are so many incredible people involved from all sides. A gigantic amount of talent is gathered around the same goal. For me, it’s mostly been about daring to let go of control over the material a little and trust those who can do this. It’s a whole new chapter for me.

SOME OF THE ENSEMBLE ABOUT ROXETTE

Hanna Hedlund: I was 13 when “Listen To Your Heart” came out. Right in puberty, so for me that song is associated with great love and great heartache. That song was as big as all the emotions you felt.

Emmie Asplund: I remember when I was 6-7 years old, I snuck into my older sister’s room and borrowed the CD “Joyride” – I loved it. Since then, Marie Fredriksson has been an inspiration, with her fantastic voice and cool image.

Jessica Marberger: Roxette is a soundtrack to so many people’s, and generations’, lives. Of course, for Per Gessle’s unique ability to compose melodious pop songs.

Olle Roberg: Even though “Fading Like A Flower” was released in the early ’90s, the bombastic drums and electric guitars of the ’80s still live on in this song. The verse in minor leads so well into the chorus’ major, the choruses are snappy and there’s a key rise – what more could you ask for?

Linda Holmgren: Really good music is immortal. Good music and good lyrics are touching and last to be played over and over again for years and also to be rearranged and performed in new contexts – and Roxette’s music has shown that it is just that.

Marcus Elander: For me, their music or many of their songs are timeless, which is very unique and cool.

Kitty Chan Schlyter: Strong melodies are energetic anthems. You can’t defend yourself and have to sing along or sway along. Then Marie’s voice was the crowning glory and made the song catalogue something out of the ordinary.

Lucas Krüger: A song that has recently become a favorite is “Queen Of Rain”. It has both sensitivity and power, and a unique sound that touches. I’m really looking forward to singing it!

Oliver Gramenius: I think some music has a kind of nerve at its core, a nerve that is not about trends or genres. It’s just there and it will touch people throughout time. Roxette has that nerve.

Emilie Evbäck: They are so incredibly good at capturing a specific feeling with each song that I think everyone can relate to. And then they were always one hundred percent themselves without following trends too much, which I think is a key to being timeless.

Ulrika Ånäs: Roxette was played a lot during my childhood. I had many moments in front of the mirror when I mimed to Marie’s amazing voice.

Hampus Engstrand: The songs stick in your head right away. Very catchy.

Olivia Kungsman: My parents listened to Roxette when I was little so I recognize a lot of their music from my childhood.

Alexandra Fors: I remember when I was a kid watching the movie Pretty Woman and hearing “It Must Have Been Love” and thinking it was so cool that a Swedish band had made it!

Pia Ternström: The music is both timeless and emotional, has strong hooks and a distinct and recognizable, raw Roxette sound. I think that a good cocktail of their enormous global impact, the power of nostalgia, catchy melodies and the eternally relevant themes of love, longing and passion means that both old and new generations continue to listen to Roxette. It’s impossible not to sing along.

The show is produced by 2Entertain, Vicky Nöjesproduktion, Elevator Entertainment and Live Nation. The show will be played at China Teatern in Stockholm between 11th September and 20th December 2025. Tickets will be released on Showtic on 31st March.

Photos by Christoffer Bendixen

The Roxette musical moves to Stockholm

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Joyride – The Musical will be staged in Stockholm this fall. After that, Per Gessle hopes for an international venture. The idea of the musical is to spread like a carpet over the planet, he says and smiles.

The musical premiered last fall in Malmö. Roxette’s classic songs as a backdrop for a romantic comedy were a success.

This fall the musical will move to Stockholm. On September 11th it will premiere at the historic China Theatre. But that’s just the beginning, hopes Per Gessle, who aims for Joyride to be staged abroad.

That’s my vision. Roxette was so big, so there is a capacity to get there.

Planet Earth next

Gessle is tight-lipped about the concrete plans.

We can’t talk about that now, but let’s say that planet Earth is the next step.

It will be a slightly different Joyride that comes to Stockholm compared to the Malmö version. Several new members of the ensemble will be added and Calle Norlén has, among other things, done a new script adaptation. But Jessica Marberger continues in the lead role as Stephanie.

She says:

I’m looking forward to doing this in Stockholm and to coming to the China Teatern. I love being able to stand there and tell this story.

The plot of Joyride is based on the English author Jane Fallon’s book Got You Back and is a love triangle drama about stylist Stephanie who discovers that her husband Joe has another woman.

And then you think it can only be “Thanks and goodbye, I don’t want to live with you, we don’t give a damn about this”. But it won’t really be like that. There will be a little more exciting things, Jessica Marberger says and laughs.

“New” Roxette

It’s now been just over five years since Marie Fredriksson passed away, and Per Gessle has just restarted Roxette. He has recently returned from a tour in South Africa and Australia with Lena Philipsson as the new singer in the band.

Per says:

It is a challenge for all of us to embark on a project like this. But it has gone really well. On a scale of 10, it would be an 11. It has been truly magical.

Several gigs are expected this summer in Sweden and the rest of Europe. Will there be a continuation?

That is not the idea right now, anyway. Now we are going to do a big summer tour and then we will see. We will have to decide in the next few weeks what will happen.

Facts: “Joyride – The Musical”

The Stockholm production will premiere on 11th September at China Teatern.

Cast: Jessica Marberger, Lucas Krüger, Emilie Evbäck, Anton Lundqvist, Pia Ternström and Hanna Hedlund.

Article by Mikael Forsell / TT

Photos by Magnus Lejhall / TT