Tour

Gyllene Tider longed to return to each other

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After the 40th anniversary celebration in 2019, Gyllene Tider thought it was over for the band. But the pandemic gave life a new meaning and Per Gessle felt a longing to play with his ’70s friends again.

He had managed to buy a new guitar and wrote two Gyllene Tider songs during the pandemic when he gathered his old band from the ’70s – Anders Herrlin, Göran Fritzon, Per Gessle, Mats “MP” Persson and Micke “Syd” Andersson. Would they make a new album?

Per Gessle to TT:

It was important that everyone was involved. Gyllene Tider is not a matter of life and death. If any of us doesn’t want to be involved then nothing will happen. But everyone was into it.

Per and Anders Herrlin are sitting in the sun outside Hotel Tylösand where the band is rehearsing for the summer tour. They talk about Hux Flux, which is the name of the new record, which is finished and ready to be released before the tour that starts in July.

Written for Gyllene Tider

The new album Hux Flux is written directly based on Gyllene Tider’s sound.

Per Gessle says:

This time we are releasing a record written for the five of us. We have dealt with two guitars, a keyboard and so on.

Anders Herrlin says:

We pinpoint ourselves in 1980.

Devoted audience

The band also has an old and devoted audience for more than 40 years that does not leave them in the lurch. Younger people have also joined the older audience along the way.

Per Gessle says:

But the large core of the audience are those who have followed us from the beginning. Who got married, divorced and lived parallel to us over the years. It’s a fantastically large audience.

Per promises not to disappoint the audience this summer:

Playing only the new songs is pointless. We have 18-20 old goodies that we rehearse. It’s clear that we invite people to a nostalgia party.

TT News Agency

Gyllene Tider club gig at Leif’s Lounge

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It’s been a while since the last time there was a pre-premiere gig at Leif’s Lounge in Hotel Tylösand. Actually, the last Gyllene Tider „secret gig” happened in 2013. So it was high time to do it again.

The number of tickets for this special show was very limited and sold out in no time. The queueing for some hardcore fans started early in the morning and when the hotel staff realized there were already some of them, they started playing a Roxette – Per Gessle – Marie Fredriksson – Gyllene Tider playlist via Leif’s Lounge’s speakers and also brought some coffee and sandwiches. Very kind of them!

The hours of waiting went by and at 19:00 the doors opened. After entering the venue we could see the mics, the instruments, all set for the guys and girls. The girls, yes, because Dea Norberg and Malin-My Wall, just like in 2019, joined LEIFSALLSTARSBAND. The technicians had prepared everything for a night to remember and Anders Roos had already set up his cameras on stage. Micke Syd got plexiglass in front of his drum set. Good for the sound, bad for the view, but in this small area it was probably really necessary.

It was quite warm inside Leif’s, at least in the front and it got even hotter until the gig started at 21:15. During the gig? Haha. We were melting on and off stage! It got extremely hot and sweaty. The guys used towels between the songs to get rid of the sweat.

Before the gang came up on stage, the audience started screaming and clapping several times. Once the boys and girls hit the stage, the crowd got even louder. Per brought a sheet of paper with him and put it next to his drinks. It probably contained the connecting texts between the songs.

The Fab Five started the set with Puls. Micke Syd had to set his drums ready for this and it took a couple of seconds, so Per asked the audience if we know Micke Syd. Haha. Then Micke asked everyone to count in with him, 1-2, 1-2-3-4 and they started playing Puls.

After the song Per greeted the crowd and said that the last time they had a gig here was 10 years ago and he had the feeling that it was exactly the same people in the audience. He asked „were you here then?”, the crowd shouted „yeees!”. Per replied „I thought so”. Haha. He said they launch a new album, Hux Flux tomorrow (Friday) and go on a tour next week. He added that they planned to play some old songs they rehearsed during the past weeks and also some new songs. The first new song they performed was Gyllene Tider igen and it rocked big time! It should be the opening song on tour. It’s a fab opening track on the album and would have been an obvious first single if it weren’t Chans.

PG said when they started the band they played a lot of covers, like Mott the Hoople, Pugh Rogefeldt and ABBA, for example, but there was an artist they always liked, Tom Petty. So they played Vill ha ett svar!

Then came a hit that can’t be missed on a GT setlist, Juni, juli, augusti. The crowd was singing along the whole song. It was a great feeling! Det hjärta som brinner also made the crowd sing along. After that Per mentioned that they wanted to play a tribute to their favourite Dutch band. He asked which band it could be. Maybe Focus? Anders said Golden Earring. PG said he has another suggestion, Ekseption. He saw them at Folketspark in Halmstad in 1973. Micke’s suggestion was George Baker Selection and he started singing „una paloma blanca”. Then Per said there is another band they all liked and it’s Shocking Blue. They had a big hit called Venus. PG asked MP to play a little Venus. MP started and Micke Syd joined in with the drums while Per started dancing to it. Then he suddenly said „thanks, thanks” to stop the guys. Mr. G said they got hooked on a song, Send Me a Postcard. So they played Skicka ett vykort, älskling.

Right after that came another new song, Gammal kärlek rostar aldrig. It sounded absolutely fab and we hope it stays on the tour setlist as well. After the song Per joked that even those couldn’t hear this one before, who use The Pirate Bay. Then someone shouted they should play Dina bruna ögons skull and Micke Syd shouted back „you wish”. Haha. Mr. G said that backstage they talked about what is everyone’s favourite GT song in the gang and they all agreed it’s Flickorna på TV2. It still sounds too cool! The audience started clapping very loudly and screamed „hey, hey, hey, hey”. Per said they are very kind.

PG went on talking and asked the crowd if we heard that there is a GT movie coming, a sci-fi. Haha. He said the actors are somewhere in the crowd. The audience was cheering. Then Per said they also had a movie in 1981, a little box office hit, Parkliv! Ljudet av ett annat hjärta was released as a single to that film. It’s a forever favourite. After PG played it on his acoustic tour in a totally stripped down arrangement, it was just fantastic to hear it live again from GT.

With almost no break between the two songs, came Leva livet next. Another huge hit!

For Tylö Sun, Micke Syd got rid of his glasses. He was so sweaty, his whole face too that the glasses probably just slipped off and it disturbed him. The song was another fan favourite.

The guys and girls left the stage after that, but didn’t keep us waiting so long until they got back while the audience screamed and was clapping. Per thanked the crowd for being so kind and Micke Syd came to the front (with his glasses back on) to say hi to the crowd. The audience cheered him. Then Per introduced the fanatastic people around him on stage. He started the brand presentation with Dea and Malin-My. Then came MP and Göran. When Per introduced Anders he said he has the honour to be standing next to Sweden’s most handsome guy 1982, who is still a titbit. Anders was laughing. Per introduced Micke behind the drums and Micke introduced Per as the one who parked at least 12 cars wrongly at the entrance of the hotel. Haha.

Arabiska nätter we can’t hear live very often. It was played at the 2013 club gig and the guys thought to surprise us wit it again.

Gå & fiska! was the next hit and the audience adored it too.

Before the last song, Per thought it would be great to show us who the actors are in the upcoming GT movie, so he called the five guys up on stage. What an amazing surprise! There came 5 young boys who looked very fitting for the roles. They stayed on stage for the closing song, Sommartider. They already looked like a tight gang. Haha, they had a blast on stage and even took selfies up there. Fredrik Etoall also attended the gig and came to the front to take photos of these moments when the 5 GT actors were introduced.

With this the gig ended. Per thanked the audience for coming and said goodbye with a „see you next week and have a nice weekend”.

I have to mention that after many years without new guitar picks, there is a new collection. 9 Per plectrums and 4 MP picks. PG gave several guitar picks to fans in the crowd from hand to hand during the show, but once in a while he also threw them a bit further.

Looking very much forward to the tour to see this energetic, powerful pop band on stage again!

Setlist

  1. (Hon vill ha) Puls
  2. Gyllene Tider igen
  3. Vill ha ett svar!
  4. Juni, juli, augusti
  5. Det hjärta som brinner
  6. Skicka ett vykort, älskling
  7. Gammal kärlek rostar aldrig
  8. Flickorna på TV2
  9. Ljudet av ett annat hjärta
  10. (Kom så ska vi) Leva livet
  11. Tylö Sun

Encore

Band presentation

  1. Arabiska nätter
  2. Gå & fiska!
  3. Sommartider

All photos in the article by Patrícia Peres.

Hallandsposten interview with Per Gessle about Gyllene Tider’s new album and tour in 2023

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Jan-Owe Wikström did an interview with Per for Hallandsposten after the news about Gyllene Tider’s 2023 comeback came out. It all started with a newly purchased guitar, Mr. G says.

I bought a new guitar just over a year ago and when I do that, plug it into the amplifier and start playing, it usually automatically turns into a new song. And this one definitely screamed for Gyllene Tider.

In connection with the upcoming shooting of the Gyllene Tider movie, which is planned to be released in 2024, Per, MP, Göran, Anders and Micke Syd have also met more often than usual. Per told the guys he had written two damn good GT songs and wondered if they should record them. No one said no, so it spurred him on and he wrote ten more.

Almost a year ago, Per and MP went to the Tits & Ass Studio and recorded them. Then in spring the rest of the band joined the recording in Sweetspot Studio in Harplinge. The result is: twelve songs that Per is very proud of and satisfied with.

It’s catchy, uptempo, 2.30 and breathes vinyl and it’s the best GT record we’ve made. A completely different energy compared to “Samma skrot och korn”, which was made to play live.

The previous album was recorded in twelve days at Studios La Fabrique outside Saint-Rémy de Provence, down on the French Riviera. Now it was on home soil with the band themselves as producers.

The difference was that back then everything should be ready when we left. Here, we have been able to listen to and change and screw things up because we own the studio ourselves.

After all, everything is so easy with this band. No prestige, no egos but – magic. I can’t put my finger on it, but Anders and Micke play together in a different way than with other musicians, I sing in a different way in Gyllene Tider, MP’s guitar sounds a certain way, Göran’s organ… yes, everything becomes Gyllene Tider.

The record was ready in spring 2022 and it will be released in spring 2023. And yes, the title of it is Hux flux. Just like one of the songs’ title and the name of the upcoming summer tour.

While Per already during the recording of Samma skrot och korn in France felt that the band was too good to stop even then and the same feeling emerged during the tour in three of the other members, Micke Syd was adamant that this would be the dignified farewell. Per explains they respected and bought it and also thought it would be like that.

But while I never want to recklessly put myself in a hopeless or possibly fatal situation and I never say never, I understand how Micke thought. He is a good, spiritual guy who lives in the moment and then felt that we would finish on top when everyone was alive and in good health. At the same time, Micke is the one who is out the most and plays GT songs in various contexts, so when the record and tour came up, he was almost the first to say yes.

Per also believes that the corona pandemic probably affected everyone more than you think.

Yes, I can only speak for myself, but it gave you a different perspective on everything. You are more thoughtful, appreciate what you have and it became a different way of thinking, a different pace. Like, for example, my acoustic tour. I don’t think it would have come off otherwise. Not now anyway.

On 7th July next summer, Gyllene Tider will be at Brottet in Halmstad again for the premiere of the Hux flux tour. They booked the venues last summer because nowadays you have to be out in good time. Partly for the ticket sales vis-a-vis other artists, partly so that the venues are free.

If Malin-My Wall and Dea Norberg will join the band like the last tour, Per doesn’t want to reveal.

And of course there might be more than one concert at home in Halmstad and maybe the grand finale won’t be in Ullevi in Gothenburg.

Of course, it depends on how big the interest is, and then the neighbouring countries will come into the picture as well. But we are heading towards a recession, so the goal is for the tickets to be as cheap as possible, even though the costs are triple. Rather that people can afford it and that it becomes a public celebration.

And this time the word farewell is not mentioned…

Gyllene Tider is back again!

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How many times is a band like Gyllene Tider allowed to come back? As many times as they want!!! Even after their so-called farewell tour with which they celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2019. Now 4 years later, GT will be back on stage with a big summer tour in 2023! The tour is called „Hux Flux”, which means „all of a sudden” in English. If a new album is to be recorded is not known yet.

As announced in a press release on 19th October, Gyllene Tider returns next year to add a golden edge to the Swedish summer once again. The extensive summer tour is called Hux Flux and consists of 15 concerts. Tickets go on sale at 9.00 am CET on Tuesday, 25th October via LiveNation.se.

Some relationships are too precious to give up. Like the seemingly stainless love affair between Gyllene Tider and their devoted audience. For more than 40 years, the Halmstad band has continued to attract listeners – new and old – with its vast song catalogue and its acclaimed concerts. A feat that is unparalleled in Swedish pop history.

Sommartider, Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång, Leva livet, När vi två blir en, Ljudet av ett annat hjärta, Kung av sand – the list of beloved songs is of course much longer and there is no doubt that Gyllene Tider’s music is inscribed in the Swedes’ DNA. Now the time has come to create new memories together with the original members Per Gessle, Mats “MP” Persson, Anders Herrlin, Göran Fritzon and Micke Syd Andersson who together illustrate that life, just like music, only gets better with age.

In 2019 Gyllene Tider celebrated their 40th anniversary as a band. An anniversary that was honored with a rarely seen celebration when the band played in front of a total of a quarter million people around Sweden and Norway. What was intended as a kind of thank you and goodbye became a long break instead.

Per says:

The pandemic changed us all. Those were tough and empty years. I felt a strong longing to play together with my ’70s buddies again. The brotherly relationship we have and the love we receive from our audience is magical and in times like these the decision to continue the Gyllene Tider saga feels right. So it is with great pleasure that I can announce that the history of the Gyllene Tider didn’t end a few years ago as we all thought at the time. All of a sudden, the band is back again. See you next summer!

The 15-show summer tour starts on 7th July in Halmstad and ends at Ullevi in Gothenburg on 5th August.

Tour dates

7th July 2023 (Friday) – Halmstad, Brottet
10th July 2023 (Monday) – Helsingborg, Sofiero Slott
12th July 2023 (Wednesday) – Malmö, Mölleplatsen
14th July 2023 (Friday) – Linköping, Stångebrofältet
15th July 2023 (Saturday) – Eskilstuna, Sundbyholms Slott
17th July 2023 (Monday) – Lysekil, Pinneviken
19th July 2023 (Wednesday) – Skövde, Boulognerskogen
21st July 2023 (Friday) – Kalmar, Fredriksskans
22nd July 2023 (Saturday) – Ronneby, Brunnsparken
26th July 2023 (Wednesday) – Piteå, Pite Havsbad
28th July 2023 (Friday) – Stockholm, Stockholms Stadion
29th July 2023 (Saturday) – Rättvik, Dalhalla
2nd August 2023 (Wedneday) – Karlstad, Mariebergsskogen
3rd August 2023 (Thursday) – Uppsala, Botaniska Trädgården
5th August 2023 (Saturday) – Göteborg, Ullevi

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, 25th October at 9.00 am CET via Livenation.se. Pre-sale starts for registered Live Nation members on Friday, 21st October at 9.00 am CET.

Update on 21st October: 12th August (Saturday) – Fredrikstad (Norway), FMV Vest is added. Pre-sale for Fredrikstad, Norway starts on Monday, 24th October at 10.00 am CET via livenation.no.

 

GT 1982 photo by Anders Andersson

En akustisk konsert med Per Gessle – PG Unplugged concert film on SVT

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SVT broadcast a 1-hour-long cut of Per Gessle’s unplugged show recorded in Karlskrona on a beautiful Thursday evening, 5th May 2022. You can watch it HERE until 23rd Feb 2023 (rights valid for Sweden only, but works with VPN outside Sweden).

From 21 songs on the original setlist, 13 have been picked by Per to be in the TV cut. As he says, he didn’t want too many “obvious” ones. Only Swedish songs are there, 9 from Gyllene Tider, 4 PG solo, no Roxette. Marie is mentioned though in one of the stories and this way the O’boy joke – that was present during the whole tour – is also included. There is a nice balance between the songs and Per (and the band) talking in between. It reflects the real feeling of how the concerts were with all the fab hits in their acoustic arrangement, the anecdotes, the crowd reactions, the connection among gang members on stage. Wonderful people, excellent musicians all of them! At one point, when Per thanks MP for the amazing sound, the camera spots Mats – woohoo! – and Åsa is standing there behind him, so this way the stage set designer also shows up in the film. Well-deserved! The crew also pops up here and there, changing instruments or doing their stuff in their tech spots.

Right at the first moment, when the band and Per entered the stage I felt like I was sitting there in the front row again. This time in my living room, but the intimate atmosphere really comes through the TV screen as well. The complete recording is pure professionalism. The close-ups are just as awesome as the parts recorded from far behind to show the whole stage and the audience in front of it. The sound is fantastic too, both Per’s and Helena’s vocals are magical and Clarence, Christoffer and Magnus also sound fab on their instruments.

If you’ve been listening to the Helsingborg gig on streaming 24/7, now you can switch to the Karlskrona show and watch this amazing audiovisual delight all day and night. I’m extremely happy that Ljudet av ett annat hjärta is saved forever in this set.

Setlist in the TV cut

1. Kung av sand
2. Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång
3. Tycker om när du tar på mej
4. Det hjärta som brinner
5. Ljudet av ett annat hjärta
6. Varmt igen
7. Juni, juli, augusti
8. Min hälsning
9. Födelsedag
10. När vi två blir en
11. Vid hennes sida
12. Sommartider
13. När alla vännerna gått hem

Skipped songs from the original setlist: På promenad genom stan, Småstadsprat, Min plats, Tuffa tider, It Must Have Been Love, Vilket håll du än går, Här kommer alla känslorna, Listen To Your Heart.

It could be a full-length show, yes. It’s compact instead, but feels absolutely complete thanks to all the professional cuts and the flow of the songs Per has picked for this film.

Stills are from the video.