The band Roxette returns to activity with a new soloist, five years after the death of Maria Fredriksson

The Swedish musician Per Gessle announced the return to activity of his pop-rock band Roxette with a new soloist, his compatriot Lena Philipsson, five years after the death of the band’s iconic vocalist, Marie Fredriksson, informs EFE, according to Agerpres.

According to the official Instagram page of the musical duo, a tour will take place in 2025 that will also include two concerts in South Africa: one on February 25 in Cape Town and another on February 28 in Pretoria.

“It’s about my songs for Roxette that I’ve been writing for over three decades. I’m not going to start a new duo. Marie will always be irreplaceable. However, I am very lucky to have found an incredible voice and a brilliant performer in Lena,” said Gessle.

Philipsson is a very well-known artist in Sweden, including for loyal Eurovision viewers, since she represented her country in the 2004 edition with the song “It Hurts”, with which she reached fifth place.

“I am excited to start this tournament. I really want to work with Per: he is a phenomenal composer and an inexhaustible musical force”, said the singer, whose first hit in 1986 was written in collaboration with Gessle.

Roxette became one of the most successful Swedish groups internationally, especially after the release of their second studio album, ‘Look Sharp!’ (1988), which included the hits “Dressed For Success”, “Listen To Your Heart” and “The Look”.

It will be followed by “Joyride” (1991), which is among the 100 best-selling albums in the world thanks to such hits as “Spending My Time”, and “Crash! Boom! Bang!” (1994), which included the single “Sleeping In My Car”.

A brain tumor forced Frederiksson to take a long break from recovery, and although she subsequently released a solo album in 2004, Roxette did not release new material until 2011, when they produced Charm School, followed by two more studio albums, “Travelling” (2012) and “Good Karma”.

But the disease recurred, Marie Frederiksson being forced to cancel the tour dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the band Roxette. The artist passed away in 2019.