STOCKHOLM - After a great time in the Aerosol Grey Machine studio down in Skåne, and after a not-so-great time driving up to Stockholm due to the fact that all airports in Sweden are closed, The Daily Roxette has gotten hold of Per Gessle. Per says that the studio work goes awesomely and that they have a "killer album" on their hands. "Most things feel tremendous! We'll record 16 tracks, I think." On the question if the album will be out before Christmas Per responds: "We're taking a break over the summer, and we'll be done in October the way it seems now. But no, the album will likely be released in February 2011. And hopefully we'll pop out a single for X-mas. Oh and by the way, Marie's vocals are exceptional."

STOCKHOLM - According to an article in today's Aftonbladet Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria has requested Roxette to play "The Look" the day before the wedding, June 18.

NEW YORK - Björn Ulvaeus of the international supergroup ABBA will join Per Gessle - host of SIRIUS XM’s exclusive Scandinavian music show, Nordic Rox, for a special guest DJ session. Ulvaeus, who was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will talk about his recent induction and play songs by artists who have influenced him throughout his career.  Listeners will hear music by Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Blondie, Eagles, Queen as well as ABBA and Roxette music. All on The Spectrum, SIRIUS channel 18 and XM channel 45, Sunday, April 11 at 8:00 pm ET

Australian Music Cable Channel "VH1" will air a Roxette Special on April 18th at 7:00pm EST.

Basically, they're playing Live-Ism.

The promo begins with crowd shots and text that reads "Over 50 million albums sold" … "20 million singles sold" … "are you ready to join the joyride?"

Then "Joyride" begins to play and the voice over is as follows… "Recorded live in Sydney in '91, don't miss Roxette belting out their biggest hits!"

Dressed for Success then plays.

"Catch the pop perfect duo at the top of their game in Roxette, Live in Sydney".

Pretty exciting for Australian Roxette fans to receive primetime attention and the promos are on high rotation. Also, VH1 are running a "Top 500 #1's" countdown and in their promo they feature a clip of "It Must Have Been Love" in amongst Katy Parry, Pink and U2.

(Updated) - You heard us right! You can now hire Roxette to play in your living room.

"It's been so much fun to play live together that we wanted to offer our fans this special opportunity", said Per in our short phone interview. "It's not even that expensive to get us to perform to your friends."

There are of course a few requirements that have to be met: since it's a full Roxette concert and not an acoustic set, you need to provide at least 15.000 Watts for the PA system, and you need to cater for the band and the staff of 30 people. You also need to have a stage handy, 10 m (30 ft) wide and 5 m (15 ft) high, alternately a local pub/bar/club or similar. But other than that, the band will provide.

The form for setting up your personal concert date will be available at roxette.se later today. 

However, we've heard a rumor that it's not only for the fun of performing that Per is organizing this. Christoffer Lundquist, who owns the Aerosol Grey Machine studio that Roxette has used in recording their forthcoming album, is demanding rent for the studio for the previous 7 years and is asking such a high price that Per is in desperate need of cash. Per's assets are locked in his companies and properties and the band will be kicked out of the studio if he can't get the money soon enough. So you better help him out!

Update: Hmm, yes you may or may not have figured out the date of this article… April 1!

STAVANGER - Roxette's Norwegian gig in August has been sold out! That's more than 10,000 tickets sold.

(Updated) - The Norwegian newspaper Aftenbladet reported yesterday that Roxette will perform in Viste Strand pop festival in Stavanger August 21. The pop festival "Den store sommerfesten" ("The Big Summer Fest") is arranged for the fourth time.

According to one of the organizers, Per Vervik, this will appeal to people throughout the Rogaland southern county as well as pop fans far beyond the country borders. He also points out that it will be an outdoor concert as well as the only Roxette performance in Norway.

"Per Gessle knows what it takes to capture listeners' attention with his songs. In addition, Marie Fredriksson is a brilliant vocalist and together they have played themselves into people's minds", says Per Vervik to the journal.

He continues to add that Roxette will go to Randaberg with a full band and full stage production, just as the other gigs in Sweden and Russia. 8000 tickets will go on sale Friday March 5 09.00 on www.billettservice.no  and the cost is between 550NOK and 850 NOK (€68-105).

The supporting act is Paperboys.

Update: Roxette will also play in Denmark, at Smukfest, which takes place between 4th and 8th of August. That makes a total of five dates and according to d&d management that is all:

August 8 - Skanderborg, Denmark
August 14 - Anderstorp, Sweden
August 21 - Stavanger, Norway
September 10 - Moscow, Russia
September 12 - St. Petersburg, Russia

Tomos85 and Randall contributed to this article

This just in! Roxette is to play Russia this fall. So far dates confirmed are:

September 10 - Moscow Mega Sport Arena
September 12 - St. Petersburg New Arena

Per comments on Roxette.se:

It feels fab to start the new year announcing live concerts by Roxette. Both Moscow and St Petersburg should be great fun! And if we're all lucky there's even more to come. By the way, the new recordings are going great, we'll continue sweatin' it out for the next six months or so. You'll find videos/pics from the recordings on Snowfish.

Cheers, P. 

Based on viewings in 200,000 hotel rooms across Europe, technology solutions provider Quadriga has compiled a list of the top movies and audio albums requested by hotel guests via its Genesis internet and entertainment platform in 2009.

The top 10 listened to albums through their system in 2009 were:

1. Beyoncé, I Am Sasha Fierce
2. Kings of Leon, Only By The Night
3. Mariah Carey, The Ballads
4. Radio 1’s Live Lounge
5. Pink, Funhouse
6. Michael Jackson, Dangerous
7. Roxette, 20 Greatest Songs
8. Coldplay, Parachutes
9. R&B Love Songs 2008
10. 100 Piano Classics

The Race Legends present

Roxette August 14 Anderstorp Raceway

Ticket release Tuesday February 16 10.00.

Ticket price is 605 SEK plus service fee. Tickets will be sold on Eventim.se, LiveNation.se, Eventim's call center - 0771-651 000 and by all Eventim's representatives. Tickets are naturally also still sold by Biljettnu.se.
Tickets may not be reserved over the phone but all sales, both via the Internet or call center, are final. Eventim's representatives are listed on Eventim.se and LiveNation.se.