Swedish music critics rave over Gessle’s Ramones cover
Written by PerAndren on February 25, 2002 to Per Gessle.
STOCKHOLM - For perhaps the first time since 1996 when he gave Gyllene Tider 5 “+” symbols out of 5, Aftonbladet’s Per Bjurman has written something very complimentary about Per Gessle. No fan of Roxette, Bjurman’s praise is about the cover version of “I Want To Be Your Boyfriend” that Per has recorded for the forthcoming tribute album “The Songs Ramones The Same” that will be released in March.
Under the headline “It’s Nice When Gessle Translates Ramones,” Bjurman compliments Gessle’s contibution.
Anders Nunstedt, writing for Expressen, also had very positive things to say about the song.
“The cover is sensational…” he writes, “…reminiscent of the summer Westcoast pop that Gessle created so charmingly at the beginning of (his) career.”
Nunstedt also mentions that Per was recently at the opening reception for rock photographer Anton Corbijn’s exhibition “Mortals” and at the premiere here of the new, Swedish version of the Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus musical “Chess.”
- Aftonbladet’s article (In Swedish)
- Expressen’s article (In Swedish)
Lasse Berghagen wants Per at Skansen
Written by PerAndren on January 6, 2002 to Per Gessle.
STOCKHOLM - 
Ricky Martin accepted his invitation last summer, making a special trip to Sweden just to do so. Marie Fredriksson was there too. This year, Lasse Berghagen, host of the popular show “Allsång på Skansen,” has let it be known that he wants to see two stars in particular on his open-air stage: Per Gessle and Rod Stewart.
“I’d like to see Per Gessle singing “Gå & Fiska!” with the audience”, Lasse said.
A lot of well-known Swedish artists have appeared on this show that is televised from Skansen, a combination ecopark and entertainment area that isn’t far from the Gessle family’s apartment on Strandvägen.
We’ll have to wait and see if Per decides to accept. He has declined to appear on some other shows like this. For example, he has never appeared on “Så ska det låta” (even though we’ve been told his mother really wants him to).
- Swedish Television’s “AllsÂng” site (In Swedish with pictures)
Per makes Aftonbladet/Elle worst-dressed list
Written by PerAndren on December 18, 2001 to Per Gessle.
STOCKHOLM - 
Does he really dress that bad?
Aftonbladet, in conjuction with Elle magazine’s Swedish edition, is conducting poll to determine who the Swedes think is the best- and worst-dressed celebrity. Per’s made the list of nominees for “worst-dressed.”
As we go to press with this report, 22,968 people have already participated in the poll, and Per has 8.5 percent of the vote.
Aftonbladet’s photo caption describes Per as “black, somber and wrinkled.” Click to enlarge.
- Aftonbladet/Elle article (In Swedish - but you can vote easily)
Per preparing new Roxette album, and solo album!
Written by roxeteer on December 5, 2001 to Per Gessle.
Per is currently writing songs for a forthcoming Roxette album, revealed Aftonbladet in today’s edition. So far, five or six songs are ready and more are coming. During Christmas, he’s going to record demos in Halmstad and in the spring Marie will join him to record the final versions. “After that, we’ll see. But I hope we would be able to release the album during the next year,” he says.
Per has planned that Roxette’s tour would continue in the autumn of 2002. “There are places we didn’t visit this year: Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Asia… it’s a big world,” Per says.
After the tour, Per would like to release a new solo album. “I have so much Swedish material lying around. I haven’t recorded much of it, but there are a lot of songs,” he says. “There will be a day when we choose to take a break from Roxette again. And I miss communicating in Swedish. So, there will certainly be an album.”
Birgit Eichler contributed to this article.
Per writes song for Norwegian singer
Written by roxeteer on November 11, 2001 to Per Gessle.
Per has written a song, titled “I Do Believe,” for 21-year-old Norwegian singer Paris. The song is on her first single, released by Columbia/Sony. On her (Norwegian) promotional website, she says that the song is a catchy pop tune and that she became instantly enthusiastic about the song when she first heard it.
Per tributes Joey Ramone on album
Written by tevensso on October 3, 2001 to Per Gessle.
STOCKHOLM - Per will record a Ramones song for an upcoming Swedish tribute album to Joey Ramone who died last spring of cancer.
Per will sing the ballad “I wanna be your boyfriend”, one of the songs from the punk band’s debut album.
Family and friends celebrate Åsa’s birthday
Written by kixpl on August 2, 2001 to Per Gessle.
HALMSTAD - The birthday party got off to a early start already yesteday evening. They surprised Åsa with a real summer party at Hotel Tylösand in Halmstad, given that her 40th birthday isn’t actually until Saturday.
Around 100 people were invited. The event was very private with the emphasis on family and relatives. But some close friends were personally invited.
Roxette colleague Marie Fredriksson was in a party mood as was friend Niklas Strömstedt who came with his former wife Efva Attling and her new partner Eva Dahlgren.
The nearest days hold additional surprises for the birthday girl. And later, on August 21st, Per och Åsa Gessle celebrate their 8-year anniversary (not their 13th, as Aftonbladet reported).
Gessle buys a 550 Barchetta Pininfarina
Written by tevensso on May 29, 2001 to Per Gessle.
Per recently bought a new Ferrari, this time a Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina for about 2-3,000,000 SEK.
This car is extremely limited and you have to fulfill certain criteria to be able to buy one. Ferrari demands that you own at least two Ferraris already, or a classic F1 car. Per doesn’t. But when Torbjörn von Braun at
Ferrari Sweden talked to Ferrari Italy, he explained to them who Per is and how he would qualify as an owner of this car, so he was added to the list.
“A Ferrari is probably one of the best investments you can do”, Torbjörn states.
- Expressen’s article (In Swedish)
Per invests in music publishing software
Written by roxeteer on May 14, 2001 to Per Gessle.
Per, together with ex-ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, has become a shareholder in Swedish company NoteHeads AB. Björn Ulvaeus and Per Gessle are also joining NoteHeads’ Advisory Board.
NoteHeads is developing an “Internet-oriented music publishing software”. Their purpose is to transfer sheet music from paper to digital format, thus enabling easier access to sheet music.
Gessle among Sweden’s most exported song writers
Written by tevensso on May 8, 2001 to Per Gessle.
STOCKHOLM - According to STIM, the people in Sweden who made the most money on their music in 2000 were Max Martin, Per Gessle and Benny Andersson, the “Swedish pop music giants.”
In total, STIM paid 910 million SEK ($91 million USD) to Swedish and foreign composers and publishers, which was an increase of 11% compared to 1999. 2000 was also the first year ever that fees for Swedish music played abroad exceeded fees for foreign music played in Sweden.
