STOCKHOLM (Updated) - Per's latest album "Party Crasher," or "Party Crash" as he himself calls it, has gotten quite a few release dates confirmed from EMI offices around the world:

Indonesia - February
Japan - February 9
Ukraine - February 9
Czech Republic - March 2
Russia - March 2
Hungary – March 4
Spain - March 3
Poland - March 9
Canada - March 24
South Africa - March
Portugal - End of March
Germany - First week of April
Austria - First week of April
Switzerland - First week of April
Brazil - April
Belgium - April

Per Gessle takes his new album on the road. And not just that. He takes a lot of other things on the road:  "I'll play a power pop set with tons of guitars and a snappy snare with very little technology," Per says to The Daily Roxette and continues "We'll do a glorius mess of Son of a Plum (yay finally!!!), Rox (there are so many songs I've written that I've 'never' sung. I sang them on the demos and then the songs 'turned Marie's…' Would be sweet to try out my own versions… plus others that I've sung, for instance '7Twenty7' and'Nox' would be great to try out some gray Tuesday.)

Per Gessle’s new band includes three former Roxette musicians; Clarence Öfwerman on keyboards, Pelle Alsing on drums and Christoffer Lundquist on guitar and vocals. Add to these Helena Josefsson on vocals and Magnus Börjesson on bass guitar and you get a sensational line-up. This band will sound f##king fab!! And Clarence is going to wear a Fez! How about that!" exclaims Per the-excited-Man-from-Roxette Gessle.

The Daily Roxette asks Per if there is a chance for "The World According to Gessle" on the tour… "'World According to'…? That's a bulls-eye for this band!! And of course 'Party Crash' - there are a few that I can't seem to stay away from." says Per, who also hints at the possibility for a longer tour. "The tour is too short I'd say, but Chris is a very busy man…" Per lets us all know, if the tour doesn't get extended this time, maybe later this year.

A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

Thursday 16 April HELSINKI, Finland, Tavastia Club
Sunday 19 April OSLO, Norway, Rockefeller
Monday 20 April COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Vega
Wednesday 22 April WARSAW, Poland, Stodola
Thursday 23 April PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Luccerna Hall
Saturday 25 April HAMBURG, Germany, Grunspan
Monday 27 April COLOGNE, Germany, Gloria
Tuesday 28 April ZÜRICH, Switzerland, Kaufleuten
Wednesday 29 April MÜNCHEN, Germany, Muffathalle
Saturday 2 May GENT, Belgium, Handelsbeurs
Monday 4 May LONDON, United Kingdom, Sheperds Bush Empire
Wednesday 6 May AMSTERDAM, Holland, Melkweg
Saturday 9 May STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Cirkus

Sunday 10 May STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Cirkus - extra concert

Update January 29: Tickets for the concert in Cirkus, Stockholm, were sold out this morning straight away, therefore an extra concert has been added to the tour schedule. The concert will be on May 10th. 

STOCKHOLM - Marie and Per have sent Christmas greetings to all of us:

 I wish all the TDR Readers and fans & friends all over the world a very happy and peaceful Christmas holiday.

 

Marie

- “Are you waiting for the family to arrive?
Are you sure you got the room to spare inside?
Does your granny always tell ya that the old songs are the best
then she's up and rock and rollin' with the rest
Here it is Merry xmas - everybody's having fun
Look to the future now - it's only just begun!”

Couldn’t have said it any better, merry x from per g

ps. btw. lyrix above from “Merry xmas everybody” by Slade (very underrated!!!)

 

SÖDERHAMN - Head over to gessle.com and download your X-mas gift from Per for 2008 - a demo from 1995 named "Liberty."

- “Are you waiting for the family to arrive?
Are you sure you got the room to spare inside?
Does your granny always tell ya that the old songs are the best
then she's up and rock and rollin' with the rest
Here it is Merry xmas - everybody's having fun
Look to the future now - it's only just begun!”

Couldn’t have said it any better, merry x from per g

ps. btw. lyrix above from “Merry xmas everybody” by Slade (very underrated!!!)

STOCKHOLM - The Daily Roxette had a chance for a brief interview with Marie Fredriksson.

When The Daily Roxette asks Marie how she is feeling, Marie responds "I feel great, thanks!" Marie is currently on a break from the "Stjärnklart" tour, after playing five nights in Stockholm, she will play in Malmö tomorrow and until Friday, and in Gothenburg next week. Marie explains how everything started with this show; "They asked me, I thought about it and said yes. It's been a challenge and a pleasure." And it surely seems to have been the right decision, as Marie adds, after having more than half of the tour behind her, "It's great being on stage again."

Last Saturday, day of one of the shows in Stockholm, was a special day for many. Fans travelled from far outside of Sweden to see Marie live and had the chance to meet Marie. Marie, how did that feel? "It was a lot of fun, especially when someone [note: Rosa Planas from Spain] gave me a really really old record of 'Strul.' They were sweet and friendly as always," says Marie to The Daily Roxette.

As you may know, Marie not only composes music, she is also an artist, and has already had three art exhibitions, the last one in Gothenburg in October, "It was great in Gothenburg, even better than Stockholm." The Daily Roxette wonders if there are any plans for another exhibition, "I paint and I write music whenever I get the feeling, so we'll see what happens first," Marie smiles.

As Marie has mentioned often in the past, she takes a step at a time and has no fixed plans for the future. When we ask about more possible shows, or a solo album or with Roxette, she again answers "We'll see, one step at a time."

(Updated) - Please enjoy the snippets of "Silly Really" and "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" at www.gessle.com!

We've just received notice that the album release has been pushed forward to November 26. Per has also remodeled his YouTube page. Worth a look perhaps. More things to show up there soon.

LJUSDAL/LONDON - The Daily Roxette managed to get hold of Per Gessle in spite of his award show in London, so we took the opportunity to get updated regarding his new project.

Hej Per, another summer full of work is over. You never tire do you, huh?

Well sir, as a matter of fact my whole summer was free and easy. We stopped our studio work in May and didn’t continue until late August so I got my fair share of suntan, go-karts, bikinis and belinis.

I see, so another well deserved vacation? Where do you get your energy from? The vacations? It's not like you need the money or the fame anymore, what drives you onward and forward?

Ooops I did it again, didn’t I? You know, I don’t really write songs anymore unless there is a purpose. A couple of weeks after the “En händig man-tour” last summer I got into this idea of writing songs based on “grooves” and a steady beat instead of just fooling around on the guitar. I had a field day! Before X-mas I had about 10 new songs.

You could as well "lay on the beach earning 20 %" you know?

Nah, not me.

Read more…

LONDON - Per Gessle together with Del Bryant (left) - president of BMI and Bryan Ferry, singer in Roxy Music at the BMI awards in London October 7. Per was there together with Mats MP Persson to receive a "Million-Air" award for "Listen to Your Heart" which has been played on US radio over four million times.

STOCKHOLM (Updated) - Per Gessle's first single "Silly Really" off the forthcoming album "Party Crasher" will be released October 29. The single as well as the album is a step in a new direction for one of Sweden's most successful songwriters and artists.

After two solo albums in Swedish ("Mazarin" in 2003 and "En händig man" 2007), another studio album with Gyllene Tider ("Finn 5 fel!" 2004) and a double album under the name "Son of a Plumber" Per Gessle now shows us a different side of his pop talent.

"Normally I write the melodies first and then we build an arrangement in the studio. This time I've started with a groove and then written the melody from that, just like when I wrote that little ditty 'The Look' once upon a time," says Per with a crooked smile that's hard to read. "It’s really simple power pop, lots of choruses and such. I’m very pleased and Clarence feels it’s the best album I’ve ever made."

"The songs are written in the '70s '80s era type of dance music. The result is a fun album that is both immediate and in your face, but also brooding and beautiful." says Per. "My wife says the album sounds like The Bee-Gees meet Gyllene Tider. I don't really agree, but I can see her point. It has a sweet disco feeling all over it. But recognizing Per Gessle over the beats shouldn’t be a problem."

The album is made in English to be able to hit internationally. Per: "But it’s a long way to go, I don’t take anything for granted. It’s not like I’m going to England to sell out Wembley, unfortunately. But at the same time, Roxette's songs are bigger than in a long while, so we’ll see."

"Party Crasher" is Per Gessle's first international solo album in his own name since "The World According to Gessle" 1997. The album will be released  December 3.

STOCKHOLM - Per Gessle and Mats MP Persson will travel to London October 7 to receive yet another "Million-Air" award for "Listen to Your Heart."

"Listen to Your Heart" has been played over 4.000.000 times on US radio, same as "It Must Have Been Love" in 2005. According to BMI.com, based on an average length of three minutes, one million airplays is the equivalent of 50,000 hours or 5.7 years of continuous airplay. Top Million-Air songs are for instance The Police's "Every Breath You Take" and The Beatles' "Yesterday" with both over 8.000.000 plays.

Roxette has eight BMI awarded songs.

Per Gessle is obviously very pleased with this and comments "Yay!"