By 1988, the duo of Gessle and Fredriksson had become one of Sweden's most popular groups, and in another year they reached the top of the American charts for the first time with "The Look." Subsequent U.S.
Discouraged, Gessle released another solo album, Scener, while forming the final configuration of Roxette as a side project.nnIn 1986, Roxette's debut album, Pearls of Passion, was released. The band reunited in 1984 and tried for the North American market, touring under the name Roxette (a different Roxette than the duo he later formed), but remained relatively unnoticed. In 1983, while most of the bandmembers were doing their military service, Gessle released his self-titled solo debut. Within a few years, their hooks had entranced Sweden, and their second album, Moderna Tider, sold close to half-a-million copies. Inspired by the new wave movement, he had a brief run in the duo Grape Rock in the late '70s before forming Gyllene Tider in 1978. number ones like "The Look" and "It Must Have Been Love."nn Gessle was born in the seaside town of Halmstad in southwestern Sweden. When he finally formed Roxette with Marie Fredriksson in 1986, he achieved that worldwide success, which included U.S. When the power pop band Gyllene Tider failed to do so - still becoming one of the best-selling bands in Sweden - he disbanded the group and tried a solo career. With a knack for catchy hooks, Gessle worked diligently to find international success with his music. As half of the duo Roxette, Per Gessle became one of the most successful Swedish artists of his generation, if not the rock era.