Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson dies aged 61
Marie Fredriksson, frontwoman of Swedish pop-rock band Roxette, has died at the age of 61 following a long illness.
The singer-songwriter passed away on Monday after “a 17-year long battle with cancer”, her management team said in a statement.
“You were the most wonderful friend for over 40 years,” her Roxette bandmate Per Gessle said in the statement.
“I’m proud, honoured and happy to have been able to share so much of your time, talent, warmth, generosity and sense of humour … Things will never be the same.”
Fredriksson was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002. She underwent treatments and survived, but had health problems as a result of radiation therapy, The Guardian reported. She was able to continue performing until 2016, when her doctors advised her to focus on her health.
Debuting as Roxette in 1986, Fredriksson and Gessle achieved success with the single Neverending Love. The duo went on to receive international recognition with The Look, followed by Listen to Your Heart, It Must Have Been Love and Joyride. Roxette’s albums have sold more than 80 million copies worldwide.
Marie Fredriksson 😢 #Roxette - It must have been love pic.twitter.com/b0puf5qDuA
— Alfredo Velazco (@alfredovelazco) December 10, 2019
Fredriksson is survived by her husband Mikael Bolyos and their two children, Josefin and Oscar.