Marie Fredriksson death: Roxette singer dies after battle with illness, aged 61
Swedish star is best known for power ballad ‘It Must Have Been Love’
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Your support makes all the difference.Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson has died, aged 61.
The music star, who is best known for singing power ballads “It Must Have Been Love” and “Listen to Your Heart” as part of the Swedish band, died on Monday morning (9 December) after a long battle with an illness.
Fredriksson’s family announced the news, writing: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce that one of our biggest and most beloved artists is gone.
The singer, who performed at London’s 02 Arena in 2015, formed Roxette with Per Gessle in 1986.
The duo found international success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with albums Look Sharp! (1988) and Joyride (1991). Their other hit singles included “The Look”, “Dangerous” and “Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)”.
Gessle paid tribute to his former bandmate with a touching message, in which he said: "Things will never be the same."
Before Roxette, Fredriksson – who was born in Sweden – was a member of punk group Strul, who created their own music festival in 1979.
Fredriksson had been suffering ill health ever since she was diagnosed with a brain tumour after fainting at home in 2002.
She continued to record music as a solo artist and scored her first number one single in Sweden with the song “Där du andas” in 2009.
Fredriksson reformed Roxette with Gessle and went on a worldwide tour in 2010.
She is survived by her husband Mikael Bolyos and their two children, Inez Josefin, 26, and Oscar, 23.
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