Marie Fredriksson, singer of Swedish pop duo Roxette, has died after a 17-year battle with cancer. She was 61.
According to the BBC, relaying a statement from her management, Dimberg Jernberg, Fredriksson passed away on December 9, nearly 20 years after she was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2002.
Roxette sold more than 80 million records around the world, fueled by charting pop hits like “The Look”, “Joyride”, “Dangerous”, and “It Must Have Been Love”. They broke through to the mainstream in 1988 with sophomore album Look Sharp!.
“Time goes by so quickly,” states Fredriksson’s Roxette bandmate Per Gessle. “It’s not that long ago we spent days and nights in my tiny apartment in Halmstad, listening to music we loved, sharing impossible dreams. And what a dream we eventually got to share!”
Gessle adds: “Thank you, Marie, thanks for everything. You were an outstanding musician, a master of the voice, an amazing performer. Thanks for painting my black and white songs in the most beautiful colours. You were the most wonderful friend for over 40 years. I’m proud, honoured and happy to have been able to share so much of your time, talent, warmth, generosity and sense of humour. All my love goes out to you and your family. Things will never be the same.”
RIP.