The music on the new album “The World According to Gessle” that the king of pop of the Nordic PG has produced is happy and inspiring. The man himself shouts of joy when he hears my opinion.

The album is a tribute to popmusic. That explains the title-this is how I think popmusic should sound.

PG has accordingly returned to his musical roots in the ’60s and the ’70s. The aim was to record an album on which you coudl hear that, but it should also fit into the late ’90s.

It should be nostalgic. But the music should be fun, positive and give a desire to sing along. But on the other hand it shouldn’t be sloppy/sentimental and have some attitude aswell.

Bands which Per gladly remembers from the ’60s are Small Faces, Beatles and Kinks. He finds “Ticket to ride” nad “Daytripper” genious songs.

As well as “Summer in the city” by Lovin’ Spoonful.

And the ’70s then? Yes, there were names like Gary Glitter, David Bowie and T-Rex.

No one records music like that anymore. Gessle feels sorry about that and thinks that pop of the ’70s was more exciting and bandconcentrated than what the pop of ’90s is.

Spice Girls is not as much fun. They are based a lot of dance music. In fact I think that Marc Bolan is sexier than Spice Girls!

It’s evident that every generation has its own idols. Why should teenagers of today like Bolan more than Spice Girls?

“The World According to Gessle” has taken Per’s time since December, but the idea of an own album arose already back in 1995 after Roxette’s last tour. Marie Fredriksson wanted to concentrate on her family. Per didn’t want to take it easy too long.

I wanted to do something that suited me. Simple, effective songs, Gessle says and adds that one of the goals was not to sound like Roxette without Marie.

Then I would have failed.

Today the album is released and Per will play live together with a new band. There won’t hardly be any summertour.

It’s difficult to tour with material from only one album. There’s a risk that I would have to sing “The Look” or “Joyride” and I don’t want to do that. Marie Fredriksson is on maternity vacation at the momnet and at home with her children. Per will become father in September but doesn’t plan any longer fatherhood vacation.

Everyone says that you change when you get children, but I don’t think I will change so much that I would stop working, he laughs.

It’s planned that Roxette would start working again in November and they aim at releasing a new album in December 1998.