It was never expected in the studio in Völlsjö this winter that Per Gessle's 'Mazarin' would get such a huge reception. The album came out a few days ago on 16 June 2003 and did only get positive reviews. With 45,000 copies being pre-ordered, already 60,000 copies havebeen sold (the limit for gold being 30,000, for platinum 40,000). Already at the presentation of the first single Här kommer alla känslorna [på en och samma gång]', an overwhelmed Per Gessle was requested to go on tour. And at the release party for the album in Halmstad, the urge and hang for a tour was obvious among Per and his band. Inquiries began about the possibility to get together a band, a crew and so on.
We can proudly inform you that Per can and will, the band can and will and when the summer hopefully reaches it's climax, Per takes his 'Mazarin' out for a late-summer tour. At the moment dates and venues are being checked and we will be back with a complete tour plan. The premiere will be anyway on 29 July 2003 at Brottet in Halmstad, Sweden.
Along with Per Gessle on stage will be his very own touring band Mazarinerna, formed especially for this tour.
* Anders Herrlin (bass).
* Christoffer Lundquist (guitars and backing vocals).
* Clarence Öfwerman (keyboards).
* Helena Josefsson (backing vocals).
* Jens Jansson (drums).
* Jonas Isacsson (guitar).
As far as LJdM is concerned, all the feelings came all together, so to say, when Per Gessle rehearsed the new songs for the first time with his newly formed band Mazarinerna for the Mazarin sommarturné 2003.
If you’ve worked internationally as long as I have you naturally have to compromise. Those are the rules that Robbie Williams and Madonna play by as well, and in a way I can be attracted to that game. But this album has come to life as an emotional insurrection against all that. We have made the album without any involvement from record companies, no deadline. Just done fun things.
As a 25-year old I was rather insecure, didn’t know how to act. With Roxette I came straight into battle, so to speak, but that didn’t enhance my self esteem. I had no clue; I guessed my way ahead all the time. But today I don’t have to prove anything to myself any longer. The calmness that that gives lies as a foundation. Maybe that’s why I dare being personal on the new album, I can open up and be myself.
I could never have imagined this reception for my little cupcake, and a tour was never part of the plan. But we had so much fun in Halmstad and I couldn't resist the possibility to take these songs out into summer-Sweden. It's as it was made for the parks and pick-nick and I hope that the audience will agree and wants to end the summer in a green park with cupcakes. Weird how hip one becomes in his old days (laughs). I haven't actually experienced anything alike since in 1991. It feels very special. It will be a greatest hits tour of my Swedish solo records, so to speak. And perhaps also of a few Gyllene Tider songs. Nothing in English. It's indeed a dream holiday. Think about being able to travel around Sweden in August with your family and 200,000 of your closest friends. I would love to continue until it starts snowing.
