Pelle Alsing, best known for playing drums in popular Swedish rock group Roxette, died on December 19. He was 60 years old.
Roxette starting out as a new wave group but evolved a bit as a pop rock act as they left the 1980s behind. Some of their greatest hits include “It Must Have Been Love,” “Listen to Your Heart” and “The Look.” Alsing played on the outfit’s first five albums, Pearls of Passion (1986), Look Sharp! (1988), Joyride (1991), Tourism (1992) and Crash! Boom! Bang! (1994). In 2012, he rejoined to play drums for their album Travelling.
Their guitarist Per Gessle announced the news on Instagram, “It is with indescribable sadness I have to inform you that our beloved Pelle Alsing has passed away. It’s almost impossible to grasp. Pelle was not only an amazing and inventive drummer, helping us to create the Roxette sound since Day One, he was also the best friend you can imagine, a kind and generous human being with the biggest heart beating for everyone. He was always the funniest to be around, the one with the biggest smile on his face, the one who supported you the most when you were in doubt. He will be truly missed so much more than words can say. All my love goes out to his wife, family and friends.”
Asides from Roxette, Alsing was a member of short-lived band The Husbands and a part-time member of Dan Hylander’s Raj Montana Band. He also played percussion for Billy Bremner, Ulf Lundell and Marie Fredriksson’s solo record Karlekens Guld (2002). Fredriksson was Roxette’s primary vocalist, who died last year of cancer.
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