Gyllene Tider (; "Golden Times") is a Swedish pop group fronted by Roxette singer, guitarist, and songwriter Per Gessle. They are one of the best-selling Swedish bands ever and have had numerous hits in Scandinavia, starting with their breakthrough song "Flickorna på TV2", in 1980. Since breaking up in 1985, the band has held regular reunions, with the latest one taking place in 2023.
History
In 1976, Per Gessle met Mats Persson, a member of the band Audiovisuellt Angrepp, and they formed the duo Grape Rock. They were joined by Micke Syd Andersson, Anders Herrlin, and Göran Fritzon, and the quintet was born. They changed their name to Gyllene Tider, an allusion to Mott the Hoople's song "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll". In 1980, they released their self-titled debut album, which became a success in Sweden. "Flickorna på TV2" was the record's biggest hit.
The band's second album, released in 1981 under the name Moderna Tider, also enjoyed success and was followed by a national tour. The following year, Gyllene Tider issued Puls, which included the hits "Sommartider" and "Flickan i en Cole-Porter-sång". In March 1985, the group broke up after releasing the English-language album The Heartland Cafe. Per Gessle continued with a solo career and formed Roxette with Marie Fredriksson in 1986.
Since Gyllene Tider's breakup, several Platinum-selling compilation albums have been released, and a number of live reunions have taken place, starting with the Återtåget tour, in 1996. In 2004, the band celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary with the first new album in over twenty years and a summer tour in July and August.
Gyllene Tider reunited again on 14 August 2010 as a surprise encore during Roxette's concert in Halmstad, both bands' hometown. They performed a three-song set consisting of "Juni, Juli, Augusti", "Sommartider", and "När alla vännerna gått hem", with Marie Fredriksson and Roxette's backing band joining onstage for the last number. In January 2013, the group announced a new album and summer tour in Sweden, both called Dags att tänka på refrängen. The record was released on 24 April 2013.
In January 2019, Gyllene Tider announced a farewell tour to celebrate forty years together. They released the album Samma skrot och korn the same year. In 2023, the band announced another tour as well as a new double album, titled Hux Flux, released in June.
Discography Albums Studio albums YearAlbumPeak positionsSalesCertification SWE NOR1980Gyllene Tider127 SWE: 150,0001981Moderna Tider12 SWE: 160,0001982Puls1121984The Heartland Café18—2004 Finn 5 fel!126 SWE: 230,000 SWE: 3× Platinum2013 Dags att tänka på refrängen114 SWE: 2× Platinum2019 Samma skrot och korn6—2023 Hux Flux1—
Live albums YearAlbumPeak positionsCertification SWE NOR1990Parkliv!(Live at Mjölby Folkets Park on 31 July 1981)19—1997Återtåget Live!19—Gold2004GT25 Live!28—2019GT40 Live!18—
Compilations YearAlbumPeak positionsCertification SWE NOR1989Instant Hits!3—Platinum1994Samlade Tider——1995Halmstads pärlor125× Platinum1997 Ljudet av ett annat hjärta/En samling——2000 Konstpaus10—2004 GT 25 – Samtliga hits!16Platinum2013 Soldans på din grammofon4—2019 GT40 Hits! Made in Halmstad26—2021 Moderna tider (40 år)44—
EPs Gyllene Tider (EP) (aka "Billy" and "den gula EP:n") (1978) Swing & Sweet (1981)
DVD and VHS Återtåget (documentary from TV4, live, and interviews) (1997) Karaoke Hits! (2004) Parkliv! (concert/documentary from 1981 filmed by Lasse Hallström) (2004) GT25 Live! (2004) Live sommaren 2013 (2013) GT40 Live Ullevi (2019)
Singles YearTitlePeak positionsCertificationAlbum SWE NOR1980 "Himmel No. 7 / Flickorna på TV2"1— Gyllene Tider "Ska vi älska, så ska vi älska till Buddy Holly"8— "När vi två blir en"11Moderna Tider1981 "(Kom så ska vi) Leva livet"13— "Ljudet av ett annat hjärta"3—1982 "Sommartider"63GoldPuls1989 "Sommartider Remix '89"3—Instant Hits!1995 "Det är över nu"11—Halmstads pärlor "Kung av sand"31—1996 "Juni, juli, augusti"37—Gyllene Tider EP2004 "En sten vid en sjö i en skog/Tuffa tider (för en drömmare)"1—Finn 5 fel! "Solsken"20—2005 "Jag borde förstås vetat bättre"23—2013 "Man blir yr"——Dags att tänka på refrängen2018 "Bäst när det gäller"—— Non-album single2023 "Chans"—— Hux Flux "Gyllene Tider igen"—— "Dagar att dansa"——2024 "Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång"—— Non-album single
Notes
References
External links
Unofficial website