STOCKHOLM - EMI Caroline has released a few Gyllene Tider albums in the US – "Gyllene Tider," "Moderna Tider," "Puls" and "GT25!." But it has also released Per Gessle's "Mazarin" and the compilation "Hjärtats trakt." All albums can be found on iTunes USA.

On November 13, "Finn5fel!" and "En händig man" will be released as well.

According to Per this seems to have worked out great for other non-American acts so EMI thinks there's an audience for Gyllene Tider and Gessle in the States. "Amazingly enough, if you ask me, but it's fun nevertheless," Per says.

Naturally we're talking digital releases only.

Caroline Distribution, EMI’s U.S. independent distribution company, was founded in 1983 as a unit of Virgin Records. It has become one of the U.S. music industry’s largest third-party distribution companies for the independent music sector.

HALMSTAD - Gyllene Tider's "Småstad" and Per Gessle's "På en promenad genom stan" are featured on the compilation album "Halmstads Greatest vol 1." All the songs on the album are performed by artists from the city of Halmstad, reports the local newspaper Hallandsposten. The album is the first release by Halmstad Records, a new label founded by Per's friend, Gyllene Tider guitarist Mats "M.P." Persson and businessman Bengt Petersson.

"Halmstads Greatest" will be released in mid-May. A big release party will be held in Hotel Tylösand with all the artists featured on the album invited.

Editor's note: Hallandsposten article also has a nice picture of the famous T&A Studio in M.P.'s basement where many of Per's demos are recorded.

April 11 EMI released new versions of Gyllene Tider's first four albums - "Gyllene Tider," Moderna Tider," "Puls" and "The Heartland Café." What's new with these is that "Heartland" is finally remastered and no album contains bonus tracks anymore. The price is low; 79 SEK, which is about €9.

Gyllene Tider's albums have now been released on CD three times; 1990 (jewel cases, bonus tracks), 2004 (digipaks, bonus tracks and remastering) and 2007 (jewel cases,) except "Heartland" - 1990 and 2007.

HELSINGBORG - A reminder: The Rotary club of Helsingborg Landborgen has received a generous gift consisting of the following Gyllene Tider and Roxette album collections:

Gyllene Tider
Moderna Tider
Puls
The Heartland Café
Återtåget '96
Konstpaus
Finn 5 fel!
GT25 - Samtliga hits!
GT Live.

Pearls of Passion
Look Sharp!
Joyride
Tourism
Crash! Boom! Bang!
Have a Nice Day
Room Service
Roxette Hits!
The Rox Box

All records have been signed by Per, and in Roxette's case, also by Marie.
These two collections will be auctioned off by Helsingborgs auktionsverk March 11, 2007 on behalf of Rotary's doctors bank. The doctors bank ships out Nordic doctors and dentists for one to two months' unpaid work in Africa - so far more than 160 people! The organization is totally non-profit and the money needed is raised by sponsorships and different kinds of fund-raisers, this being one of them.

Bids can be made via telephone (+46-42-244 344), fax (+46-42-128 633) or the Internet.

HALMSTAD - Per Gessle says in Hallandsposten today that he’s honored to have been asked to play at Halmstad’s 700 year anniversary next year, but Gyllene Tider has now officially turned the offer down. “Hi Elenor, thanks for your note regarding the 700-year anniversary. I have totally different musical plans for next year so another GT-performance will unfortunately not be happening. Sorry to disappoint you and so many others. I hope your summer will be super anyway. All the best, P,” Per writes to Halmstad 700 AB’s CEO, Elenor Nilsson. Elenor sent a request to all of Gyllene Tider’s members last week that “so many people would like to see nothing but Gyllene Tider at the anniversary next year.”

  Halmstad turns 700 on May 31 next year.

• Halmstad 700 (In Swedish)

STOCKHOLM - Now the new web site of Micke Syd’s has opened. You can see, among other things, videos and Micke’s blog there. Micke also has an e-mail address for you to get in touch with him. The site is in Swedish only. Future plans include a webshop, “where you can buy Syd underpants and drum sticks” claims Micke.

  According to Micke the site is far from finished, he wants it to be a fun place, which sounds promising.

• Micke Syd.se (In Swedish)

STOCKHOLM - “If someone had told me as a newly-hatched 19-year-old pop star that I’d release my first solo single at the age of 45, and that it would have a title mentioning one of Sweden’s best soccer player of all time, you can easily say I would’ve smiled (widely).” says Micke Syd in a press statement today.

  Micke will release his new single “Du och jag och Glenn Hysén” (“You and I and Glenn Hysén”) in time before the World Championship in soccer starts June 10. Micke describes the song, which comes in three different versions, as “very related to mine and MP’s Gyllene Tider history.” Furthermore Mighty Mike tells us that the song is about the dreams one has as youngster; dreams about becoming a star in, for instance, Deep Purple or Toto.

  “Deep Purple didn’t happen, but four guys from Simlångsdalen, Åled and Harplinge did, so all turned out well after all.” Micke still has soccer dreams, he longs for a phone call from HBK’s coach Janne Andersson, “But he seems to have lost my number…”

• Du och jag och Glenn Hysén
• Micke Syd.se (Coming soon)

HALMSTAD - HBK - Halmstad Bollklubb - has recorded a single at studio T&A. While the name of it is unknown (but probably is “Varje dag som går älskar vi HBK” (“Every Day That Passes We Love HBK”)), the song itself is the old classic “California Sun” by The Rivieras, or rather “Tylö sun” by Gyllene Tider. HBK’s players help singing the chorus on the single together with Svante Karlsson (who also wrote the lyrics) and Micke Syd Andersson. Micke also sings two verses lead, plays the drums and is also featured on backup vocals. Mats MP Persson plays the rest of the instruments. Björn Anklev from HBK is featured on the “Ramones guitar” and Halmstad comedian Thomas Pettersson sings one verse lead.

  The song arrangement is very true to the Gyllene Tider version, which presumably also is the intent.

  Soon this song will be released as a single by HBK and “Hopefully there will be a video that will be shown on the Jumbotrons at the home games,” Micke Syd tells TDR.

STOCKHOLM - Gyllene Tider’s own little drummer boy Micke Syd Andersson has recorded a new single together with Mats MP Persson. The single is called “Du och jag och Glenn Hysén” (“You and I and Glenn Hysén”) and will be released in April, May. Micke describes the song “A little summer ditty with Gyllene vibes. At the age of 45 it’s about time!”

  Glenn Hysén is a Swedish soccer player (center half) that was huge in the late ’80s to the early ’90s. Hysén has played for IFK Göteborg, Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven and Fiorentina.

  Micke Syd’s singing career consists of singing the first version of “Tylö sun” and “Min tjej och jag” on Gyllene Tider’s “Moderna Tider” in 1981 (the two tracks were supposed to form Micke’s first single, but was scrapped), and finally releasing Mungo Jerry’s old hit “In the Summertime” in 1997.

STOCKHOLM (UPDATED) - October 31 the second Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards will be held. This time it will be in the Annex of Globen, in Stockholm. Gyllene Tider has been nominated as Best Swedish Popgroup. Per Gessle was awarded Best Nordic Artist last year.

  Little more is known at this point, but the gala will be televised on Nickelodeon, and in November also on Swedish TV4. Last year’s show was considered by many to be more or less a ratings flop.

• Nickelodeon.se (In Swedish)