WTF : Roxette star Marie Fredriksson dies aged 61 after a 17-year battle with brain cancer

• The Swedish star co-formed pop duo Roxette with Per Gessle in 1986   
• The band sold around 75m records worldwide, and recorded 10 studio albums 
• Marie passed away in hospital on Monday morning  
• She was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002 after collapsing at home 
• Following months of radiation and chemotherapy, Marie was left blind in one eye and with limited hearing - she was also unable to speak for months afterwards
• In 2005, Marie said she was feeling healthy and no longer required treatment 
• Three years ago, Marie was forced to cancel the band's tour following doctor's orders 
• The singer is survived by husband Mikael Bolyos and their two children, daughter Inez Josefin, 26, and son Oscar, 23  

Roxette's debut single Neverending Love followed by the album Pearls of Passion in 1986 made the band big stars in Sweden. 

But it was after the release of their single, The Look from Roxette's second album Look Sharp! that their fame grew internationally. 

The record became the first of four US number ones for the band, while its parent album, Look Sharp!, went platinum.  

Hailing from Halmstad, Sweden, Roxette achieved their biggest success when their 1987

Christmas single, It Must Have Been Love, was included on the Pretty Woman soundtrack in 1990. 

It topped the charts in over ten countries, and gave the band their biggest UK hit, reaching number three. 

The band sold an estimated 75m records worldwide, and recorded 10 studio albums. 

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Sad: The star, who made up pop duo, Roxette with bandmate Per Gessle in 1986, passed away on Monday (pictured in 1990)

A statement released by her management said: 'Marie Fredriksson is most mourned by her husband Mikael Bolyos and their two children.

'It is with great sadness that we have to announce that one of our biggest and most beloved artists is gone.'

'Marie Fredriksson passed away in the morning of December 9, as a result of her previous illness,' the family wrote in a statement.'

Her family added Marie 'will be buried in silence with only the closest family present.' 

Gessle, who formed the band in 1986 with Marie and had been friends with her since the 70s, paid tribute, writing: 'Time goes by so quickly. 

'It's not that long ago we spent days and nights in my tiny apartment in Halmstad, listening to music we loved, sharing impossible dreams. And what a dream we eventually got to share!

'Thank you, Marie, thanks for everything. You were an outstanding musician, a master of the voice, an amazing performer. Thanks for painting my black and white songs in the most beautiful colours. 

'You were the most wonderful friend for over 40 years. I'm proud, honoured and happy to have been able to share so much of your time, talent, warmth, generosity and sense of humour. 

'All my love goes out to you and your family. Things will never be the same.'  

The star's management added: 'Marie leaves us a grand musical legacy. Her amazing voice – both strong and sensitive – and her magical live performances will be remembered by all of us who was lucky enough to witness them. 

'But we also remember a wonderful person with a huge appetite for life, and woman with a very big heart who cared for everybody she met.' 

According to Swedish newspaper Expressen, Marie passed away in hospital. 

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Her love: Marie pictured with husband Mikael Bolyos in Stockholm on June 8, 2013 - they married in 1994 and had two children together 

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Memories: The couple and their children, Inez Josefin, now 26, and son Oscar, now 23 pictured in 2002 (the year Marie was diagnosed with a brain tumour) 

Back in September 2002, Marie complained of feeling unwell while out jogging with her husband.

She later suffered a seizure while at home and collapsed, cracking her skull. After an MRI scan, a brain tumour was detected and she was given a 25% chance of survival.  

Marie had surgery to remove the tumour and completed months of gruelling chemotherapy and radiation and was left with various health problems.

The singer became blind in one eye and with limited hearing and was unable to speak for months afterwards. 

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Proud and grateful: Marie announced that her touring days were over back in 2016 following advice from doctors, but her words spoke of joy, happiness and gratitude 

She wrote about the 'fear' she had felt in a record (solo) called The Change.

The lyrics read: 'Suddenly the change was here/ Cold as ice and full of fear / There was nothing I could do / I saw slow motion pictures / Of me and you.  

In 2005, Marie told Sweden's Aftonbladet newspaper : 'It's been three very difficult years, I'm healthy. I'm not receiving treatment any more.' 

IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE: THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE PRETTY WOMAN HIT 

Despite being synonymous with the 1990 rom-com, It Must Have Been Love was written before the film came out

The hit was released in Sweden in 1987 as a festive tune 

The original title was in fact, It Must Have Been Love (Christmas for the Broken Hearted)

The song peaked at number four in Sweden during its original release  

Lyrics 'It's a cold Christmas day,' were changed to 'winter's day' and the sound of sleigh bells removed 

The reworked song was used in Pretty Women when prostitute Vivian (Julia Roberts) leaves businessman Edward (Richard Gere) 

The new song became an instant hit, and was number one in the US Hot 100 for two weeks

The band had been on hiatus ever since Marie's diagnosis and reformed in 2009 when she went to see Gessle perform a solo concert in Holland. 

She made a surprise guest appearance and Gessle told The Guardian back in 2012: 'She had no self confidence, and said she couldn't sing any more.

'But she staggered up on stage anyway – and the audience just died … people were crying to the left and right. 

'Afterwards she was like a changed person and two weeks later she called me asking if I'd want to write another Roxette album.'  

In 2016, Marie announced that she would no longer touring. 

Her final performance came that year during the Roxette 30th Anniversary Tour in concert, Johannesburg, South Africa on January 31. 

A Facebook post read: 'Roxette were supposed to start the last leg of their massive RoXXXette 30th Anniversary Tour on June 3rd. 

'However, singer Marie Fredriksson has been advised by her doctors to refrain from touring and as a consequence all the summer shows are cancelled. 

'Their last performance was to be at the Grand Arena in Cape Town, South Africa on February 8 earlier this year. '

Marie wrote underneath: 'It's been an amazing 30 years! I feel nothing but joy and happiness when I look back on the Roxette world tours. All our shows and memories over the years will forever be a big part of my life.