Anne Linnet

Anne Linnet began her career in 1969 by performing folk music / folk rock, and she was in the Århus-based band Tears from 1971 to 1976. Linnet recorded the albums Sweet Thing (often regarded as her solo album) and Tears in My Ears, both with the band Tears that also included Holger Laumann. Anne Linnet also sang musical works by Holger Laumann with Radioens Big Band and others since 1971.[5][1][6] In 1973, she was one of the founding members of the all-female band Shit & Chanel, which released four albums in their seven years together. One of their largest hits was the song "Smuk og dejlig", written by Anne Linnet. One of the reasons for the band's split was that the House of Chanel had won a lawsuit against them, regarding the use of the name Chanel. After that, the band members felt a need to move on and do something new.[4]

Following the split, Anne Linnet formed Anne Linnet Band, which released two albums in 1981-1982. Two other singers and musicians in the band were Sanne Salomonsen and Lis Sørensen, both popular singers/musicians who have since had long and successful careers.

In 1983, Anne Linnet formed a new wave band named Marquis de Sade. The sound was harder and more electronic, inspired by other European, mid-eighties bands, such as Eurythmics, and was a change from the softer pop/folk sound that had characterised her music until then. The band released two albums, since the album from 1983 was merely titled Marquis de Sade and marketed as the artist name Anne Linnet. At the time, they created some controversy, and became known for some of their songs having sadomasochistic ("Marquis de Sade") and lesbian ("Hils din mor", "Venus") themes. They had large hits with songs such as "Glor på vinduer", "Nattog" and "Venus".[7][4]

In 1986, Anne Linnet wrote the song "Barndommens gade" for the film of the same name, based on the novel by the Danish poet Tove Ditlevsen. She set a number of Tove Ditlevsen's poems to music, which was released on the album Barndommens gade. The poem/song "Barndommens gade" became a hit.[4]

In 1988, she released the album Jeg er jo lige her (Danish for "I am (after all) right here"). The first single was the evergreen "Tusind stykker" (Danish for "thousand pieces"), which became a large hit, first in Anne Linnet's version, and later also in a Swedish version, performed by the Swedish singer and musician Björn Afzelius.[4]

In 1989, she released the album Min sang in collaboration with the Danish priest, author and lecturer Johannes Møllehave. The album contains poems inspired by Christian faith. Linnet and Møllehave have later collaborated on a series of church concerts and lectures.

In 1994-'95, Linnet wrote a chamber opera named Thorvaldsen while being resident in Rome. The opera was released on CD in 1996 and is about the Danish, 19th-century sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.[8]

Anne Linnet has also authored some books: In 1983, she published a collection of poems named Glimt. In 1999, the first part of her autobiography Hvor kommer drømmene fra? In 2000, four short children's books about Ivan the dog. In 2012, her memoir Testamentet.

In 2006, she had a showing of her oil paintings in Rundetårn, Copenhagen.

In 2007, she released the critically acclaimed solo album Akvarium which became a success.[4]

On 20 August 2012, it was announced that Linnet would replace Cutfather as a judge on X Factor for its sixth season, joining Thomas Blachman and fellow new judge Ida Corr (who replaced Pernille Rosendahl). She mentored the Groups category and came in third place with Wasteland. For unknown reasons, Linnet did not return as a judge for the seventh season and was replaced by original judge Remee.

Anne Linnet passed her Studentereksamen (A levels equivalent) at Århus Statsgymnasium and went on to obtain a degree from the Royal Academy of Music, Århus. From 1974 to 1985, she was married to the jazz musician Holger Laumann, with whom she has two children; Eva (Evamaria) and Jan Martin (Sean), now named Marcus.[3][9] She is also the mother of Alexander Theo Linnet, whom she had with Mads Buhl Nielsen.[10] Alexander followed a musical life like his mother and is known as Xander and his single "Det burde ikk være sådan her" topped the Danish Singles Charts in 2011. Linnet also has two adopted Rumanian-born children, Peter and Maria. She is a bisexual and has been in a romantic relationship with both males and females.[11][12]

On 6 June 2010, BT reported that Anne Linnet had signed a partnership and awaited children with 23-year-old Tessa Franck.[13] On 31 July 2010, Tessa Franck Linnet gave birth to a daughter named Isolde Elisabeth Franck Linnet. On 19 April 2013, Tessa gave birth to a boy named Nemo. In December 2013, Anne Linnet announced that the couple had separated.[14]

• Go’ sønda’ morn’ (songbook), 1980
• Glimt (poetry collection), 1983
• Hvor kommer drømmene fra? (memoir), 1999
• Ivan som baby (children's book), 2000
• Ivan i skoven (children's book), 2000
• Ivan på stranden (children's book), 2000
• Ivan & Alexander (children's book), 2000
• Sangbog (songbook), 2011
• Testamentet (memoir), 2012
• Fucked (novel), 2019

• Anne Linnet's webpage
• Official timeline
• Den Store Danske
• Dansk kvindebiografisk leksikon
• Anne Linnet discography at Discogs
• Anne Linnet at IMDb