Anne Linnet

Career

Anne Linnet had her musical debut at the age of 17, in 1970, with the Arhus based band "Tears", with whom she released two albums. In 1973 she was one of the founding members of the all-woman 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.

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

In 1983, she formed a new band, Marquis de Sade (band). 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. 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 pa Vinduer" and "Nattog".

In 1986, Anne Linnet wrote music for the film, Barndommens Gade based on the novel of the same name 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.

In 1988, she released the album Jeg Er Jo Lige Her (Danish for I am 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, Bjorn Afzelius.

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

In 1996, she wrote a chamber opera, Thorvaldsen, about the Danish, 19th-century sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.

Anne Linnet has also authored several books. In 1983, she published a collection of poems; Glimt, in 1999, the first part of her autobiography; Hvor kommer drommene fra?, and in 2000, four short children’s books about Ivan the dog.

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

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

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.

Personal life

Anne Linnet passed her Studentereksamen (A levels equivalent) at Arhus Statsgymnasium and went on to obtain a degree from Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium (The Royal Academy of Music, Arhus, Denmark).

Until 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.

She is also the mother of Alexander Theo Linnet, whom she had with Mads Buhl Nielsen. Alexander followed a musical life like his mother and is known as Xander and his single "Det burde ikk vaere sadan 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 had both male and female lovers, and has, over time, become a lesbian icon in Denmark.

In 2010, Anne Linnet married Tessa Franck Linnet. The couple has two children, Isolde Elisabeth and Nemo.

Discography (incomplete)