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Michael Learns to Rock

The Danish soft-rock trio behind some of the 1990s' biggest ballads — still touring, long past their chart peak

Active — Michael Learns to Rock were formed in Denmark in 1988 and became one of Europe's most successful soft-rock acts of the 1990s. They are still active and touring decades later, especially popular in Asia, though the era that made them famous is long gone.

Michael Learns to Rock was formed in 1988 in Aarhus, Denmark, built around singer, songwriter and keyboardist Jascha Richter, guitarist Mikkel Lentz and drummer Kåre Wanscher, with bassist Søren Madsen completing the original lineup. Over time the band settled into a core trio of Richter, Lentz and Wanscher. They broke through in the early 1990s with a polished, radio-friendly brand of soft rock and ballads.

Through the 1990s the group produced a string of international hits, including "The Actor", "Sleeping Child", "That's Why (You Go Away)", "25 Minutes" and "Paint My Love". While they charted in Europe, their biggest following was always in Asia — above all China, where their ballads became staples and where they remained a major touring act long after their Western popularity faded.

Today Michael Learns to Rock are still performing. They have kept a steady schedule of concerts and tours, including the "Take Us to Your Heart" tour of 2025 and dates into 2026, playing to devoted fans who remember the band's 1990s heyday with affection.

Quick facts

Formed

1988, Aarhus, Denmark

Genre

Soft rock / pop rock

Biggest hits

"That's Why (You Go Away)", "25 Minutes"

Breakthrough

Early 1990s

Peak market

Asia, notably China

Core lineup

Jascha Richter, Mikkel Lentz, Kåre Wanscher

Now

Still touring (2026)

Sources

1. Michael Learns to Rock - Wikipedia — Wikipedia (2026-09-05)
2. Michael Learns to Rock (official site) — MLTR (2026-09-05)

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