About My Blog

I created this blog to help share ABBA information with other fans and to show off my new collection items :)


Please note: Collection item photos are from my own personal collection. These are not stock photos. If you wish to use any of my photos elsewhere, please have the courtesy to ask first - Thank you :)

Monday 29 April 2013

Agnetha Faltskog TV Interview - Australia 5 May 2013

Agnetha has been interviewed for the Australian TV Program 'Sunday Night' which will air on channel 7 on Sunday 5th May at 6.30pm.


Here is the tv commercial on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4OXqNWbUD8

And keep an eye on the program's site for updates:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/








Agnetha Faltskog - G-A-Y London 4 May 2013

These pictures were taken by Richard Anthony Knight - thanks for sharing :)

There must be such a buzz of excitement in the UK right now !












































Agnetha Interview - Q Magazine April 2013

A couple of page images from the magazine - article to follow soon hopefully.


Agnetha Interview in 'Attitude' UK April 2013

Interview from UK's 'Attitude' Magazine - April 2013









Sunday 28 April 2013

ABBA The Museum - More Pictures

I can feel the excitement building for those that will be attending the fan preview and the official opening of this historic Museum on 7th May. I am so disappointed that I will not be there :(
 







ABBA The Museum Comes To Life

Björn pictured at ABBA The Museum for Svenska Dagbladet - Photo: Lars Pehrson
Bj̦rn pictured at ABBA The Museum for Svenska Dagbladet РPhoto: Lars Pehrson

After months of construction it is not long now until ABBA The Museum finally opens. The modern ‘blonde wood’ building on DjurgÃ¥rden, Stockholm that will house the world’s first permanent ABBA exhibition is nearing completion.
As opening day looms, convoys of trucks roll up to the site to deliver the furnishings, costumes and many rare items of authentic memorabilia that will make up the exhibition. So what can fans expect to find at the museum?
“We’re going to offer visitors a unique experience,” said ABBA The Museum director Mattias Hansson. “The museum will showcase ABBA’s collected works, in a contemporary, musical and interactive exhibition that allows the audience to get closer to their favourite band.”
The museum will naturally pay homage to ABBA’s music, and in this respect the team behind the museum have installed the best sound isolation system in the world and commissioned specially designed sound absorbent wallpaper, to enable them to simultaneously play different tracks in each room.
Last December, ABBA The Museum and Spotify (the digital music service), announced a unique collaboration to integrate and extend the museum experience both through Spotify’s various platforms and within the actual museum.
Hansson doesn’t expect visitors to flock to the museum to hear the group’s hits, however. Rather, they will get to relive the band’s journey all the way from their pre-ABBA solo careers in the 1960s, through to their split in 1983 and get a sense of their lives behind the scenes.
As visitors tour the exhibition, the four ABBA members will each recant their stories via the museum’s audio guide, which has been written in collaboration with the band by Catharine Johnson, who wrote the musical Mamma Mia!.
Some fans may even get a chance to speak live with one of the ABBA members…
In a room dedicated to the song Ring Ring, a chunky red 1970s telephone will be on display. This phone is connected to an outside line to which only four people know the number – Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Next to the phone there is a sign telling people that if it rings they should answer it because it will be a member of ABBA calling. “It will be a real phone call and they have all promised to call regularly,” Mattias Hansson confirmed.
“It was Frida’s idea, so of course she’ll call!” says museum curator Ingmarie Halling.
As ABBA’s stylist from 1976 to 1980, an era she describes as “fun and magnificent”, Halling was the person behind many of their glitzy and flamboyant costumes, and she has been instrumental in collaborating with them to ensure that some of those outfits are included in the exhibition.
As well as the costumes, Halling has managed to secure Björn’s star-shaped ‘Waterloo’ guitar, Benny’s very first accordion, gold discs, and much more besides.
“They’ve lent us lots of stuff,” Halling confirms, and whenever I call them to tell them my ideas they say, “sure, go ahead!”.
Many of the exhibits in the museum, including the Hep Stars tour camper van and the iconic helicopter featured on the Arrival album cover have been installed to provide fans with wonderful photo opportunities.
Visitors will also be able to experience a little of how the ABBA members lived their lives through the museum’s painstaking recreations of Benny and Björn’s song-writing hut on the island of Viggsö, manager Stig Anderson’s office, their on-tour dressing room and the Polar recording studio.
In the studio is the original mixing console, instruments and other equipment. Within this exhibit, visitors can try their hand at remixing classic ABBA tracks and also record their own versions of the hits in the row of ‘singing booths’.
You can try on iconic ABBA costumes virtually thanks to a motion-sensing device that adds them digitally to your image on a screen, while fans that have dreamt of becoming the fifth member of the band will be able to sing and dance on stage with computer simulated life-size holograms.
Back in the days before social media, visitors might have been happy just to try these activities. However, today many people want to share their efforts with friends and this is where ABBA The Museum is different. For each interactive exhibit the museum allows you to share the results through your social media accounts, or simply keep them for later.
Mattias Hansson explains how this works: “When you arrive at the museum you give your booking code and are given a printed ticket. At the same time we automatically create a personal page for you on the museum website. On this ticket there is a bar code. You simply present this bar code to a reader at each exhibit and the clip you create goes to your web page. You can then share the clips using standard sharing buttons or download them.”
With so many interactive exhibits based on technology there is always a danger that the museum could look dated after a few years. But ABBA The Museum says they have built a strategy to review all the exhibits at least every two years. “Some things will need to be replaced but history tells us that we will be able to use some things for 20 years.” Linked with this strategy is the decision to focus today on the Stockholm museum. “Though there are so many opportunities for virtual visits we are not going to do that for now. And the only travelling exhibitions will be to promote the museum. You really have to be here,” says Hansson.
Although advance tickets for the first few weeks, which are time-slotted in a bid to cut queues, are almost sold out, for those who prefer to make a spur-of-the-moment visit during May there will be a limited number of tickets on sale at the venue. Please note that you will need to take your credit card as it will not be possible to buy your ABBA The Museum admission ticket or purchase any of the merchandise available in the museum shop with cash.

Svenska Dagbladet 28 April 2013 – Björn opens the door on ABBA’s history

Talking with SvD ahead of the museum opening, Björn was asked about the journey to a museum, which of course started with winning Eurovision all those years ago. “I never thought we would win. We chose Waterloo and Hasta Mañana as possible entries. But Waterloo was more fun to perform,” says Björn Ulvaeus when I meet him in a restaurant on DjurgÃ¥rden.

Ingmarie Halling with a rather large copy of 'The Visitors' album! Photo: Lars Pehrson
Ingmarie Halling with a rather large copy of ‘The Visitors’ album! Photo: Lars Pehrson

He has recently turned 68. He usually gets compliments that he looks younger. He is definitely slimmer than during the ABBA years, which is because he trains. When he goes through the menu to see what he’ll order he dismisses dishes with too many carbohydrates.
We’re talking about the transparent mini helicopter from the cover of the Arrival album. And Polar Studios, of course. And then the bench where Benny and Anni-Frid are kissing while Björn and Agnetha sitting next to them are stony-faced.
“It’s a fun picture, iconic. The whole story of ABBA is a real Cinderella story,” says Björn Ulvaeus.
Ingmarie Halling has worked as a stylist with ABBA intermittently for 36 years and still meets all four privately. Thus, she is also well suited to describe the members.
“Agnetha is incredibly grounded, a small-town girl who enjoys a simple life. It hurts me that people talk about her as a Garbo for she really is not. Rather, she is a little naïve and does not think that people recognize her.
“Frida is the nomad, a globetrotter who puts down roots and then it is her home. She is worldly-wise and street smart.
“Björn is curious and open to new ideas and arguments. A strange combination of businessman and poet. A contractor by God’s grace.
“Benny meets all the criteria for a musician. When he has a piano or an accordion around, he can survive everyday life. At a party, he can almost be apologetic if he disturbs, but he must sit there and play. On tours he cared a lot for us who worked around him. He had an inherent understanding that everyone mattered and was needed. All four are very down to earth and no divas anywhere.”

Ingmarie Halling with the puppets from The Last Video - Photo: Lars Pehrson
Ingmarie Halling with the puppets from The Last Video – Photo: Lars Pehrson

Originally an ABBA museum would be situated in the old Customs House on Stadsgården. In 2008 the ticket sales began but the site was in poorer condition and the costs were higher to renovate than anticipated. The contract with the property owner Stockholm Hamnar fell through.
Instead of an ABBA museum in 2009, a photographic museum opened in the building in 2010. For a couple of years ABBAWORLD toured with many of the gadgets that will be available in ABBA The Museum.
Benny Andersson has said about the new museum that “I have nothing against it at all, but think that maybe they could have waited for 30 years.” He will not say much more than “the museum will stand on its own feet.” Björn Ulvaeus however says that he feels that there is now a lot of space between when ABBA split up in 1982 and now and so sees himself as a flag waver for ABBA The Museum.
“Yes, when one has gone into this, then it is to do it from start to finish. It is not enough to create content, but also getting word out that it exists. Therefore I have or will visit England, Russia, Germany, Finland, Norway and Poland to do promotion.
But earlier ABBA did not want to hear about a museum?
“Yes, that was the case. There is something strange about creating a museum about yourself. Usually a museum is for dead people.”
And the other three in ABBA are more passive supporters but not you?
“No. That’s because it takes place in my hometown, where I live. If someone else was doing it, maybe it would not be so good. Here on the island of DjurgÃ¥rden, I go with my grandchildren and they will point and say “look here grandpa, we want to go in.”
I also want to be proud of an ABBA museum. As it has been so long since ABBA, I can do this as if it were someone else, investigate why ABBA’s reach was so terribly wide,” says Björn Ulvaeus and smiles.
Just where he puts his finger on the crucial issue. How could a Swedish group defeat an entire world, something not done before and that almost everyone saw that completely unrealistic?
“An ingredient is the amazing story of us, that we so organically became a group. In a natural way. Benny and I met and started working together. Quite apart from this fact, we got together with two women who happen to be great singers, a blonde and a redhead who are also beautiful. We hang out, sing for the fun of it and have no intention to start a group. Eventually it becomes apparent that we should do something together. It happens to be so genuine and organic that it is hard to put your finger on.
“Then there was Stig Anderson and his breadth of knowledge and indomitable will to create something great outside Sweden. He convinced us to think “why not?”. We saw that the only way out was the Eurovision Song Contest, otherwise the route was blocked. The Anglo-Saxon world was not listening to anything that came from here, it went directly into the trash. But we would be so big, no one could imagine. After Waterloo, it id not go so well and there were moments when I thought ‘there´s no more than this’.”
When S.O.S was released in Australia, ABBA made a video that they sent to the other side of the earth.
“Then it all started with a bang, and the British realized that there was life in that Eurovision group that should have been dead long ago. We took off. It seems that many of our songs have become part of contemporary life. They are there all the time. Or as Phyllida Lloyd, the director of Mamma Mia! said: “The songs are part of our cultural heritage.”
Are you proud?
“Absolutely. Greatly proud, amazed and humbled. Otherwise, I would not get involved with this museum. It is not entirely possible to emotionally embrace the journey that ABBA made​​, that we have sold 380 million records and touched the hearts of people…or that 50 million people have seen Mamma Mia!
The biggest financier of ABBA The Museum is Björn Ulvaeus himself, who will not tell you how many millions he coughed up, but says the museum costs “several tens of millions of Crowns.”

Getting the final pieces in place - Photo: Lars Pehrson
Getting the final pieces in place – Photo: Lars Pehrson

After the opening ceremony on May 7, Björn Ulvaeus will scale down his involvement, even if he is still the largest shareholder, and attends the board meetings.
“We have a CEO who will take care that it rolls on.”
Just how the museum will do, is another major issue. If it is a success or not. Björn Ulvaeus think it may be problematic for example, during the cold season.
“We’ll adapt to to it and see how we can attract people. But if you are a foreign tourist, you know the Swedish brands like Ikea, ABBA and others. Locals I believe are not interested in ABBA.”
In the 1970s in Sweden, it was not socially acceptable to like ABBA. Culture pages printed articles where the progressive left side complained about commercial brainwashing and how detestable ABBAs ‘simple’ pop music was. The contempt – or even hatred – sometimes bordered on the kind of hate that Palme attracted.
Ingmarie Halling recently chatted with Anni-Frid Lyngstad about that time.
“She said it still is a thorn in her side when people say that they thought ABBA’s records were good but they hid them.”
Björn Ulvaeus does not think that the ‘Prog Rock’ movement (Proggen) was something that at the time he got upset about.
“We were not affected by it because we were so totally focused on what we were doing. Proggen was never ever something important, it was a marginal phenomenon. There was not a single innovative thing that came from it aside from a few songs by Nationalteatern and Hoola Bandoola that was a good band. But of course we knew that some of them were horrified and said that the fact “they sell so many records, it is somewhat suspect.” But do not forget that there was another Sweden – we had advance orders of 760,000 copies of The Album. The criticism was so peripheral.
But of course you did just create products to make money?
Björn laughs as he responds: “Haha, yes, we had a formula, a hit factory! And we were two couples who married each other as a gimmick! All those things we were accused of. But the claims have no basis other than in their own absurdity. If you listen to the songs today, they are so different from each other. We tested all sorts of styles, not knowing what it was that made people liked it. It was hurtful to hear that we did the songs on pure speculation.”
Nationalencyklopedin, the National Encyclopedia writes, among other things, that ABBA “is characterized by the carefully crafted style blends of 1970´s pop and dance music.” But not a word about the lyrics.
“Benny was the musical engine but we always wrote together. I wrote thye lyrics when there was a basic track with stuff on top, so you had a sense of what the song actually was. Lyrics have always been unfairly treated, but the songs that pervade often have high quality lyrics as well.
Björn Ulvaeus does not always remember how the lyrics came about. In recent years, he complained that many of his memories of the ABBA period have been forgotten. But it has noticeably improved in working on the ABBA Museum project, and he has been able to dig back into the past.
As with the song Fernando: “There was something in the air tonight, the stars were bright, Fernando They were shining there for you and me, for liberty, Fernando…”
I remember Frida and Benny first did it in Swedish and I thought it was such a fussy lyric when it referred to a “Latin lover”. But one night I was lying on the dock in Viggsö and looked up at the stars. And there was something in the air. Fernando had suddenly turned into an old freedom fighter!”.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/AbbaTheMuseum?fref=ts



Thursday 25 April 2013

Agnetha: Behind The Scenes Video 2


Video: Behind the Scenes with Agnetha at Stockholm Concert Hall Studio.

 


This clip is taken from a small studio in the Stockholm Concert Hall where we recorded all the strings together with Stockholm Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Agnetha sits in between technician Lasse Nilsson (left) and producer/arranger Peter Nordahl (right). Jörgen Elofsson is standing behind. Filmed by Myrra Malmberg.





Wednesday 24 April 2013

Ask Agnetha A Question !

ASK AGNETHA!

Agnetha will be in London promoting her album next week and we have been given the exciting opportunity of an exclusive Facebook interview.
Send us the question you've always wanted to ask Agnetha and we will pick our favourites and then take them to the lady herself.







 

Frida Lyngstad's Tribute To Jon Lord At Zermatt Unplugged 2013

 
Lovely tribute speech made by Frida about Jon Lord at Zermatt Unplugged 2013.
 
Watch on youtube:
 
 

 
 
 
 

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Agnetha Faltskog - Behind The Scenes Video

A nice little behind the scenes look at the making of 'The One Who Loves You Now' from Agnetha's upcoming album 'A'
 
 
 
 
 

Monday 22 April 2013

Non Stop ABBA On Waterloo Radio

 
 
This is an internet radio station that plays ABBA / Pre-ABBA / Post ABBA / ABBA Related non stop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Including Agnetha's beautiful new songs.
Based in the UK, and totally fabulous !!
Anytime you want an ABBA fix, just tune in.

Check them out on Facebook - they need followers to keep this awesome station going:

https://www.facebook.com/waterlooradio?ref=stream&hc_location=stream

Check the station out here and be sure to add it to your favourites:

http://www.radionomy.com/en/radio/waterloo-radio/index





Agnetha Faltskog 'I Was A Flower' Download Available Now !


Agnetha's single 'I Was A Flower' from her upcoming album 'A' is now available for download from Amazon.UK - but only for those in that region:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Was-A-Flower/dp/B00CBXIG6E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366588139&sr=8-1&keywords=agnetha+faltskog+I+was+a+flower


Agnetha Faltskog 'A' - Full Album Review

A fabulous review of Agnetha's new album by Gunnar Moe:

This is ”A”

The essence of the album – if you ask me; Why is love so hard to understand!

Things suddenly came flying my surprised way and I’ve had the wonderful privilege to listen to Agnetha Fältskogs totally faaaaabulous album “A”. I can tell that for all of us this will be the very pop-album of 2013 (and Agnethas best since ABBA if you ask me!)! Musically “A” has no surprises but presents our dear star back where she belongs; in pure pop-heaven for real songs – produced as we loved them in the seventies! And yes – it’s 2013 and this sounds so fresh and 2013 even if it sounds yesterday so to say!

“The One Who Loves You Now” – We do know this single! It’s absolutely brilliant!
“When You Really Loved Someone” – The first worldwide single – totally wonderfull!

Then… the rest of “A”….

“Perfume In The Breeze”: A mid-tempo pop-song theme love (of course) with a light breeze all over. Agnethas vocal is light and easy. When she starts singing you feel a split second that she is revisiting “I won’t be leaving you”. A song for sunny summerdays with cute whistling, harmonies and very recognisable Agnetha.

“I Was A Flower”: The first of the albums two fabulous drama-ballads! This one really grows on you. The mature Agnetha does this one just beautifully. “I was a flower – now look what you have done….” This will be a favourite to many fans I guess!

“I Should’ve Followed You Home” : There is a lot of expectations to this duet with Gary Barlow. Years ago the Agnetha-duet “Fly Like The Eagle” did maybe not create pop-history! There is – sorry to say – nothing outstanding with this Barlow-duet (if you ask me) - going from ballad to nicely radiofriendly midtempo in a way one has heard endlessly. It has a strong chorus and is produced very well. There are some nice echoing backing vocals here as well (by Agnetha I guess). Even if they were not recording together, their vocals blend very well together.

“Past forever” : Back to a wonderful and strong Agnetha ballad….

“Dance Your Pain Away” : The intro makes me think on german ESC; “Djengis Khan” or violins for Earth, Wind & Fire, Boney M or Baccara… hehe! Get ready for the disco!! Very seventies but I don’t get the ABBA-references mentioned to this one. Vocally the young Agnetha was maybe more powerfull for “As Good As New” or “Lay All Your Love On Me”. At the first listen through I felt this one lacked a bit more motivated vocals… that she should have given a bit more! Now I just adore it! In the chorus she sings lines such as; “Let there be rumours / Pay no attention…” With her vocal, Agnetha is the disco-queen of coolness! I imagine a dull coctailparty from 1977 that suddenly explodes into this track. At fifth time on repeat you just beg for another gin tonic before it all starts again. It’s for sure a real fun discoparty-thingy that grows on you for every listen and a perfect choice to be played at G-A-Y on May 4th.

“Bubble” : Another wonderful ballad in recognisable Agnetha-land! :)

“Back On Your Radio” : An irresistible suggarcute chorus in almost ABBA-sound (well it lacks Frida of course). It could have been even more up-tempo, but it is something very tempting about this one. I guess fans will either find it a bit sort of childish or love it. I LOVE it…hehe! Agnetha as a flirty teaser on the radio…couldn’t be better!

“I Keep Them On The Floor Beside My Bed” – with the line; “Why is love so hard to understand”. Agnetha's composition – a big ballad….. and what a fabulous composer she once again proves to be! I cried… at second listen! The torch song of the album… enough said… and yeah well – my favourite! The song sums up everything that is Agnetha Fältskog (as we know her)! Respect and thank you so much for this one Lady A!

I simply totally LOVE these songs!

Gunnar

Friday 19 April 2013

Bjorn Interview on Russian TV For ABBA The Museum

Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA) was the Special Guest at the evening TV-talkshow of the 1st Channel of Russian TV - Ostankino, Moscow, April 18' 2013
 
 
 
 
 

Agnetha Faltskog New Documentary & DVD !

"This week Agnetha has recorded a TV special in Stockholm to support the release of ' A' The filmcrew from th BBC flew over to Stockholm to meet up with a stunning looking Agnetha.

The special is to be broadcasted in May and will be included in an upcoming ultimate DVD release 'Ultimately A'."
 

 

Thursday 18 April 2013

Agnetha Faltskog On 'Today Tonight' In Australia - Video

ABBA comeback

 
 
April 18, 2013, 6:18 pm Lynda Kinkade Today Tonight
A member of the biggest pop group since the Beatles is making a comeback after turning her back on fame and fortune for a life of solitude.
 
Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha and Frida are four of the most successful singers of our time and in Australia they were bigger than the Beatles.
ABBA mania hit Melbourne's Myer Music Bowl; their success here helping launch their worldwide fame and fortune.
According to music commentator Glen A. Baker ABBA were 'the Beatles of the 70's'.
 
"There is no question about it and Australia played a huge role in it because Australia is where ABBA really broke and it was like this tsunami. They had five consecutive number one’s in Australia before the Americans largely had even like heard of them," said Baker.
The Swedish super-troupers stormed to the top of the charts time and time again.
Agnetha Faltskog was the quiet one; she was the pretty blonde with the crystal clear voice stood out in more ways than one.
"She was immensely talented. In fact, of the four who were all stars in their own right, she was the biggest star of all," Baker said.
 
When ABBA broke up in 1982, not even money could bring her and the band back together - $1 billion of it was offered and rejected by Faltskog.
The most elusive member who sang about Friday nights and the lights being low became a recluse; shunning the limelight.
"She was luminous blonde, beautiful and charismatic, but obviously a troubled soul. She felt uncomfortable about the adulation and fame," Baker said.
"I sort of went from a luxury suite to a dishpan and it was so nice," Faltskog said in an interview with Swedish Television.
Her white platform boots were packed away, along with her gold records.
"I've never been that kind of person to put up gold records and things on my wall. I'm a bit modest, I don't like putting these things on display," she said.
 
Faltskog described how she'd tried to live an ordinary life because the hysteria was too much.
"I get very anxious," she said.
Now the blonde is back. Despite saying she'd never sing again, the 62-year-old could not resist.
She was approached by a Grammy Award winning song-writer responsible for hits by Britney Spears, Céline Dion and Kelly Clarkson.
Faltskog now has a new single.
The album is entitled A while the other songs are yet to be released.
"I think it's so cool. One of the songs I've written myself and I thought it was going to be a lullaby for children but it didn't turn out like that," Faltskog said.
Music historian Bill Pennell believes the fans will be waiting to hear Faltskog's new single.
"It must be an exciting time for Agnetha because she hasn't done anything like this for a long time. She did a covers album in 2004 but that sort of got released almost in secret but this one I think will have a lot of attention. It's a really classy song and good luck to her for doing something now that she can probably do something without the pressure of being part of ABBA," Pennell added.
Fans Downunder were first to really embrace them and the love was mutual. Despite being discovered on Eurovision the Scandinavian pop quartet had many flops in the 18 months that followed, barely scrapping into the charts.
It was Australia that helped put the back on the road to success. Without the countdown, Mama Mia would not have been a single, let alone a highly successful musical and film. An ABBA special shown in Australia out-rated the landing on the moon.
Anticipated by millions of ABBA fans worldwide, Faltskog's brand new material will be snapped up on release by Michael Young.
"I've heard the single, I've seen the video for the single and I would describe it as a classy song, a classy production, a classy video. She looks amazing. Probably the best she's looked in a very, very long time. Her stylist is brilliant," Young said.
The ABBA fanatic started the ABBA fan club in Australia.
"I wrote to Sweden and got permission and away it went. They started sending me beautiful posters and records when they were released and all that sort of thing, so that was a great privilege," Young said.
“Now we have Agnetha releasing a new album which is just really exciting to get something new from any of them. But the person we least expect it from is Agnetha because she tends to keep to herself."
The last time Faltskog sang so passionately about love or rather lost love was shortly after her divorced Bjorn.
Faltskog’s new album is due to be released next month.
 
 

Monday 15 April 2013

ABBA The Museum Ticket & T-Shirt Auction

ABBA The Museum - autographed ticket


We received a very nice ticket signed by all four ABBA members from Mattias Hansson, the CEO of ABBA The Museum. He gave it to us so we can auction it off to make some extra money for our Fan Club. Altogether, there are only 20 tickets like this one (valid on any day from the 7th May onwards), which can be yours. We will also auction off a rare ABBA The Museum T-shirt (specially made for the commercial they have produced). The auction is starting today on eBay; ticket and t-shirt.




Sunday 14 April 2013

Three ABBA Members Confirmed For Museum Opening

  • Björn visited Helsinki, Finland this past week for some more promotion for ABBA The Museum. On Wednesday 10 April, he watched the performance of Kristina at Svenska Teatern. On Thursday 11 April, along with Mattias Hansson and Visit Sweden, he held a press conference for ABBA The Museum at Finlandia Hall´s café. Björn said that since so many Finns visit Sweden, it is important to spread the information about the museum in Finland. When asked if was there any item from the ABBA era he did not want to give to the museum, Björn said that he had never been the collecting type, so he has given away everything that he has found.

    Appearing live on the Finnish morning programme "Min Morgon" the same day, Björn said that he and Benny have been very pleased with the Kristina production at Svenska Teatern. He said he will also attend the final performance on 23 May. The interview (with English subtitles) can be viewed here.

    When asked if the members will be attending the opening, Björn told Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat: "Agnetha will be in London promoting her new album. But the other three will all be there."

    Speaking with Hufvudstadsbladet (Hbl), Finland's post popular Swedish-language newspaper, Björn said that the collobration with the theatre will continue as Mamma Mia! will premiere there in September 2014, though no contract has yet been signed.
  • Björn also recorded an interview for "Hjalliksen kanssa", a Finnish TV talk show hosted by Hjallis Harkimo, which airs on Thursday nights on the MTV3 channel in Finland.

    Thanks to Pentti Koponen


  • Thursday 11 April 2013

    New ABBA Photo Book Coming In 2014 !

     


    We are delighted to announce the production of the first major official photographic book on ABBA. This 400-page book will feature iconic images of the band, unseen shots by leading professional photographers of the era, as well as a selection of private pictures. The title is ABBA – THE PHOTO ALBUM.

    Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid are contributing with their foreword and providing comments and personal insights to accompany the 500 classic, rare and previously unseen images in the book that document the complete story of the band.
     
    The book’s images will document the early years, the formation and rise in popularity of the group, the international breakthrough performance at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton and subsequent global superstardom. The book will also feature photographs that provide insight into the four band members’ subsequent careers, including the international success of the musicals Chess and Mamma Mia.

    We have chosen to work with Max Ström, one of Europes finest illustrated publishers, to produce the book. The book will be created by the award-winning picture editor Bengt Wanselius and the text is written by Petter Karlsson, one of Sweden’s most talented writers. They have so far gone through more than 20,000 pictures to find the best for the book!

    ABBA The Photo Album will be published in April 2014, marking precisely 40 years to the month since the band’s international career was launched by its winning performance of Waterloo at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest.

    It will be a great book and we can promise you pictures you’ve never seen before!