ABBA's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus join Simon
Fuller for dinner in London after it's announced they're working on a
'groundbreaking venture'
They recently sparked excitement among their fans by announcing they were reuniting for a special virtual project.
And
ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus, 71, and Benny Andersson, 69, joined music mogul
Simon Fuller, 56, to discuss business over dinner at Ristorante
Frescobaldi in Mayfair, London, on Friday night.
The
famous musicians put on dapper displays, with Bjorn wearing a grey
overcoat covering a turquoise shirt as well as dark trousers, black
shoes and a grey scarf.
Benny
dressed in a black suit jacket, a grey sweater and white shirt. He
teamed the items with black jeans and shiny black shoes.
The musician slicked back his mid-length locks and also wore specs and rocked a silver beard.
Simon looked
in fine spirits smiling as he accompanied Bjorn to the eatery.
He dressed all in black, combining a leather jacket with a shirt, smart
trousers and Chelsea boots.
A
full scale comeback might not be on the cards, but the pop quartet are
set to give loyal fans the next best thing by reuniting for a ‘virtual
digital entertainment experience’ in the new year.
The
Swedish band have joined forces with Simon for the project, described
as a ‘a groundbreaking venture that will utilise the very latest in
digital and virtual-reality technology … which will enable a new
generation of fans to see, hear, and feel ABBA in a way previously
unimagined.’
In
a statement released on Wednesday, Fuller explained: ‘We are exploring a
new technological world that will allow us to create new forms of
entertainment and content we couldn't have previously imagined,’
News of
their latest venture comes 34-years after the band stopped recording as a
group and four months after they reformed for a one-off concert at a
private gala event in their native Stockholm.
The
group, comprised of married couples Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus,
Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, became one of the most
commercially successful pop acts of all time after winning the
Eurovision Song Contest in 1974.
But
after topping charts across mainland Europe, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand South Africa, Ireland and the United Kingdom - where they scored
eight consecutive number one albums - the band performed for the last
time in 1982.
While
never announcing a formal split, the group's retreat from the spotlight
was believed to be prompted by the collapse of their marriages; both
couples divorced in 1980.
Reflecting
on their new project, Andersson said: 'We’re inspired by the limitless
possibilities of what the future holds and are loving being a part of
creating something new and dramatic here.
'A time machine that captures the essence of who we were. And are.'
Lyngstad
added: 'Our fans around the world are always asking us to reform and so
I hope this new creation will excite them as much as it excites me!'
Despite
disbanding almost four decades ago, the group have maintained an
enduring appeal thanks to their extensive back catalogue of hits, among
them Waterloo, The Winner Takes It All, SOS and Dancing Queen.
The
enormously popular musical Mama Mia, which draws inspiration from the
band's music, has also helped preserve their legacy while grossing for
the £2 billion in revenue since its launch in 1999.
A film of the same name starring Colin Firth, Meryl Street and Pierce Brosnan was released in 2008.
To
celebrate the news, Google Play Music has released the most streamed
ABBA songs globally. The top ten include favourites such as Dancing
Queen, Mamma Mia and Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
