Mikory's ABBA-blog

Mamma Mia! for Mentor

Frida attended the Mentor Foundation's charity performance of Mamma Mia!. It raised SEK 950.000.

It was a fantastic evening!
"This is social problem tha involves more than just drugs. It's about feeling loved. If you are loved when you are young you have a better chance not to get caught up in drug use. We have a responsibility as adults to guide and treat our children with dignity. We must not give up!"

The quote above comes from Frida who was one of the speakers for Mentor before the gala charity performance of the musical Mamma Mia!. After the show dinner for 200 guests was served. A total of SEK 950.000 was raised to support Mentor's work.
     Read more about Mentor here.

At home with Frida 1994

In May 1994 Swedish radio journalist Ulf Elfving got the chance to interview Frida in her home in Fribourg, Switzerland. At that time she was much more of a private person, she had only done a couple of appearances after her latest album "Shine". As always she is very open and speaks her mind. I find this interview very interesting and I hope you will too. The interview was aired on Friday 13 May 1994 on a radioshow called "Efter tre".

In the horizon we have the high alps with snow on top of them and closer, in front of us there are some green hills and valleys with small woods and a few houses scattered here and there. A very tranquil and calm view I would say. Don't you agree? asks Frida.

Oh yes, very relaxing. Have you changed as a person after a long and successfull career, a number of hectic years with ABBA, a couple of years living in London and Paris. And now you live here in the countryside. Are you a different human being now?
    I'm not a different human being, I'm myself here. Maybe I was a different person when I was living in those big cities, when I led a very hectic life within the frame of my success. Here I feel I have found the Frida that I really am. I have found strong harmony, another belief in myself and in life compared to the life I used to have.
    Is, and was, the popmusic industry an unnatural environment, which deforms people?
Every environment that is limiting like the music industry actually is is naturally not a good place for you in the long run. Mainly because your outlook on "real" life becomes so limited. Naturally it's a difficult place to be in, because when you are in the middle of such a big career as we were after all, with a lot of pressure coming at you from everywhere. That leads to trying to close yourself in, so that you can have some kind of privacy resembling a normal life.
     When did you start to feel that you have had enough?
    It was a natural development, we never did decide that ABBA was going to end. It just happened, Björn and Benny really wanted to write musicals, and we were no longer two couples. And the fact that we had been working together for quite a long time, it was almost twelve years.
     You left the business, you left Sweden, you lived in London for some years. During those years we didn't hear anything from or about you. What where you doing?
     (laughs) I didn't do very much actually. There was a lot of of turbulence in my life. It was just after the divorce from Benny, I guess I wasn't feeling very well. I tried to search in my life what I wanted and should do. What I wanted to dedicate my life to. The kind of question we all have to ask ourselves every now and then. This period gave me the time to go on this quest and so I did for several years. I had a house in Mallorca during these years and I spent a lot of time there contemplating my life,  how I felt, what I believed would be most important to me.
     Do you have any contact with the other three ABBA-members today?
     No more than the occassional meetings and then mainly with Benny and Björn. The reason we meet is that they are working in the same house in Stockholm as Görel (from Polar Music) who I still work with is, she is the one I have most contact with. So it happens that I meet Björn and Benny every now and then and we just exchange a few words. But we don't socialize, since I live in Switzerland and they still live in Sweden, so that's really not convenient.

     We are sitting here in your magnificent house in Fribourg in Switzerland. What kind of life do you live here today?
     Yes, here I live a very calm and quiet and reserved life. I live together with my family and our dog and we love it. There were years in my life that were very hectic, I travelled alot during my career. So this life today feels like a reward for the tough tempo I once was a part of.

    You have a competely different outlook on life now. Did that change immediately?
    I guess you could say that my life philosophy has a deeply religious foundation, if that's what you mean?
     Have you always beleived in God?
     Yes, I have, but not very actively during the career years, but as a child I was deeply religious, so I guess you can say that it has come full circle. I live with my faith again and I live close to the nature that I love so much.
     Do you go to church?
     No, I don't go to church, at least not very often. I don't need a temple to live with my faith, but I pray several times a day, that is part of my daily routine.
     Lots of people would love to hear you sing again.
     I have sung a couple of times after I retired.
     Yes, but why not a new album?
     That is an ongoing discussion. It varies a lot. Görel is trying to convince me. I'm really torn, some days I really want to do it and then there are other days when I say never again, I do not want to go through all that again. But it's not impossible that some day in the future I might do something with my singing again.

     Here we are in your home, I have looked into another room and I saw a lot of gold records on the walls, some with "ABBA" on them and some with "FRIDA". And in that room there is only a few of all the ones you got. Do you know how many you have?
     (laughs) No, I really don't. I have never counted them.

     Do you miss ABBA?
     No, I don't miss ABBA, it was a different kind of life which gave me such great joy, but now I live another type of life which brings me another kind of joy.
     Why, do you think, did ABBA become so successfull all over the world and why is the success coming back again now?
    I would assume that the timing was right, our music was good, the constellation of members were a good constellation. Stikkan Anderson, not to be forgotten, who ran ABBA like a business company in a very, very efficient and successfull way. And all the people who were involved around us. All of this combined is the reason it became such a huge success. The reason the music is getting popular again now can be due to the facts that there aren't very many good melodies right now. Maybe that's part of it. I guess there are lots of reasons.

     Which is your favourite ABBA-memory?
     One really strong memory is when we arrived in Australia to do our tour there. At that time neither I nor the others had understood how big we were in Australia. From the airport in the city of Melbourne people were standing along the roads with placards and streamers to show us how much they liked us in Australia. Then we were greeted by the Mayor of Melbourne and we had to go out on the balcony, like royals to meet the cheering crowds and wave to them! It was a fantastic experience, especially since it wasn't anything we had expected. We didn't have any expectations at all really, and then we get this fantastic welcome it was totally unreal for us four Swedes. I remember it as a very touching moment, I started to cry, that's how deeply it affected me.

     What has ABBA meant to you?
     It meant that I achieved the success I had been striving for ever since I was a child. It meant that I have become financially independent, which wasn't something I strived for, but it was a bonus after the success. And it has given me a freedom which I definitely wouldn't have had otherwise. Since ABBA has given me all of this it's natural that ABBA means a lot to me, there's no way to deny that.

     We don't talk much about it nowadays, but during your career you met quite a lot of resistance against your music for long periods of time.
Yes, we did. And apparantly it wasn't only in Sweden. I got a letter the other day from the ABBA Fan Club in Australia, where the chairman of the fanclub writes in the magazine, of which he sent me a copy, how good it is nowadays when you can be open about liking ABBA. Back in the 70's you couldn't if you were an ABBA-fan. You had to sneak around and hide your ABBA-records.

     You had quite a lot of money, and I guess that made many people jealous?
     Yes, and I think that had a lot to do with it. Since the leftwing movement in Sweden during the 70's, who ruined a lot of things, not just the music scene. But let's not talk politics.

     So ABBA were affected by political winds?
     Yes, I definitely think we were. And in the late 70's we were awarded Expressen's (Expressen = Swedish tabloid newspaper) Culture Prize. I accepted it with mixed emotions. On one hand I didn't want to accept it, but on the other it was a sign that we had finally been accepted.
     A small revenge?
     Yes, yes in a way I guess it felt like a revenge.

     You have been called the smartest in ABBA. You sold your stocks in time and got out of the business with more money than any of the others.
     (laughs) No, I don't think it had anything to do with being smart. It was just timing. Benny and I got divorced and I wanted to leave the country due to the fact that I felt all the media were after me all the time. So when I decided to move I naturally went through my finances, that is something I always do very carefully. Then my selling of the stocks in the company happened to coincide when the prices were high. It was just pure coincidence.

     In this era of reunions, don't you think ABBA should reuinte? At least for one time?
     No, I don't think so. I think time has passed by ABBA. Even though our music is popular again. Most of what we did was recorded in the 70's and it's now 1994. That's quite a lot of years.

    Memories should remain memories?
     Yes, memories should remain memories. Something to look back to fondly. It can be pathetic when you get middleaged people together to recreate something that happened so long ago.

     Do you still get fan mail?
     Oh yes, they still write to me and it's both good and not so good. I mean, I have retired from the public life so it becomes a constant reminder that I'm someone special in some people's eyes. Which is something I always have had problems coming to terms with. The idea that I should be so much more special than anyone else. I have never had the feeling of being "a star" ever, in any way. But when you are reminded that you mean a lot that's OK when it comes to your family and private relationships. But this whole thing with the fans is a stage I'm over in a way. It was something that came along with our success in the 70's. Back then the fans was a huge part of our success. Now it's not. So that is why I think it can be a bit intrusive.

    In which ways do the fans contact you?
    Well, nowadays it's only via letter. All letters are very positive and they ask for an autographed picture. That's the "normal" kind of letter, quite harmless. But there has been terror with stalking via telephone, something I really can't accept since I think it's an invasion of my privacy. And, I have never said this before....: Everyone says how nice Frida is to her fans, but I do think that the fans can be a pain sometimes. When they try to "own" you. Many times you give a little of yourself and it only leads to them wanting more and more. And they adapt a sort of a snobbery and think that "they know Frida" and use that against other fans to get a better status in their group. I really find it difficult to accept it when people live their lives through others. It's totally unnatural to me.

     So you have had many difficult moments with your fans?
     Yes, I have had that, I'm willing to admit to that. Especially since it's something you're not supposed to talk about. Your fans is something you're supposed to take care of at all cost. But, and I really want to point that out that there are so many wonderful and nice fans who has given me a lot, who has been humble and have been understanding about my situation. It's only the ones who don't have that understanding that makes it very unpleasant.

     How is it here in Fribourg? Can you go to the market and do your shopping without getting noticed?
     Oh yes, absolutely and that's the wonderful thing in this country, I get left alone. People around know of course who I am, but it's in another way. They might think it's exciting that there's a former ABBA-member living here, but they show that by being very helpfull and accomodating. Not curious. And, besides, I have changed my looks a lot since the 70's. Back then I had long fiery red hair and now I look very normal, like any woman going to the market to do her shopping.

     How do you see your future? Will you stay here and grow old and enjoy what has been and what is?
     Yes, especially enjoy what is. I welcome each day that comes to me. And I would definitely not mind getting older here. I think Switzerland is a fantastic, beautiful place to grow old.

     So you don't want to go home to Sweden when you get older?
     I find it hard to answer that question. I'm so happy with my life here right now and I live together with my man who has connections to Sweden, but he has lived most part of his adult life abroad. "Wherever my husband goes - I will follow!" (she says in English and laughs)
     That's how it is?
     Yes, that's how it is - it's out of love!

    Then I would like to thank you Frida for letting me into your home. What kind of music are you listening to nowadays?
     It was great having you here and let me point out that you are the first journalist, and probably the last, who ever will get access to my home. Talking of music, I try to keep up to date by asking Görel to send a bunch of Swedish CDs every now and then. Right now am I listening to Rebecka Törnkvist, who I think is very talented.

Frida interview from 1973

Recently got this interview from the Swedish magazine "Min Värld", issue number 10, 1973.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad about her struggle with hopelessness and depressions:
BENNY GIVES ME COURAGE IN MY DARKEST MOMENTS
     - Last summer it wa something began to happen with me, says Anni-Frid Lyngstad. I had a new inner security, something I've been missing before. A new harmony in my existance.
     - I had taken the whole summer off and my two children were here with me. I was able to relax and felt very good. And the whole time my relationship with Benny was also very nice and harmonic.
     - Then, when I started to work in the fall - on a tour with Roffe Berg - then I suddenly felt the change. Suddenly it was such a joy to work. I dared to let go like never before. I felt more free and more secure.
     Frida has had some success lately, both as a solo artist and in a group together with her fiancé Benny Andersson and their best friends Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus. Just recently they had a number one hit on Europatoppen.
     Anni-Frid has had the chance to travel around in the world. This winter she sang in Japan. Recently she participated in a song festival in Venezuela for a week. She has done television in Austria.
     - In some way it feels much more fun to sing this year, says Frida. And what I'm most pleased about is that it's going so well for the four of us. I like it best when I sing together with the others. Then I get a feeling of security from them. We have a security among us. I don't have to feel alone, little, scared and nervous. And it's wonderful to work together with Benny.

     - Benny means so much to me, both in private and in my work. He is always there for me. He gives me strength.
     - I used to think it was difficult to work and live together. That it would make you tired of each other when you're together all the time. But now, when we are more settled in our relationship and we feel safe with each other, it's just comfortable.
     - Benny and I are quite different, and naturally there has been conflicts and missunderstandings sometimes. Benny is more outgoing, happy and positive. I'm more of a serious kind of person.
     - I'm sensitive and can get depressed, fall into dark periods when everything feels difficult and insurmountable. Last spring, for example, I was having a time like that. One thinks everything is pointless and boring. You want to reinvent yourself. Maybe change what you are doing. Sometimes I have even thought about giving up the singing. I've been thinking "what am I doing"?
     - During times like that Benny is always there for me and he gives me new courage. He won't accept that I let myself fall down into darkness and despair, instead he makes me do something. And I have become much move even tempered now, calmer.
     - Benny has a lot of patience with me, and with everything. He is warm and tender. I can talk with him about anything, I don't have to keep feeling bottled up inside. When you feel that someone like Benny cares so much for you - then it becomes an enormous strength. It makes you strong. And safe.
     - I could never live on my own. I have a very big need to live together with someone. Before I met Benny - after I left my old life in Eskilstuna - I was alone for quite a while. It was horrible! I could never stand to go through that again.
     - The most important thing for me is together with someone and make it work. The career comes second.

Anni-Frid has been married before and has two children, Hans, 10 years old and Lotta, 6 years old. They mostly live with their father in Eskilstuna, but regularly comes to visit Anni-Frid and Benny.
     - Being together with my children is also very important to me, says Anni-Frid. If I didn't have the children, my life would seem empty! Benny and the children are the best I have.
     - I have a very good relationship with my children. It's very good when you can have that arrangement after a divorce. It has never been a problem for us. Never any conflicts or a tug-of-war over the children. We have arranged it the way we both feel is the best for the children. And now they are old enough to understand how it works.
     - Sometimes they can be with me for weeks. It's good for their father to get some rest every now and then, since he has them most of the time. Naturally, I have missed them terribly sometimes, but we do have each other. We talk to each other over the phone several times a week. It's such a nice feeling when I pick up the phone and hear "- Hi it's Hans, how are you?". They tell me about everything, their likes and dislikes. About when they recently had the chicken pox. How Hans is doing in school. He is in the fourth grade now. I like it when they turn to me, I enjoy giving them advice and help.

The children often comes and visit Anni-Frid and Benny at their house in Vallentuna, where they moved about a year ago. There the children have their own room. Sometimes during the holidays both Anni-Frid's two children and Benny' s two come at the same time. That makes for a lively time in the house.
     - It's wonderful to live outside of the city, says Anni-Frid. We have the woods just around the corner. It's everything we dreamed it would be. We often take long walks and go skiing when there's snow. It's such a difference to the small city apartment and the air is so much cleaner.
     - Last summer the children spent a lot of time here with me. Hans went to camp for a while, but Lotta was here all summer. We spent almost all of our time at the local swimmingpool, swimming and sunbathing.
     - Benny and I don't plan on having any more children, we already have four together. But I guess you never know.

We are still working on the house. There is still a lot to be done. It takes time to get a house in order. We have done alot of the work ourselves. We did the new upholstery on the couches together and I have been sewing curtains and covers for the furniture.
     - I enjoy doing things around the house. It's mostly me who does the cooking. I like experimenting. Benny is not so fond of cooking, but he doesn't mind cleaning. We live like most families in our spare time. We watch TV, talk, read, take walks with our dog. I draw and paint and I enjoy sewing. I have always liked that. Last year I went through Tillskärarakademien to learn how sew professionally.
     - We have discussed getting married. But we haven't - as strange as it may sound - had the time to do it yet! Mainly because we have decided that once we do get married we will have a three day long wedding party! We will invite all our friends and have a great time. The ceremony itself is really not that important to us, but we want that as well. We do want a church wedding and I want to wear a long, white dress.
     - We talk a lot about music at our home of course. It's both a hobby and our profession. Lately the four of us, Benny and I and Björn and Agnetha, have spent almost all our time together. Especially since we are neighbours here in Vallentuna now. And it's working out great. The first time when we worked together it became quite heated, it was on a restaurant tour a couple of years ago. Back then we didn't know each other that well. But now we have learned to discuss without any hard words among us.
     - We really ought to get a group name. Right now we just use our names, but Björn, Agnetha and Frida are difficult to pronounce abroad. Right now we are working on an album in English together. And this spring there will be a TV-show and a radio show where we will be hosting. During summer we will go on tour in the folk parks for three months. But it will only be Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Benny and Björn are working as producers during the normal weekdays. I plan to have some time off and I think the children will come and visit me again.

WOW! Frida boxset release 31 October!

I just read the fantastic news at the official ABBA-site. It looks great, a four CD and one DVD box set. And the really good news, in my opinion, is that the DVD will contain TV-appearances from Frida's very first time on Swedish TV in 1967 up until now 2005! This is really good news!

Here's the pressrelease from Universal:

Frida's 60th birthday celebrated with CD and DVD box set
Frida – Her voice captures notes as precisely as it does the listener’s heart.
For four decades Frida’s distinctive voice has mesmerized us in everything from 60s schlager, to big band jazz in which her voice hits notes with precision, elegance and skill, to ABBA’s decade-long international success with Frida and Agnetha’s voices creating unique resonance, to her work post-ABBA and the release of three very different and exciting albums in the 80s and 90s.
    This year Frida celebrates her 60th birthday with the release of this special box set collection of her four solo albums and DVD.
     Recorded in 1975 as Frida was in the middle of her ABBA career, ”Frida Ensam” was influenced by the ABBA sound and included the Björn and Benny-penned “Fernando” in Swedish, a song that would later become a staple of ABBA’s repertoire.
     Following ABBA’s breakup in 1982, Frida recorded “Something’s Going On” in Polar Studios with Phil Collins. The album was a huge success.
     In 1984 Frida teamed up with another talented Englishman, Steve Lilywhite, behind the mixer. The result was the innovative, very modern “Shine".
     In 1996 Frida recorded her most recent album,”Djupa Andetag”, in Swedish with producer Anders Glenmark.
     From the breathtaking Swiss Alps, Frida shares with us her thoughts on her influences, musical role models, fans, her development and her private life and their impact on her 40-year music career.
     The DVD contains over three hours of clips from Swedish television appearances as well as videos spanning Frida’s career, and her work with Phil Collins and other international stars.
Follow Frida from her 1967 debut and breakthrough in Hylands hörna to her favorite club in Zermatt in the summer of 2005.

Release: October 31st
Cat no box: 602498735046 (NTSC version), 602498735039 (PAL version)
Box includes: 4Cds + 1 DVD + 20 page booklet
Cat no DVD amarey box: 602498735015 (NTSC version), 602498735008 (PAL version)
Track listing coming soon...

ABBA in Australia 1976

Lots of police. Airports closed down. Screaming fans of all ages from 10 years old and upwards. Hotel entrances besieged.
     Does it sound like a description of a Beatles or Rolling Stones' visit in Sweden in the midsixties?
     This is about a Swedish group this time. ABBA's popularity on the other side of the world culminated in endless rows of pressconferences - most of them shown on TV (!) during the groups ten day visit in the beginning of March.

ABBA IN AUSTRALIA -
A FORMIDABLE TRIUMPH
The parallell with the Beatles is not a Swedish idea. Australia, which didn't experience the pop era's breakthrough as intensely 10 years ago, has become a huge record market during the 70's.
     - The second best market after Scandinavia for us, Benny beamed in front of the hundreds of radio and TV-microphones which accompanied ABBA in Sydney and Melbourne. Both are large cities, together they are the homes of half of the 14 million Australian citizens.
     And flattered Australian reporters thanked, smiled and timidly asked for autographs. To them songs like Mamma Mia, I Do I Do, Waterloo, Honey Honey and whatever they are called are pop music of the highest carat.
     - Australia simply love ABBA's image of proper and well dressed youth, explained Mr. Lionel McCabe, one of the initiator of ABBA's long trip "down under".
     - No other group has ever had 3-4 songs in the charts at the same time. That's what we think is one explanation that says it all.
     ABBA's clothes are also very popular. Everyone was surprised when Anni-Frid Lyngstad time and time again had to explain that they are made by two gentlemen from Stockholm, Owe Sandström and Lars Wigenius. Together they have a company called Artistdressing; even Lill-Babs use their services for their great ideas. Owe Sandström is also a biologist and teaches at Spånga high school.
     Since Sweden hasn't had the chance to see ABBA's new clothes yet having a look at these pages will give you an idea.
     Most of the time in Australia was spent in TV-studios. Some were last-minute-calls to join talkshows. And for the other part there was the production of a 45 minute TV-special, which Mr. McCabe is hoping to be able to sell to TV networks in Europe.
     - But then of course we will have to add some kangaroos and koala bears, Stikkan Anderson insisted. He is a man who thinks ahead all the time.
     We have to feel a little bit sorry for ABBA though. Imagine - in Australia now there's a beautiful, hot late summer. With tantalizing beaches, espceially around Sydney, beuatiful green golf courses, emerald green swimmingpools for the ones who don't dare to force the barricades of autograph hunters outside the hotell.
     - It's enough to drive you mad, mumbled Agnetha Fältskog, more than once. Now when we have the chance to get a nice tan, we have to travel around in limousines.
     Oh well, in the end they did manage to get one day off. ABBA got to meet kangaroo babies. The Ulvaeus family - Björn and Agnetha - even though of buying one. Their daughter Linda, 3, who is at home on Lidingö has no pets since they had to leave the family dog to their relatives.

THIS ARTICLE COMES FROM HÄNT I VECKAN, APRIL 1976

The Guys Write The SongsThe Girls Make The Clothes

From Swedish pop magazine "GO" 1974.

It's hard to deny that ABBA have had a bigger success than any other Scandinavian group. Even when they won in the Melodi Grand Prix, it wasn't sure that it was "Waterloo" that would become the million copy seller. There has been winners before who hasn't sold hardly any copies. But, as Björn Ulvaeus says:
     - We are also the only ones who have written a Grand Prix winner for 20 year olds.

The Guys
Write The Songs,
The Girls Make
The Clothes
He is totally correct about that. It's possible that the fate of the songs in the finally are decided by 45 year old judges, but at their age they don't go out and buy many records. On the other hand, that is what ABBA's fan base do and that's very lucky for them.
    "Waterloo" has sold over 3.000.000 copies world wide - and it has been a smash hit all thorugh Europe, in the US and in Japan. The fact it got so high in the US is probably the most important. Because America is a place where they never have done any promotion on TV, since The Melody Grand Prix is something totally unknown there. But ABBA managed to get a break there - unlike Slade, Gary Glitter and T. Rex - who all three of them have had a lot bigger staff for publicity.

FASHION DESIGNERS
While Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson consistently write ABBA's melodies - also the newly released hit single "Honey Honey" taken from their album "Waterloo" - the girls Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad are working as consultants in cool clothes. It's them who are behind the colourfull and smart clothes.
     Even earlier when the quartett had minor success with "Ring Ring" they were still making solo albums at the same time. That time is over now. ABBA has become such a big thing that there simply isn't any time to do anything else. And don't forget there are children to consider. Agnetha and Björn have one, Benny and Anni-Frid two.
     The fall will be the time of the live performances. They are going to introduce themselves in all of Europe - and in the US - and they have some of the best musicians with them to help. Björn and Benny are not satisfied just singing, so Björn plays guitarr and Benny organ or electric piano.

NEW ALBUM BEFORE CHRISTMAS
The sequel to "Waterloo" has already been recorded without too many problems. Abroad there will be a re-release of "Ring Ring". In Sweden, Denmark and Norway "Honey Honey" taken from the album will be released. And it's not impossible at all that they will be able to get more song from the Waterloo album as singles, which at least has 4-5 potenital hits.
     But that's making it easy for you. And ABBA don't do things that way. They have spent the summer to create new material for a single and an LP which will be ready just in time before Christmas.
     The audience have to accept that neither Björn nor Benny have time to work with Hootenanny Singers or Hep Stars, and that they hardly will have any time writing songs for and producing other Polar Music artists recordings.
      With ABBA Sweden got it's first internationally sounding group and now it's time to step up to the plate and make their mark with even more and even better records. That is something ABBA's manager Stikkan Anderson knows far to well. That is why they are working so hard right now.

The show that fascinated everyone

Here's another 1977 German article. I still to this day can't figure out why the press at least in writing could get the girl's names right. I understand the whole Anna-thing, Agnetha is difficult to pronounce, but why Annafrid? Never mind, here's the article.
     Thanks to Matthias for the translation, and to Michael for giving me the article.

Far away in Perth (Australia) on the 12th of March ABBA's triumphant world-tour ended in front of 20.000 spectators in the Entertainment Centre. 26 sold-out concerts, 82 hours in the plane and nearly five weeks of living in hotels have passed for Anna,  Björn, Annafrid and Benny. In ABBA's staff there were 35 people who were travelling with four tons of equipment in three lorries, one coach, three limos and one private jet.     
     - The enthusiasm and the success that came along with the tour were amazing, said Benny after the last concert. But now all 4 of us are really happy that we can relax on our Swedish island for the next three weeks.
     Particularly Anna and Annafrid are glad to have their men just for themselves again.     
     - Often I only saw Björn on stage and in bed, Anna said. And Annafrid admits:
     - I quite liked it, to be on stage again and entertain a grateful audience.

THE ABBA-GIRLS HAVE done a great job every evening: Annafrid, when she was dancing on stage wearing tight velvet pants doing her turns with the microphone and clapping her hands on her legs with feeling. Or think of Anna, when she got rid of her robe after the show started just to show her cool dress, that fits like a second skin. Even better when both girls were twisting around wearing glamorous wigs and short dancing dresses. We show you the greatest pictures of the ABBA-gig on the following pages.     
     - I wouldn't have thought we looked that hot, said the blond Anna when she looked at these BRAVO-pictures.     
     Björn and Benny, always a bit the odd ones out when the girls started their great show, had to confess:      
     - It's a weird feeling when you realize that your girl is beeing watched by thousands of eyes. Sometimes you even start to get jelous...

BY GERALD BÜCHERLMAIER

The new book, what a nice surprise!

I wrote earlier this summer about the new ABBA book for kids 9-12 years old. Today I got it. And what a nice surprise it was! It's not that big, approx 15 x 20 cm in size and 80 pages and it's in Swedish. But it has some great photos! I love it when different  (however slightly) pictures from well known photo shoots are made available for us faithful fans. I didn't expect much after I saw the cover - how overused is that photo?
     The author, Helena Bross, has previously published easy-to-read books about Olof Palme and Astrid Lindgren. The ISBN number is 9163846195.
     The pressrelease says:
"ABBA" is the third book in a series of easy-read-biographies of famous people. It includes unique pictures from private collections.
   "ABBA" is the story about four young people who made music that still lives on and continues to fascinate and spread happiness to generation after generation. Always popular, now with the successfull musical "Mamma Mia!".
     Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson met by chance when their music groups Hootenanny Singers and Hep Stars were touring. They had fun together at a party one night and it ended with them sitting in a flower bed singing together. It was the beginning of a long collaboration.
     A couple of years later was Björn engaged to Agnetha and Benny to Anni-Frid. They realized that the two girls' voices sounded great together. Maybe the four of them should perform together? The first try was a failure. They put together a stageshow at a restaurant in Gothenburg. The music was not written by themselves and they told bad jokes. They promised each other never to be on the same stage again after this experience.
     But something happened. Björn and Benny started to write songs together.
   In 1973 they participated in Melodifestivalen with the song "Ring Ring". Later that year Stikkan Anderson came up with the name ABBA by using the initials from the group member's first names.
     The year after they won the whole contest with a bang, first at home in Sweden and then in Brighton with the song Waterloo". They immediately got successfull in Europe and became stars overnight.
     When the group disbanded in 1982 they had had some tough years trying to stay on top.