Biographic - Sunday July 13, 2008 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

Agnetha Falkskog was only 18 years old when she topped the Swedish pop charts with "I Was So In Love" she starred in the swedish production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" before meeting Bjor Ulvaeus of the Hootenanny Singers within two years they were married Bjorn's bandmate Benny Anderson acting as organist at the ceremony. Recruiting Benny's girlfriend, Norwegian Anni-Frid Lyngstad, they teamed up as the quartet that eventually became known as ABBA, they won the 1974, Erovision song contest, an event broadcast live on TV throughout song contest, an event broadcast live on tv throughtou Europe. With "Waterloo" an infectious track that quickly took ABBA onto th world's pop charts. A string of hit singles, including "Dancing Queen" "Take A Chance On ME" and "Knowing Me, Knowing You" made ABBA global superstars. In 1977, when the group played two nights at London's Albert Hall, there were 3.5 million applications for tickets! In late 1978, Benny and Frida were quietly married- but just weeks later, Agnetha and Bjorn's marriage ended. The band soldiered on, the split adding poignancy to the likes of "The Winner Takes It All" but by the time Benny and Frida separated in 1981, the writing was on the wall. By the 1983, Agnetha and Frida were pursuing solo venture, while Benny and Bjorn collaborated with Tim Rice on the musical "Chess" ABBA was effecively over- but the songs live on, thanks to their inclusion in various movies, and homages from everyone to Erasure to U2. The ABBA stage musical Mamma Mia debuted in 199, and has been a worldwide success spawning a 2008 movie version. Yet despite offers to reunite - including a reported billion dollar concert guarantee in 2000- the four members of ABBA have steadfastly declined to perform together again.

Tags