Abba Back Together Again -- In A Book
Swedish Supergroup Works Together For First Time Since Band Split
For the first time since their breakup, the 1970s pop icons have agreed to cooperate on a book. The result is a glossy tribute to their enduring appeal.
From Japanese karaoke bars to Australian transvestite clubs, the Abba phenomenon shows no signs of running out of steam.
The hit London musical "Mamma Mia," which is based on their songs, is eloquent proof of that. Put on "Dancing Queen" at a party anywhere in the world, and Abba imitators will be quick to come out of the woodwork.
And so "From Abba to Mamma Mia" by pop historian Carl Magnus Palm and photographer Andres Hanser is being energetically promoted at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where 80 percent of the world's rights deals are clinched each year.
"This is a labor of love for the fans," KT Forster, managing director of entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Publishing, told Reuters.
"This is the first time that the four have agreed to cooperate on a book since they split up," she said.
The ex-band members, also ex-husbands and wives, provided photographs and archival material for the project.
"The whole experience was exhausting to all of them. The two girls have become reclusive," she said.
All four -- Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Frida -- came together to sign the foreword to the lavishly illustrated book, telling photographer Hanser, "We have really enjoyed Carl Magnus' and your book and so will our children and grandchildren."
The book, published by the thousands across Britain, Australia and the United States, has yet to come out in other languages than English. Virgin is now negotiating the rights for the rest in global deals at Frankfurt.
Publisher Forster was the first to confess: "I am not immune to doing 'Dancing Queen' at the drop of a hat. It is a '70s anthem as the Beatles' 'Let It Be' was for the '60s.
"It is perfect party music, and gays love it too -- real diva stuff. This is iconic music."
The music of the now lives on in "Mamma Mia," which has been playing to capacity houses in London ever since its premiere.
Benny Andersson, along with fellow composer Bjorn Ulvaeus, was quick to pay tribute to the other two band members at the rousing first night in April 1999.
"It is a pity that Frida (Lyngstad) and Agnetha (Faltskog) are not here to enjoy the reactions," he said. "As it is, Bjorn and I get all the attention, but without them, none of this would have happened."
