The Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in the early 1970’s and subsequently released eight studio albums between 1973 and 1981. International chart toppers ABBA, whose music created a base to the Mamma Mia musical, have sold an estimated 375 million singles and albums worldwide, making them one of the most successful artists of all time. Now, after decades of endless rumours and solo projects since their split, the Scandinavian kings and queens of pop have announced their reunion.
All four original members of ABBA will reunite next year for a new digital entertainment project. The 1974 Eurovision Song Contest winners announced the news earlier today, describing the show as a “new entertainment experience.” It will involve virtual reality and artificial intelligence, developed in collaboration with music manager Simon Fuller. In a statement, Fuller revealed: “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.” Full details regarding the new project are set to be announced in 2017, but it definitely seems like it will be an exciting, innovative and engaging spectacle.
Longtime fans of the Swedish group have welcomed the news with open arms. Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad have not formally performed together as ABBA since they split up more than thirty years ago, though they did appear at an anniversary party in June, celebrating fifty years of their friendship. They broke up initially in 1982, after a ten year period dominating the music scene. Lyngstad said fans around the world always question her about a reunion, and she added: “I hope this new ABBA creation will excite them as much as it excites me.” In the press-release containing the Swedes’ new project, Andersson commented: “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.”
