1983 - 1999
1983
All ABBA members are working hard on their solo
careers.
Agnetha releases her first solo album, produced by Mike Chapman,
'Wrap Your Arms Around Me'. Surf
to www.agnetha.net for more information.
Frida had left Sweden in 1982 to live in London. In March and April
1983, she records demos for her upcoming album at the Polar Studios in
Stockholm.
Björn and Benny have their hands full on the
'Chess' musical. On January 28,29 and 30 the bearded half of ABBA and
Tim Rice visit Moscow. They plan to visit chess world champion Anatoly
Karpov. Sovjet pop singer Alla Pugacheva is offered a role in the future
musical Chess to play the wife of a Sovjet chess player but she has to
refuse the offer because of the political climate in the USSR.
Björn
and Benny with Russian singer Alla
Pugacheva
1984
Björn and Benny start recording sessions for the 'Chess' musical.
Björn
and Benny with Tim Rice on October 19, 1984
Frida
records her second album 'Shine', produced by Steve Lilywhite. Surf
to the 'Frida - Twist In The Dark' website for more information.
Agnetha spends all of the time being with her children. In May,
she works on a Swedish Television special, Jönköpingsyra, commemorating
the 700th anniversary of her home town. Agnetha hosts this special as
one of Jönköping's most famous citizens. A children's choir
surprises her with a medley of her pre-ABBA solo songs. Near the end of
the year 1984 Agnetha is ready to work on a new album.
On November 11, Björn, Benny and Frida are guest on German
tv-show 'Na Sowas'. After the interview the three former ABBA members
sing in the backing choir of Murray Head's 'One Night In Bangkok'.
1985
Agnetha records her new English solo album, 'Eyes Of A Woman'.
Surf to www.agnetha.net
for more information.
Agnetha
performing in Montreux, Switserland
Benny and Björn attend the 'Chess On Tour' premiere in London
on October 27.
Frida spends 1985 outside the spotlights.
1986
An ABBA reunion on January 16. All four do an acoustic version
of 'Tivedshambo' for the 'This Is Your Live' TV show about Stig Anderson.
Björn and Benny promote the 'Chess' musical. The 'Chess' premiere in London West End on May 14. Frida attends the premiere.
Björn and Benny also
write and produce the album 'Gemini' for the Glenmark twins Karin en Anders.
Visit
this 'Gemini' website for more information
Agnetha records a single with Ola Hakansson: The Way You Are and
an album with her son Christian. Surf
to www.agnetha.net for more information.
Frida moves to Switserland to live and work there.
The release of the least
favourite ABBA album 'Live' in August 1986 is just a fact for the books.
Only Michael Tretow was involved in this poor production.
1987
Bjorn and Benny record a second album for Anders and Karin Glenmark
'Geminism' They also compose 'Mio my Mio' (performed by Gemini) for a
flim based on a book by Astrid Lindgren. Visit
this 'Gemini' website for more information
Early 1987 Benny and Gemini (Anders and Karin Glenmark) visit Moscow
to appear on a tv-show with four songs from the album 'Geminism'. Benny
meets Alla Pugacheva on that show again. Benny plays some ABBA tunes on
the piano. Alla says to Benny what a drama it had been for her that she
had to refuse a role in the Ches musical in 1982. That part of the tv-show
was never broadcasted in the Sovjet Union.
Benny makes his first solo album 'Klinga Mina Klockor' with the Orsa
Spelman fiddlers. Frida was among the choir singers on the 'Klinga
Mina Klockor' track. Surf
to the 'Mono Music AB' website for more information.
Agnetha records her last album 'I Stand Alone' with former lead-singer
of rockgroup 'Chicago' Peter Cetera. Surf
to www.agnetha.net for more information.
Frida is asked by Swedish duo 'Ratata' to record a single: Sa Lange
Vi Här Varann. However, on September 29, she officially asks her
fans to respect her privacy as her life is no longer music. Surf
to the 'Frida - Twist In The Dark' website for more information.
1988
Björn, Frida and Agnetha are no longer active in the music
business.
'Chess' premieres on Broadway on Arpil 28 without success. Benny performs with the 'Orsa Spelmän' fiddlers.
Benny alone at the premiere of 'Chess' on Broadway
1989
Benny produces his second album with Orsa Spelmän: 'November
89'. Björn cowrites one song, "The Conducator'. Surf
to the 'Mono Music AB' website for more information.
Agnetha
in 1989
1990
December 1990, Björn moves from England to Sweden again.
He and Benny develop plans for a new musical based, on the Swedish
novel 'Utvandrarpos' ('Emigrants)' by Vilhelm Moberg about the fate of
Swedish emigrants who went to America in the late 19th century. They also
write a single for 1990 World Equestrian Championship. 'Upp Till Kamp'/
'Stockholm By Night'. Surf
to the official Kristina Från Duvemala website for more information.
Benny produces the compilation album: 'Fiolin Min' and his collection
of 90 Swedish birdsongs: 'Fagelsang i Sverige'. All music is released
on this Mono Music label. Surf
to the 'Mono Music AB' website for more information.
The
former ABBA members in the early 90s.
Björn rehearsing "Up Till Kamp" (picture provided by Robin
Anderson from Sweden)
1991
Benny writes 'Älska Mej' for the Ainbusk singers.
The first solo album by Kalle Moreaus (the leading member of Orsa Spelman)
'Kalle Moreaus" has the Björn and Benny's Swedish language
song 'Beatrice' which Benny and Björn both play on. Surf
to the 'Mono Music AB' website for more information.
1992
The first ABBA revival, 10 years after the last recording
sessions of the group. The first compilaton 'Gold' breaks
every record.
Frida breaks a long period of silence. She records two songs: 'Saltwater'
and 'Anglamark'. On August 26, she marries Prince Ruzzo Reuss.
Surf to the
Frida - 'Twist In The Dark' website for more information.
On June 11, Björn and Benny surprise U2's audience in
Stockholm to perform 'Dancing Queen' with Bono.
1993
Björn and Benny produce the pop album 'Shapes' for singer 'Josefin
Nillson. Benny produces the live album "Från När till
Fjärran" for the Ainbusk Singers. Surf
to the 'Mono Music AB' website for more information.
Frida performs 'Dancing Queen' with the 'Real Group for Queen Silvia
in November. The song
is released as a single. Surf to the Frida - Twist In The Dark' website
for more information.
On October 5, a lunch was held at the Café Opera in Stockholm to
celebrate the sales of 5 million copies of ABBA Gold. Björn, Benny
and Frida were present at the lunch and received platinum records.
On October 22, author Carl Magnus Palm, doing research for 'ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions', Björn, Benny and Michael Tretow are at Michael's studio to listen to a selection of the unreleased tapes. (source: http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/abba/thankyouforthemusic.html)
1994
Previously unreleased songs such as 'Put On Your White Sombrero' and
'Dreamworld', and snippets of rejected songs are released on the 4 CD
boxset: 'Thank You For The Music'.
Björn and Benny decide to name the new musical 'Kristina Från
Duvemela'. It is supposed to stage in the Autumn of 1995 in Malmö.
Surf to the official
Kristina Från Duvemala website for more information.
1995
The musical 'Kristina Från Duvemela' is very succesful in Sweden.
It premieres in Malmö All lyrics are writen by Björn and the
music is composed by Benny. Surf
to the official Kristina Från Duvemala website for more information.
Pictures taken at the premiere on October 7
1996
In 1996, all four members are standing in the spotlights again.
Agnetha decides to have a book published 'Som Jar Ar' and a double
CD 'My Love, My Life' . Surf
to www.agnetha.net for more information.
Björn and Benny explore the American market for a possible
launch of the Kristina Från Duvemala musical. The musical is performed
in Minneapolis, USA on the 12th of October in Swedish
Björn is inspired by the musical 'Grease' and dreams of making
a musical based on ABBA songs.
Frida releases an album in Swedish 'Djupa Andetag' in September, including
a 'making of' tv documentary. Surf
to the 'Frida - A Twist In The Dark' website for more information.
1997
A musical based on ABBA songs has the working title 'Summer
Night City'.
Agnetha has a close friendship with one of her most obsessed fans
Dutch Gert van der Graaf.
Two funerals in the ABBA family: Ted Gardestad ends his life at the age
of 41 in the summer of 1997. Only Agnetha pays her respect. Visit
Ted Gardestad's tribute website (in Swedish)
Former ABBA manager Stig dies on September 12, 1997. Björn, Benny
and Frida attend his funeral. It is broadcasted on Swedish television.
ABBAMAIL
dedicated this webpage on Stig Anderson's life.
1998
In the Spring of 1998 the name of the musical based on ABBA songs is changed
in 'Mamma Mia'. Only Björn is involved in the production
A tribute to Björn and Benny work, the 'B&B concerts'
with an orchestra conducted by Anders Eljas and contributions of a lot
of musical friends of the duo, are given in Sweden and in China.
On August 18, all four former ABBA members are at the 50th birthday
party of their tour manager Thomas Johansson held at Cirkus in Stockholm.
Frida, Björn and Benny, sang "With A Little Help From My Friends".
Frida also performed "Shine On You" especially for Thomas.
All
former ABBA members present at the same party!
1999
In January, rehearsals for 'Mamma Mia' start. The former ABBA members
are interviewed for the tv-documentary 'The Winner Takes It All' .
'Mamma Mia'
premieres on April 6, in London, 25 years after ABBA's Eurovision Songcontest
victory in Brighton with 'Waterloo'. Only Björn and Benny appear
on stage after the finale of the show. Surf
to the official 'Mamma Mia' website for more information.
In March Björn is seen at the Capital Radio Awards, with his 'Special Award'.
In August all
former
ABBA members attend Görel Hanser's 50th
birthday party. The four perform together, singing a Swedish song called:"Med
en enkel tulipan" (With a simple tulip).for Görel. Unfortunately
no recording was made. Read more about this
reunion.
On October 19, Björn and Lena are at at the opening night of the Lion King musical at the Lyceum theatre in London
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