Veronica, December 1982: Ten years with ABBA... and the story continues

Coming Sunday, Veronica will broadcast the third episode of 'The Story Of...". After The Beatles and Elvis Presley, it is now ABBA's turn to be honoured. A story that - contrary to the two previous ones - hasn't been ended yet and a story that's not going to end for the time being because the continuity of the group remains guaranteed by releasing one or two albums every year that will be promoted all over the world with promotional films. No exhausting tours for the quartet. ABBA is clearly a product of the seventies: they've become big with the help of the medium television, the world's best group in the middle of the road genre.

ABBA's home base is Stockholm. Polar Music is based in the city centre. The gigantic office from where manager Stig Anderson appears to have complete control over the financial household. He invests the money in oil, bicycles, real estate and art. Rumour has it that he has managed to make a deal with the Swedish tax collector. The group is also the owner of one of the world's best recording studios.

Stig has also been called the fifth member. At the end of the sixties, he founded his own company, together with Björn and Benny. Björn was a member of the popular Swedish group 'The Hootenanny Singers' and Benny had been playing with the Scandinavian group 'The Hep Stars' ('Sunny Girl'). Stig Anderson wrote English-language songs for the twosome and one of them even sold half a million copies in Japan. Stig was one of the most well-known songwriters in Scandinavia. In Holland, we are familiar with his 'Rocking Billy', at the time recorded by Ria Valk. ABBA was formed between '69 and '70. Agnetha and Anni-Frid both had separate solo careers and they both appeared regularly on Swedish television. They were already living together with Björn and Benny respectively. In 1972, the first single on which all four of them appear is released: 'People Need Love'. The surefire hit was reason enough for the Swedish broadcasting company to invite Agnetha, Benny, Björn and Anni-Frid to take part in the Swedish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Contrary to all expectations, their entry wasn't chosen by the so-called experts, to the major disappointment of the public and the group. ABBA, in the meantime their group name had been shortened, decided to give it another go the next year and this time they were chosen to represent Sweden with 'Waterloo' at the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, England.

Winning Eurovision, meanwhile beating Olivia Newton-John and Mouth and McNeal, was ABBA's big breakthrough. In the following years, ABBA would achieve enormous successes. Just a few of their hits: 'SOS', 'Fernando', 'Dancing Queen', 'Voulez-Vous', 'Chiquitita', 'The Winner Takes It All', 'Super Trouper' and 'One Of Us'. The success of their music can be attributed to the strong melody lines mainly courtesy of Benny (Björn generally writes the lyrics) and Agnetha and Frida's voices. Upon the release of 'Voulez-Vous', 'ABBA - The Movie' is released as well. A film that eventually was meant to be a simple documentary of the quartet's '77 world tour. However, the film features about 25 ABBA songs, alternated with scenes of a DJ trying to get an interview with the group. Reason enough for many critics to view the movie as one big promotional film.

'ABBA - The Movie' saved the foursome a lot of touring, because the fans were able to see their favourite group at the cinema. Björn and Benny concentrated on composing and Stig Anderson was making preparations for ABBA's definitive breakthrough in the USA. May 1978 was even declared ABBA month in the US, while the highlight of the campaign was a performance of the group on Olivia Newton John's television show, who had acquired superstar status by then. Indeed, 'The Album' climed the charts and 'Take A Chance On Me' became a top ten hit. But despite all Stig's attempts and despite their record sales, fact is that ABBA absolutely didn't conquer the USA. Björn: "Maybe we would have, if we had moved to America, but none of us was prepared to do that. We didn't like the atmosphere in America, after those few weeks we got tired of it."

In October '79, the group started their second world tour, on which they also performed in Rotterdam, and the rumours were circulating that Agnetha wanted to leave the group. Those rumours partly lead back to the fact that Agnetha is the only group member who hates to be away from home (and her children) for long periods of time. Meanwhile, their private problems started to become public too. Stig Anderson: "We never tried to keep the divorces a secret, we are relatively open. It's just that at the time when we share our problems with the general public, the internal problems have been solved already. The difficult thing is that the press then start to wonder whether the group will continue or not, while we have decided that already."

In the meantime, it has become almost one hundred percent certain that Björn and Benny are going to compose the music for a musical, while the lyrics are going to be written by Tim Rice ('Jesus Christ Superstar'). Frida is successful with her solo album 'Something's Going On'. Agnetha has been busy shooting scenes for a movie and she has declared that she would like to do more of this kind of work. She is starting recording sessions for her solo album in January, together with Mike Chapman. In conclusion, we ask Benny the question how long ABBA will continue: "As long as we enjoy recording music and as long as we still feel we have something to contribute to the music scene, ABBA will go on."

Veronica, August 1982: Anni-Frid is singing her song... alone!

Anni-Frid is the beautiful redhead. A woman who proves that 40 is not the final destination. She sings like an angel and has the body to go with it. British pop critics once described her bottom as the most perfect in show business. Anni-Frid has withdrawn from the world of ABBA for a couple of months. She made use of that time to work on a solo album. The two ABBA men have collaborated as well, so that her solo project doesn't have to give rise to new rumours about the end of the Swedish supergroup. Anni-Frid simply wanted to do something else for a change. A working woman must think about her future.

The album should be released around this time. The title is very appropriate: 'Something's Going On'. And indeed there is. The production of this chunk of studio diligence was in the hands of Phil Collins, not unfamiliar due to his own solo work. For unknown reasons, Anni-Frid didn't keep her ex-husband Benny and the sorcerer's apprentice Björn out of the project. Although the gentlemen's share remains limited and they had to be content with playing second fiddle. As a matter of speaking, because I don't see them playing any fiddle. Collins was the one who wielded the scepter: guys like Bryan Ferry, Russ Ballard and Rod Argent contributed songs to the project. When asked about the when and how about the album, the flaming beauty wants to share with us that she felt the time was right for some solo work, apart from the annual ABBA album.

Meanwhile, Anni-Frid's blonde colleague Agnetha hasn't given up in this unfortunate position either. Since the ABBA men are working for months on end in the studio on one single guitar line these days, both women have time to spare to do some shopping. And even then there's plenty of time left for solo albums and/or other activities. Agnetha has carefully inquired about the working schedule of successful producer Mike Chapman, the man that helped Blondie to achieve worldwide fame. That isn't necessary anymore for Agnetha, but a solo album still remains a leap into the dark to the ladies. Because, what they ask themselves while doing the dishes, does the general public really want to listen to solo work by a group member? That's why the two ladies don't want to work with just anybody. But they do want to work with Phil and Mike. It will cost them some money, but on their salary they could hire Paul McCartney or Stevie Wonder. They probably will for their second album.

The musical sidesteps of the ladies are some kind of therapy as well. Just to take a break for a couple of months from divorces, threats, stories about the end of ABBA and, most importantly, a change of scene. Because for every ABBA album, Anni-Frid and Agnetha have to go into the studio with their ex-husbands. And although manager Stig Anderson may announce that both couples have separated as friends, you can't disregard an experience like that. Agnetha's wounds may have been healed by now, although she isn't in a hurry to get married a second time. Doesn't anyone fancy an attractive millionaire, the quiet type, to spend a holiday together on a private island? Poor Agnetha, whenever she makes small talk with her plumber, it's immediately suggested that she is engaged.

Things are different for Anni-Frid, the pain is more severe. She has her share of scars on her soul. Two life companions have left her after a couple of years of apparent happiness; she met her father only a couple of years ago. Everything seemed to go well with Benny. After an engagement time of more than five years, they got married. An expensive ring for her, a grateful glance for him. But they had barely digested their wedding cake before Benny hopped into the bed of a Swedish television personality. And he didn't reconsider his decision. Anni-Frid was alone again. The psychiatrist probably made the suggestion to sing her troubles away. The most recent ABBA albums are full of lyrics about the downfall of two happy marriages. Indeed, on 'The Visitors' they are merely visitors in each other's worlds. There's a bandage of gold on the wounds, but especially to Anni-Frid the tears are still right behind her eyes.

The ambitions of our beautiful redhead reach even further than singing on multiple albums. Anni-Frid wants to act as well. She has already played a part in movie, filmed in Spain, that will probably never reach the Dutch cinemas. But she is available and open to discuss her salary. There seems to be plenty of talent. She has a personality and the camera loves her. She understands the art of coming across spontaneous and credible, she knows what the audience wants.

In ABBA's feature film she was the least camera shy. Ever since that experience she has never hidden her desire to play a part in a real movie. But since they are making very little films in Sweden, Anni-Frid has to turn her attention abroad. Until recently, there simply wasn't any time to withdraw from ABBA's world  for a couple of months. But now there is. ABBA will probably go on for some time to come. And why not? Success is guaranteed and they don't have to be together for more than three months per year. The rest is spare time.

Bravo, November 1982: The Swede with the ABBA girl

A mixture of Elton John, Rod Stewart and Barry Manilow... that's what the press sheet of the record company says. His performance is accordingly underwhelming. Indeed, Tomas Ledin is not anybody's copy, but a very headstrong, intelligent and funny type of person. Until a couple of weeks ago, no one in this part of the world knew him, but all of a sudden he is in the limelight.

And that's thanks to Agnetha. The blonde Agnetha from ABBA didn't have anything better to do than sit next to him at the piano and sing the song 'Never Again' as a duet (Musikladen, November 11). And this was cause for several speculations...

Beforehand: Tomas Ledin is not Agnetha's lover, nor Benny or Björn's brother or Frida's boyfriend. But he is closely - yes very closely - associated with all ABBA members.

As a backing singer he went along on the last big ABBA world tour in 1979/1980. He wrote the song 'Got Something' for Frida that was chosen by Phil Collins as one of the most important songs for Frida's solo LP 'Something's Going On'.

Agnetha thought he was so sympathetic and both their voices so harmonical that she recorded the song 'Never Again' (that's not to be taken literally) with him and made a musical side leap. Both ladies like him, but the gentlemen; Tomas isn't so sure about that. "I would love to record one of their songs or I would like to write a song for them. But this appetite for a collaboration is still only one-sided."

To describe Tomas' luck in the right way, we have to mention that another lady from the ABBA scene is very devoted to him: Marie Anderson, the daughter of ABBA manager Stig Anderson.

Tomas Ledin, who was born on November 25, 1952, has been a star in Sweden for ten years. When he was 18 he went to America and he wanted to become a painter. But then he discovered the guitar. And that was the first love in his life. On his return to Sweden he specialized in soft rock and soon he became one of the biggest stars in the country.

In 1979 he represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest - without any results to speak of. Yes, and then came ABBA.

Now he wants to give it a try in Germany. He made his debut in a very unconventional way. Four concerts in Bochum, Bonn, Frankfurt and Hamburg. All of them without an entrance fee. Whoever wanted to see and hear him could simply come.

"It's my debut," Tomas said about that. With his three piece backing band (without Agnetha) he was challenged to the extent that he ran out of English songs during the encore. He simply went on singing in Swedish. "That's typically Tomas," his girlfriend Marie said behind the scenes, "that's exactly why everybody likes him so much."

Bravo, 1982: Frida's tricks at flirting

Is a girl able to get a tired man excited by wearing fancy clothes? That's the theme of the new ABBA single 'Head Over Heels'. Anni-Frid gives it a try with crazy straw hats, floor-length feather boas, lacey clothes from ancient times, but with knee-length baggy trousers and frilled blouses too.

But her husband - in ABBA's new video for the single 'Head Over Heels' played by Björn - isn't impressed at all. Bored and tired, he keeps fixed to his couch when Anni-Frid once again tries to put one of her flirt ideas into practice...

This story about the unlikely couple and her best friend is what Agnetha is singing about on the new ABBA single 'Head Over Heels', the video to which has been released recently.

In reality, things aren't as hectic for the four Swedes at the moment. Anni-Frid - who borrowed the crazy outfits for the promotional video from a friend - is still in the studio working on her solo album with her producer Phil Collins.

The album - on which Björn and Benny obviously have collaborated too as composers - is expected to be released in the late summer. For that matter, Agnetha is planning to record a solo album too this year. Meanwhile Björn and Benny are completely occupied by writing new songs for the next ABBA album.

But there's even more news on the ABBA front. On the side - between the microphone and the video camera - the 'One Of Us' singers got into the Swedish construction business worth many millions. Their record company Polar Music International - that is headed by ABBA manager Stig Anderson - recently made an offer to the Swedish construction material wholesalers Ahlsell (that has a staff of 2.600 employees) to buy at least 51 percent of its block of shares. ABBA wanted to put more than 80 million German Marks on the table for these shares, that would give them ownership of half of the company. But after the ABBA offer, the Stockholm stock exchange ceased the trading of the construction material shares.

As yet, ABBA already controls three companies that are listed at the stock exchange: the recreational company Monark, the real estate company Stockholm's Badhus and the investment corporation Kuben.

Bravo, September 1982: Frida is having a bit on the side!

There is a red alert at the small airport in Hof in Oberfranken: Anni-Frid from the Swedish pop group is announced to arrive by private jet from Frankfurt.

The reason for this flying visit? Frida - like she is called solo - will introduce her solo single 'I Know There's Something Going On' and another track from her same-named, recently released album for the first time live on September 9 in the ZDF show Show Express. Immediately after the broadcast, Anni-Frid and her entourage will board the plane again that will take them back to Frankfurt.

Whoever is looking out for the other ABBAs during Anni-Frid's visit to Germany, will be disappointed. Björn, Agnetha and Benny stayed in Sweden.

Did Frida set the ball rolling with her solo project, that will deal the - by many long-awaited - mortal blow to ABBA?

"Nonsense," she claimed. "After the release of the latest ABBA album 'The Visitors', I simply had some spare time, and I made use of that time to record a solo album."

Fact is that she called Genesis drummer and singer Phil Collins in the beginning of this year to ask him for his help. She had listened to his solo album 'Face Value' and decided: 'this is the man I'm looking for'. Phil Collins thought it was a challenge to get the soft ABBA singer to sing somewhat beefier musical material and he accepted.

But it wasn't enough for the Genesis wizard to be just the producer. He also acted as a drummer, he wrote songs and he sang 'Here We'll Stay' together with Frida as a duet. Apart from that, he also engaged well-known songwriters like Rainbow hit maker Russ Ballard and he secured a track by Bryan Ferry as well.

Anni-Frid consciously passed on Benny and Björn's established songwriting. "My album shouldn't be an ABBA copy," she said and she even recorded parts of the album at the Air Studios in London, to avoid any ABBA involvement.

The team Frida/Phil actually succeeded in getting away from the ABBA sound. Listening to the single 'I Know There's Something Going On', only the singing voice vaguely reminds one of ABBA. One would rather associate the strong rocky sound with something between Genesis and Joan Jett.

And this isn't the end of Frida's side leap. She filmed videos for the single and a second track from her solo album 'I See Red' and there's even talk about a guest appearance at the next Genesis concert.

Meanwhile, the other ABBA members are not exactly inactive. Agnetha is being seduced by a marriage impostor - but only in front of the camera. In Stockholm, she is filming her first feature film about the Swedish women cheater Gustav Raskenstam.

Privately, things aren't that adventurous for her, although her boyfriend - policeman Torbjörn Brander - has moved out of her house again. He couldn't deal with all the fuss surrounding Agnetha and him. To make sure she wasn't left completely unprotected, Agnetha brought in a young Leonberger dog into her mansion in Lidingö.

Björn and Benny are working on a new ABBA album. Five tracks - among them 'Just Like That' and 'I Am The City' are completed. But still the record won't be released until early '83. Before that, a new single release is planned and a double album containing 23 ABBA singles and two new songs.

Bravo, 1982: ABBA privately

Bravo: Agnetha, pictures of you have appeared recently, on which you look heavily pregnant. Where do these pictures come from? Agnetha: “They are from the Swedish movie Raskenstam that will be out in the cinemas in early 1983. It’s a tragic and funny story about a marriage impostor in the forties who took a lot of money from about one hundred women and who had to go behind bars for six years for that. I’m playing the character of the only girl that he really loved and got married to. My character also has two of his children, hence the pictures with the big pillow under my dress.” Bravo: Privately, you often wear glasses? Do you have a problem with your vision? Agnetha: “No, they only have plain glass. I only wear them to change my face.” Bravo: Talk about changing – Björn, why did you decide to grow a beard as well? Björn: “It was about time to cover up my face. But seriously: it’s pure laziness, because it’s much more convenient if you don’t have to shave every day.” Bravo: You have given your meanwhile eleven months old daughter the German name Emma. What gave you this idea? Björn: “The name is not uncommon in Sweden. My wife Lena and I found it in a names book. Apart from that, the little girl looks like an Emma – small, cute, blonde hair, blue eyes.” Bravo: Are you able to change your baby’s diaper? Björn: “Of course. Changing diapers, feeding, pushing the pram are even mostly my task, because Lena is working at an advertising agency again. I was also present when Emma was born, I even cut the umbilical cord.” Bravo: Benny, a photographer secretly took a snapshot while you were pushing the pram... Benny: “In Sweden, it’s very common that husband and wife both take care of the children. Ten percent of the Swedish men even take the so-called maternity leave instead of their wives. I belong to those ten percent as well and I’m playing the homemaker. Since Mona is working again at her job as a TV producer, I am taking care of our baby Ludvig.” Bravo: Who is taking care of your babies when you are at work? Björn: “We both have a nanny. Lena and I have a Swedish au pair girl. She is 22 years old and her name is Ulrike.” Bravo: Frida, you have already gone through all these problems. How many children do you actually have? Frida: “Now let me think... Kidding aside, I have four children. Two from my first marriage and Benny has two from a previous relationship. And because I have been with him for such a long time, his chilren are mine as well to some extent. My daughter Lise-Lotte is attending high school in America. My son Hans (19) is working as a sound engineer with Swedish artists.” Bravo: Can you cook? Frida: “Yes, very well actually. But for about four years, I have been living like a vegetarian. Around that time, I read an article about the way that pigs were treated. I thought that was so disgusting that I haven’t touched meat ever since.” Bravo: Is it true that you are going to move to England? Frida: “Yes, I have decided to leave Sweden because I can’t be anonymous in my private life any longer. In the near future, I would like to spend most of my time in London which is better for me professionally and for my solo career as well. But I will keep on working with ABBA too.”

Bravo, 1982: Agnetha: “We are coming on tour!”

If it was up to Agnetha, she would be in the studio this week and record her first solo album with Barry Gibb as her producer. But the blonde ABBA singer had to postpone her plans. The other three ABBA members need her...
It had been very quiet for ABBA for weeks. Time to relax, time to spend privately on their favourite hobbies. Benny decorated a new house in Stockholm together with his wife Mona, Björn could only be found with his daughter Emma, who was born in January. Agnetha didn’t leave her boyfriend Torbjörn Brander’s side for a minute. Only Anni-Frid was busy the whole time. She recorded her new solo album with Phil Collins.
But then the usual flurry of activity returned at Hamngatan in Stockholm, where the ABBA building is situated. First of all, Anni-Frid and Phil took residence in the big recording studio. In six weeks time, they recorded the eleven tracks for Anni-Frid’s solo album. It will be called ‘I Know, Something’s Going On’. It should be released at the end of August. The single ‘Something’s Going On’ will be released already in July.
Anni-Frid had barely completed her recordings, when Agnetha actually wanted to start recording her album. But Benny and Björn prevented this from happening. They had written for new songs that they wanted to record. In the beginning of May, both of them went into the studio, followed by Anni-Frid and Agnetha at the end of May, to sing those four songs. Then they were mixed.

The four songs will be released on two new ABBA singles. The first one will be released in the summer, the second in the autumn.
Because then a new ABBA double album will be released. All ABBA singles that were released so far will be on that album. From ‘Waterloo’ to ‘SOS’ and ‘Super Trouper’ up till the latest single ‘Head Over Heels’, and of course both new ABBA singles.
When the album is released, the four ABBAs will appear in public abroad again. They want to perform in Paris, London and here with us in Germany in a couple of TV shows.
Björn and Benny are also working on a concept for a new live show. This will be the basis of a big ABBA world tour, that the four have planned for 1983.
To Agnetha, this means: she won’t be able to start recording her album before the end of November. Although most of the songs have been written already, she won’t have enough time until the end of the year.
There’s one advantage to the matter: by that time, Bee Gees boss Barry Gibb will have completed shooting the Bee Gees movie and nothing will be in the way of his collaboration with Agnetha. Just like Anni-Frid, Agnetha won’t use the other members of ABBA in her solo venture. Both girls want to stand on their own two feet.
Only one thing is clear: whoever is rumouring about an ABBA split, is wrong. The four of them are working harder than ever. And during the press conference on the occasion of the launch of her solo album in Stockholm, Anni-Frid emphasized as well: “ABBA will be around for a long, long time to come.”

Bravo, 1982: ABBA better than ever!

Björn is sitting alone in the almost empty and dark auditorium of the Saarland hall in Saarbrucken. Interested, he is following the rehearsals of Michael Schanze’s Show Express where ABBA was ‘Top of the Bill’ that same evening on the occasion of their tenth anniversary.
Agnetha spends her time before the rehearsals strolling through the town. In a jeans store, she buys a washed out pair of jeans and a warm blue sweater. She buys a red leather tie for her ex-husband Björn, which he thinks is “terribly sweet”.
Frida on the other hand likes to sleep late. She hates “running around the streets. At the most, I buy some things in London and Paris, in my favourite shops.” She doesn’t know how much money she spends on clothes every month. “Because sometimes I don’t buy anything for months, but then I buy a whole bunch again.” She is more economical when it comes to hairdresser expenses. “I always cut my hair myself.” For all purposes between the hall and the hotel – each of the four ABBAs has an own suite – two Mercedes 250 limousines – a cream-coloured one for the girls and a dark blue one for the boys – with chauffeur are at their disposal. At the stage entrance, both cars are surrounded by fans.
However, the Bravo photo session – taking place in a side room of the Saarland hall – two hours before their performance is kept top secret. Hours in advance, four people have been busy putting up four different backdrops, testing flash equipment and spotlights over and over again. The broadcasting company likes our improvised studio with the yellow New Wave background so much that they ask us if they are allowed to film an ABBA interview for the new Gottschalk programme Tommis Pop Show there. Approved (you’ve seen the result on your screen on November 27).
Björn, Benny, Frida and Agnetha arrive right on time. They strenghten themselves with coffee and hot sausages on paper plates from the canteen. The atmosphere is loose and casual, although Agnetha is still having a hangover from the platinum and gold awards ceremony the previous evening and photo sessions are not exactly Benny’s favourite activity.
It’s obvious that one of the first questions for the rolling television cameras concentrates immediately on the changed group atmosphere after the divorces and new marriages.
Benny says: “We are almost getting along better than before.” The others agree with him: “The private emotions have disappeared.”
That’s why it isn’t bothering anyone that Agnetha is accompanied by her blonde bodyguard that not only looks after her security professionally, and that Frida didn’t arrive from Sweden with the 16-seat ABBA private jet like the other three, but she glided in by airline, coming from a weekend with friends in Paris.
Ten years have passed for ABBA, 150 million records were sold, they hadn’t been in Germany for four years. A lot has changed since then – not only privately.
Benny: “We are working more individually now. Each one of us has the opportunity to pursue his or her own interests apart from ABBA. This gives us new energy for the group activities.” And that’s how it should be in the future.
Frida – encouraged by the success of “There’s Something Going On” – is planning a second solo album with Phil Collins.
In the beginning of next year, Agnetha wants to try her luck with a solo album too, under the direction of hit composer Mike Chapman. The master himself will submit a couple of songs. There are also conversations with Oliver Onions and Tomas Ledin.
Björn and Benny on the other hand want to try something completely different. They are going to write the music for a musical. The lyrics will be written by Jesus Christ Superstar lyricist Time Rice.
But all of this shouldn’t get in the way of the project ABBA. “As long as we are having enough energy for the group – despite all these solo plans – we will continue,” Benny and Björn explain.
You have to give them credit for one thing, everything is perfectly thought out by both ABBA girls. They have the answer to every question. They also know how to retort to the astonishment that they won’t fly back to Sweden with their private jet together after the Show Express: “Björn and Agnetha don’t want to fly together, so that one of the parents stays alive in case of a plane crash, to take care of the children.”
That’s why the next day in Frankfurt, Agnetha boards an airline to Stockholm together with her bodyguard...

Bravo, 1982: ABBA, this is how it all started ten years ago

It’s now exactly ten years ago since their first single was released. It was called ‘People Need Love’, at the time the four Swedes weren’t called ABBA yet, but Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid.
However, not too many people seemed to care for that record at the time, because only 10.200 copies were sold. But the four were already used to working very hard for their individual careers to let that stop them.
One year later, they released their first single sung in German – ‘Ring Ring’ – the song that didn’t manage to win the Swedish heats for the Eurovision Song Contest but still hit the big time. In 1974, they were selected to fly to Brighton as Sweden’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Meanwhile Björn, Benny, Agnetha and Frida (who is called Anni-Frid in her passport) had renamed themselves ABBA, taken from their four initials.
In the group, there was a strict division of responsibilities. Benny composed the songs, Björn wrote the lyrics (because he mastered the English language the best) and the arrangements, while Agnetha was responsible for their choreography and stage show and Frida designed the costumes.
Their focused preparation would pay off: as the first Swedish group ever, ABBA won the contest with ‘Waterloo’.
Benny still remembers this day very well: “After our victory we realised that the world was opening up for us. We only had to prove that it hadn’t been a chance hit.”
Undoubtedly, they succeeded at that, after nine times gold, eight times platinum and a further three times gold for more than 750.000 records sold. But Björn admits wholeheartedly: “There are songs that should have been left unwritten. There are others of which we are still proud today. Among them are ‘Dancing Queen’ (1976), ‘Thank You For The Music’ (1978) and ‘The Winner Takes It All’ (1980).”
Do you actually come up with these songs just like that?
Benny: “No, after so many songs it’s actually getting more difficult. You still want to better yourself and therefore you have to pass on a lot. Apart from that, it’s often difficult for me to restrict myself to songs that don’t last longer than five minutes at the most. That’s why I’m looking forward to the musical that I’m going to write with Björn. Then I can finally let off some steam.”
How do the ABBA lyrics come into being?
Björn: “About one year ago, I bought a new house in Stockholm together with Lena. It has about 700 square feet living space and a huge library. I get the best inspiration there.”
Do you still remember the start of your musical career?
Benny: “Sure, I was 14 or 15 years old, walked around with grease (pomade) in my hair, wearing baggy jackets and I was extremely into the German singer Caterina Valente. I’ve watched her movie ‘Du Bist Musik’ several times in the cinema. Still today, I have some of her records. Then I discovered Elvis Presley and I knew that something important was happening in the music scene.”
Björn: “With me, it all started at the age of 12, when I got a guitar and an instruction manual from my father. By listening to rock records, I learned to play the instrument myself.”

Pop Foto, April 1982: “In the studio, we are having the utmost fun”

Since many years, Benny and Björn have been writing the most fantastic ABBA songs. And that’s a tough job. Obviously! But there’s more, because...

When you see ABBA’s Björn and Benny slaving away on a new song, it’s hard to imagine that the twosome sometimes has the utmost fun in the studio. Still, this happens more often than you would think...

Anyone who thinks that Björn and Benny, the composing duo of the Swedish group ABBA, come up with their hits just like that, is completely wrong. Indeed, sometimes the twosome is slaving away on only one song for days, and then it isn’t even recorded yet. Recently, Björn and Benny told us all about their working methods.
“We wrote our complete repertoire either at Benny’s home or in a little house just outside Stockholm,” Björn started his story. “We always start with the melody. That’s the most difficult part. We work very hard on that, day in and day out, from 10 o’clock in the morning till 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Whenever we have found a good melody, we write an accompanying lyric. Most of the time, that’s not the lyric that can eventually be heard on the record. In the studio, it often turns out that the mood of the music doesn’t seem to go with the mood of the lyrics. Well, and then it’s convenient to change the lyrics altogether.”
Björn leans back in his chair, while his colleague Benny takes over: “You have to understand that we are not easily satisfied with our own songs! Before a record is completely finished, a lot of work has preceded it. By the way, you mustn’t think that it’s all just work and no play. We are having the utmost fun as well, especially in the studio. We joke around a lot, together with our technician Michael Tretow.”
“Yes, especially whenever Benny is playing those silly tricks with his accordion,” Björn interrupts.
“Or whenever you have jokingly written a silly lyric that doesn’t make any sense,” Benny replies smilingly. “You know,” he continues more seriously, “a lot of people seem to think that our aim is to write only hits. But that’s not the case. We write a song and we work on that until we feel that it’s good ourselves. When the public thinks that that song is good as well, even so good that it becomes a hit, then that is so much to the good. We get an enormous kick out of the fact that our work is appreciated by millions of people. And that’s also one of the reasons why we are planning to continue like this for years to come. You bet!”

Privé, 1982: ABBA’s Benny as a ‘houseman’ with social security

Peacefully, multi-millionaire Benny Andersson (35) is strolling around with his little son Ludvig, while his wife, Mona Nörklit, is at work at the Swedish broadcasting company. When ABBA-star Benny divorced ABBA-singer Frida to get married to television presenter Mona, he promised himself to take things a little easier in the future. He even went as far as changing his profession. Benny is now a ‘houseman’ and receives, according to the Swedish law, a monthly allowance from social security!
While both ABBA-singers Frida and Agnetha have started successful solo careers, Benny is devoting himself completely to the baby.
For that matter, this wasn’t the first time that Benny Andersson became a father. This already happened when he was only sixteen years old and when he was eighteen, he got his second child. At the time, Benny was a member of the rather unknown Swedish group the Hep Stars. He almost doesn’t have any contact with these children. But Benny can spend as much time as he wants on Ludvig. And the Swedish government is even paying him for it...

Hitkrant, August 1982: Anni-Frid laments

A small report about the imminent release of Frida’s first international solo single. I remember the day it was premiered on Dutch Radio Veronica. I thought it was a very exciting and daring debut single and I still think the record has stood the test of time.
Tomorrow, August 6, ABBA’s Anni-Frid Lyngstad’s long-awaited single will be released, and like we reported already, the A-side will be called ‘I Know There’s Something Going On’, actually the title track of the album, since it was named ‘Something’s Going On’.
The B-side has now been announced as well, and that gave us a scare, because its title is ‘Threnody’, an English word that’s not used particularly often, which means ‘lamentation’ or ‘funeral song’.
What’s this? A funeral song on a single by a member of ABBA? We are just as curious as you are.

De Telegraaf, September 1982: ABBA’s Frida in our country today – “I’m enjoying my new life”

An article that was published in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on the eve of Frida’s arrival in Holland to promote her album Something’s Going On.

When the marriage between ABBA’s Frida Lyngstad and Benny Andersson was strained and had actually ended already, they had to keep this a secret for the sake of the group’s image.

“It was a very difficult and frustrating time,” Frida says when she talks about the two years before the divorce became final. “Both of us wanted a different life, but as members of the group we had to keep on presenting ourselves to the audience as a happy couple. It even came to the point where we forced ourselves to go out in the evening, because we couldn’t bear to be in each other’s company at home any longer. Life had become too strained.”

“The day after Benny had left me, it was all over the front pages of the Swedish newspapers. I didn’t leave my house for a whole week. I just couldn’t stand it. But when all the fuss had died down, it was actually a relief that we didn’t have to wear a mask any longer and put on a charade.”
The dark-haired Frida explains why the two divorces in the group – first Björn and Agnetha and now she and Benny – were actually beneficiary to ABBA. It was assumed that the private problems could very well mean the end of the group. But Frida says that their professional relationship is now better than ever, exactly because they are now living separate private lives.
“When you don’t have any emotional ties any longer, it’s much more comfortable to work with each other and easier as well. You are able to concentrate more on your job and nothing else. Everything is much more efficient now. Especially because there’s no small talk anymore. You do your job and go home. And you don’t get on each other’s nerves. You don’t see each other all the time. We’ve always remained very friendly to each other. The divorces didn’t cause any bitterness and the new relationships weren’t as embarrassing anymore. I still think that Benny is a nice guy. He has a friendly personality. But our marriage didn’t work and the best thing for the two of us was to get divorced. But we don’t have any hateful feelings towards each other.”
Obviously, there are speculations circulating that ABBA will fall apart in the near future. Frida has recorded a solo album, Agnetha has played her first film part and Björn and Benny are working on a musical together with Tim Rice.

“I know that there are a lot of rumours, but at the moment we are working together very pleasantly,” Frida says while remarking that the group has now existed for ten years. On that occasion, a special album will be released in November, after which they will start working on a new album again.
“We all know that we can’t last forever, but we want to continue as long as we can. As long as we are working together and we are successful, I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t last for another ten years.”
Frida doesn’t even rule out the possibility that ABBA will go on another world tour and this news will definitely delight the ABBA-fans, who haven’t been able to see their favourite group in concert for a long time. Since they started in 1975 with the Eurovision song ‘Waterloo’, ABBA have only toured twice. “It is tiresome as well,” 36-year-old Frida explains while pulling a glum face. “It’s wonderful to be on stage, but the travelling, the airports and changing hotel rooms all the time is very exhausting.”

At the moment, she’s very busy promoting her solo album. This Friday, she will be in our country for that. And on Saturday night, she will appear on the television show MIES. Probably she won’t be able to equal ABBA’s success with her solo album. “But I don’t care about that,” she says, “I wanted to sing a different kind of music for a change. And of course I couldn’t do the same thing as I’m doing with the group. When you’ve worked with a group for such a long time, it’s nerve-racking to work on your own all of a sudden. But I’m one hundred percent behind what I’m doing now. I love the album, I love every song on it and I don’t care what people say or write about it.”
The album is produced by Genesis’ Phil Collins. Frida took this initiative after she had listened to his album ‘Face Value’. “I thought that album was amazing! I must have listened to it almost every day for eight months,” she says, “especially his arrangements and his drum sound impressed me a great deal. When the plan emerged to record a solo album, I immediately thought about him as my producer. Without him, I wouldn’t even have started this project, I wanted him that much.”

She’s very determined in her opinions. She knows exactly what her priorities are in life. Singing is the most important thing for her and it’s always been like that ever since she entered a talent competition at the age of ten. She says the joy of singing means more to her than the fame and fortune that she has acquired. Like Björn said last year, the group doesn’t have any financial reason to keep working together. With a worldwide income, including numerous shares in huge enterprises like the Volvo automobile factories, the ABBA-stars could easily rest on their laurels for the rest of their lives. They are wealthier than the king of Sweden.
This attitude doesn’t appeal to Frida: “I don’t think that I could live without singing,” she says. “It’s the most important thing in my life. It gives me so much joy. It’s really my passion.”
Although she does keep an eye on how the group’s millions are being invested, she never had a true notion about the magnitude of all that money. “I have a feeling as if we’re not part of it. It’s like I’m reading about someone else when I see a story about how big our fortune is.”
She also says that she doesn’t lead an extravagant life. She lives in a penthouse in Stockholm, she drives a Maserati, she dresses very well and she loves to travel.
“But,” she adds, “I don’t need more luxury than that. You can’t do much else than eat, drink and have a good life.”
She admits that she gets a lot of satisfaction from her job, but at the same time she leads a rather secluded, quiet private life. She thinks it’s pleasant that the people don’t really bother her in Sweden. “They leave us alone. I can easily go shopping in Stockholm.”

Frida spends a lot of time with her children from her first marriage, a fifteen-year-old daughter and a nineteen-year-old son. A giant of a guy who is taller than she is. “They are both interested in music and my son also works in this business as a sound engineer, but neither of them is interested in ABBA,” she says with a smile.
“My daughter has great taste and loves all kinds of music and my son is a fan of rock music.”
Since she divorced Benny, no special man is playing a part in her life. And she thinks that’s fine.
“It was my choice to be alone,” she says. “I feel the need to live my own life. Being on my own gives me strength, I discover new interests and new friends. That’s wonderful. Now I’m able to travel a lot as well. That’s a freedom that I’ve never had. I was fifteen years old when I met my first husband and shortly after this marriage I met Benny. So I’ve been involved with someone for a very long time. I haven’t thought about the possibility of another marriage yet. I’m happy with my life as it is. I’m really enjoying my new life,” according to the ABBA-star who will arrive in our country tomorrow.

Hitkrant, 1982: That’s when Agnetha dumped Captain Sensible

Clearly, there were no limits to the imagination of some editors. In 1982, this highly unlikely story appeared in Dutch magazine Hitkrant, claiming that Agnetha had once been the girlfriend of Captain Sensible, a British singer who scored a minor hit in 1982 with Wot.
It seems an unlikely couple. But still, that crazy Captain Sensible once was the steady boyfriend of ABBA’s Agnetha Fältskog for months. “Oh well, everybody has been in love once,” Ray Burns sighs, better known as the bass player of The Damned and as Captain Sensible.
“The romance between Agnetha and me dates back to fifteen years. That’s ancient history. I do think it’s a shame that things didn’t work out between us, because otherwise I would have lived together with a world-famous star now!”
And Ray has not forgotten his Agnetha yet. “Actually, I still have a little crush on her,” he confesses. “But don’t let her hear about that. She will strongly refuse to admit that we were a couple once. Still, that’s the way it is. Did you know we even had plans to form a duo together? But then, Björn came into her life… and all of a sudden she dumped me. Who knows, when I become famous in Sweden as Captain Sensible, she might think: ‘Hey, I know that crazy guy!’ Maybe we could go for a night on the town again, just like in the good old days.”

Weekend, August 1982: ABBA’s continued existence is not in danger, but... Anni-Frid is thinking about her future

An article from Dutch magazine Weekend about the imminent release of Frida’s solo album Something’s Going On. The poster comes from German magazine Pop Rocky and features a photograph of Frida's performance on Show Expres in Germany in September 1982. On that show, she performed I Know There's Something Going On and Baby Don't You Cry No More from her new album.
Without any doubt, ABBA is one of the most successful pop groups in the world. All four members of the Swedish group are multi-millionaires. Despite these vast amounts of money, Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Björn and Benny are not resting on their laurels, they are always busy creating new hits for the group. Now that it has been announced that both Agnetha and Anni-Frid are planning to record solo material, ABBA-fans all over the world are worried that the twosome will be leaving the group.

Especially the red-haired Anni-Frid seemed to be the cause of concern among ABBA-fans. For months on end, she worked passionately on a solo album. Most people were surprised that she didn’t get any help at all from the other ABBA-members. Could it be that they disagreed with Anni-Frid’s solo ambitions? Anni-Frid herself doesn’t see any problem at all, she thinks it’s great fun to record an album without ABBA being involved in any way. “I want to prove that I’m able to survive without them, I would love it if people would say ‘Look, that Anni-Frid is perfectly able to cope on her own’.” All songs on Anni-Frid’s album are composed by famous people from the music business. Among others: Rod Argent, Bryan Ferry and Russ Ballard.
Anni-Frid’s first solo record is called: ‘Something’s Going On’ and the title track will be released as a single in August. One month later, September that is, the album will follow. It’s all going to be very exciting for the red-haired singer. After all, you never know how something like this will be received.
Anni-Frid thinks it’s ridiculous that some people feel that her solo activities will be at the expense of ABBA. “That’s absolute nonsense. At the moment, Benny and Björn are very busy producing a live album, that’s a huge task, only the best parts of our concerts will be included. It’s the intention that this album will be released in November.”

The ABBA-members haven’t reacted yet to the activities of their Anni-Frid. Only the important man behind ABBA, Stig Anderson, was very pleased with Anni-Frid’s album and he congratulated her wholeheartedly. Obviously, Frida isn’t done with this project by just recording the songs. She’s facing a very busy time of promoting her album. For instance, she will travel to America, England, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France and Spain to record television specials and do some interviews. On October 2 and 3, she will be in Holland. In the meantime, Anni-Frid has already made several promotion films, that are most probably going to be very successful.
It is rumoured that the other ABBA-lady, blonde Agnetha, is also busy expanding her line of action. She has serious plans for a solo album as well, but due to ABBA’s busy schedule it can’t be recorded until next year. Apart from that, it’s very likely that she will star in a Swedish movie. Unfortunately, the title of the movie has to remain a secret for a while. However, these solo plans of the ABBA-ladies do mean that they won’t have to depend on their success in the group format any longer.

Agnetha (smilingly): “People mustn’t make too much of this. Look, I’ve been working together with Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid since 1970. Initially, Frida and I were some kind of backing choir for the boys. When ABBA became successful, all four of us didn't do much else than work extremely hard. It’s very refreshing to be able to do something without the group and Anni-Frid feels the same way. There’s no reason for anyone to be afraid that ABBA will stop existing in the near future.”
A true relief for all the anxious fans. But only time can tell whether ABBA will suffer from the girls’ solo careers. For the time being, we are looking forward to Anni-Frid Lyngstad’s solo album ‘Something’s Going On’ with anticipation.

Joepie, 1982: How Anna helped her desperate colleague out of trouble!

An article from Belgian magazine Joepie about the duet single that Agnetha (in this article still called Anna) recorded with Tomas Ledin in 1982. The article shows a picture of ABBA posing with Ted Gärdestad, although the writer of this piece will have you believe that it’s Tomas Ledin. The single did quite well in Belgium, reaching the top ten. In Holland, it was a moderate chart success, peaking at number 24.
With his head slightly bent in sorrow and a distant look in his eyes, Tomas Ledin walked out of the office of his manager Stig Anderson. He didn’t even notice that Anna was having a chat with the telephonist and walked straight passed her.
“I had never seen Tomas like that,” Anna explains. “For years, I had known him as a friendly, cheerful guy who was always ready for a joke. Afterwards, Stig told me what was wrong: he had just shown him the sales figures of his latest single. Tomas had expected a lot from it, but the result was not up to the mark. ‘I think that I’d better quit’, he said in an almost whispery voice and walked out.”

“I just couldn’t forget that desperate look in Tomas’ eyes when I sat at home that night,” Anna continues. “With ABBA, we had been successful from the very beginning. It never crossed my mind that there are other artists that had been less fortunate than us. Although we had an example in our own stable, because Tomas has been with Polar for years. Yes, we had posed with him before for a picture, but he didn’t get any more support from us than that. I started feeling some remorse. Why did we leave this young bloke to his fate like this? Had we really gone blind for the troubles of less fortunate colleagues? I wanted to make up for that mistake no matter what.”
“The next day, I paid him a visit at his home,” Anna continues. “The desperation could still be read in his eyes. He played a couple of self-written songs for me, that he wanted to put on a new album. ‘But I don’t know if it’s any use to release them anymore,’ he added. One of those songs, ‘Never Again’, appealed to me a great deal. At first, the thought crossed my mind to record it myself for my upcoming solo album with Mike Chapman. But then I came up with a much better idea: why not record it as a duet! With my name on that record, it would suddenly get more attention. If it would become a hit, that album of Tomas would stand a much better chance. I saw that spark in his eyes again. We talked it over with Stig. He liked the idea immediately, and within a week we were together in the recording studio.”

Obviously , that duet recording was the ideal ammunition for the Swedish gossip press. But that doesn’t bother Anna.
“After all these years, I’ve broken that habit,” she says. “After my failed love affair with Torbjörn, I’m far from being ready for a new romance. With every day, it’s getting harder for me to deal with men. They look at me too much as a star and fail to see my own personality. Tomas is definitely not my new boyfriend. We’ve known each other for years, we get along great, but that’s all. As far as I’m concerned, they can write what they like about me, but I could perfectly do without the publicity generated by the gossip press. But for Tomas, it’s obviously important that his name is seen everywhere. I wish him all the success in the world, he deserves it like no other.”
Because of this artistic marriage, Anna found herself in the charts as a solo singer sooner than was initially planned.
“My solo album with Mike Chapman will not be recorded before the autumn,” she says. “I had to postpone it for a couple of months, because there was other work to be done. The movie, that I’ve discussed earlier, and recording sessions with ABBA. Because no matter what they’re saying, ABBA will continue. Recently, an article appeared in a Swedish magazine, claiming that I was jealous of Frida, and that I hastily made this duet recording with Tomas because of that. I thought that was awful. That reporter didn’t even bother to inquire about the true story. He simply had his own view on the proceedings and put it on paper without hesitation. I’m not jealous of Frida, I grant her the success that she’s experiencing at the moment. I even think that her album is very good. Some people seem to forget that it’s beneficiary to each ABBA-member that every solo project is doing well. With or without ABBA, all five of us – including Stig – are shareholders of Polar.”

Hitkrant, November 1982: Frida moves

A small news item about Frida moving to London in 1982.
Last week, it has been revealed that ABBA’s Frida Lyngstad will not only leave Stockholm, but Sweden as well: she’s going to reside in London. Frida stated that the reason for this decision is that she is in need of anonymity; allegedly she has become too well-known in Sweden which could be an obstacle for the continuation of her career. Frida emphasized that there are no disagreements within ABBA and that she will keep on working with the group.
In Sweden, it is suggested that the new government, that has announced drastic changes in tax legislation, might be the cause of the departure of the 37-year-old millionaire. Frida’s 15-year-old daughter Lotta, who’s in high school in America, and son Hans, who works as a studio technician in Sweden, stay where they are.

Muziek Expres, 1982: Agnetha took a holiday job

A small news item about Agnetha’s 1982 duet single with Tomas Ledin. Tomas entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980, not in 1976 (like this article will have you believe).
Agnetha Fältskog, to outsiders ABBA’s blonde, spent her ABBA-holiday musically, just like her friend Frida. Although there hasn’t been a long-player released yet. No, it concerns a duet together with Tomas Ledin. And who might that Tomas Ledin be? In Sweden, Tomas Ledin is a world famous guy, because in his home country he is known as an extremely popular pop singer. Still, Tomas is not completely unknown in Holland either. We have been able to admire him here performing live already back in 1976 when he was representing his country at the Eurovision Song Contest in The Hague. But observing ABBA-fans will recognize him as well, because Tomas Ledin is active as a backup singer with ABBA on a regular basis. So it’s obvious that he knows the lead singers pretty well! Now he has recorded a solo album that’s called ‘Human Touch’. This album contains one song that he sings together with Agnetha. Obviously, it’s not a coincidence that exactly this song, ‘Never Again’, has been released as a single.
But this is not Agnetha’s only musical activity. Since Frida has released a solo album, that has been received very well everywhere, she can’t fall behind. Agnetha is now working on her first solo album too and she has secured the services of top producer Mike Chapman. This album is due to be released in the beginning of next year.

Joepie, January 1982: ABBA's new look

Belgian magazine Joepie introducing ABBA’s new look in no less than eight colour pages.

Pop Rocky, 1982: With ABBA, the fat is in the fire!

An article about ABBA's 1982 activities from German magazine Pop Rocky. According to this article, at this stage there were still plans for a new album in 1983 and even a tour.
Since weeks, ABBA’s own Polar Studios seem like a beehive. Every day from eleven a.m. until late in the evening the highly modern recording studios at Hamngatan 11 in Stockholm are occupied by Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Björn and Benny. Already in May, ABBA recorded two tracks, ‘Just Like That’ and ‘I Am The City’, for their new album that will appear early 1983. A while after that, Anni-Frid and Genesis-boss Phil Collins ensconced themselves in the studios for weeks and tinkered arduously on Anni-Frid’s second solo album ‘Something Is Going On’ that will be released worldwide on September 9. One of these days, the single ‘I Know There’s Something Going On’ will be released as an appetizer.
How did the collaboration between Anni-Frid and Phil come about?
“Well, Phil’s solo album ‘Face Value’ had an enormous impact on me,” Anni-Frid states, “and there was no doubt about it for me: Phil is the one for me! Our collaboration has exceeded my expectations. Phil is just wonderful! He’s also playing the drums on all tracks.”
At the moment, ABBA is together in the studio again and they are recording three to four further songs for the new album. And, as a sidestep, in October the double album ‘The Singles 1973-82’ will be released, containing all A-sides of the ABBA singles that were released up till now as well as two brand new tracks.
Perhaps the biggest surprise in ABBA’s ‘storm and stress’ period comes from Agnetha with her movie plans. In a few weeks time she will start filming her first motion picture. Agnetha is playing the daughter of a poor fisherman who falls in love with the notorious Swedish marriage fraud Gustav Raskenstam. The male leading part in this engaging comedy is being played by Gunnar Hellström, producer of the American hit series ‘Dallas’. If everything goes according to plan, actress Agnetha will be seen in our cinemas on the third day of Christmas, on December 26!
It isn’t a wonder that ABBA hardly had the time for a summer vacation with this busy schedule. For example, Agnetha and her police officer Torbjörn Brander went to their summer residence in Taxholm for a few days, about 50 kilometres north from Stockholm. According to Swedish newspaper reports, Agnetha and Torbjörn want to get married before too long, because both of them passionately want to have a baby together.
Anni-Frid and her boyfriend Bertil Hjert spent their summer holiday in the vicinity of Trosa (about 60 kilometres south from Stockholm). In that area is also Benny’s new summerhouse that he had built a few months ago for about 2 million German marks and where he has taken residence with his wife Mona and their seven-month-old son Ludvig. Last but not least, Björn and Lena Ulvaeus spent their first holiday together at Viggsö, ABBA’s own private island on the Stockholm coast.
After so much action in the ABBA camp, obviously there’s no talk at all anymore about a separation or internal conflicts. On the contrary, behind ABBA’s scenes they’re even whispering about a new tour...!