Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing,

thanks for all the joy  they’re bringing.

who can live without it…… (Lyrics from the song Thank You For The Music)

ABBA-MANIA as we know it today started over 30 years ago when the Swedish group won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 (Brighton). It was a great combination of catchy tunes, outlandish costumes, good looks, love interest within the band and the sheer determination of their manager Stig Anderson that set them on the road to super stardom.

The quartet was formed through the friendship of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and their respective girlfriends Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog, and together they topped charts worldwide from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. They originally called themselves “Festfolk” , which also meant “engaged couples” and “party people”, but they didn’t achieve much success under this name so settled on "ABBA" (which is an acronym formed from the first letters of each group member's name) when their manager got fed up of introducing them by their full names.

Even though their Eurovision winning song ‘Waterloo’ was a chart topper throughout Europe it wasn’t until 18 months later with their third album “ABBA”, that included the hits such as “SOS” and “Mamma Mia”, (the latter hitting the number 1 spot in the UK at the end of January 1976) that they become universally popular.

In 1982 Benny and Bjorn announced that they wanted to take a break to write their new musical, Chess with Sir Tim Rice. Stig Anderson firmly believed that they would be back, but he was to be proved wrong, it turned out to be the longest “break” in history and there is still no sign of a grand reunion between the fellow band members.

More than two decades have passed since the “temporary break”, however the music lives on in the form of a musical Mamma Mia!, the forthcoming motion picture and the likes of the highly successful tribute bands such as Bjorn Again. In addition, the compilation CD “ABBA Gold”, released in 1992 has sold more than 26 million copies.

The Little Book of ABBA charts the phenomenon that the band became, from their rise in Sweden to the demise of a worldwide sensation, including the band formation, mini biographies of each member, the music, the major milestones, the money and their revival. A must-have for all ABBA fans!

Also Available: The ABBA BOXSET, including The Little Book of ABBA and karaoke DVD “So you wanna be a popstar “ABBA” and 70’s Pop. With 17 tracks to sing along of all your favourite Abba hits from, Mama Mia!, Waterloo to Money, Money, Money:  Priced just £14.99.

Media release from Eventagous PR

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