BJÖRN & BENNY NEWS

BAO in Allsång på Skansen

BAO performed in the last show in the series "Allsång på Skansen" in Stockholm on Tuesday August 5th, 2008. Helen Sjöholm performed the old hit "Du är min man" and together with Tommy Körberg one song from the latest BAO album "Nu mår jag mycket bättre" (I feel much better now). Tommy did not know the lyrics to the song but he had a crib on stage which helped him a lot.  The Mamma Mia Stockholm cast performed: "Mamma Mia", "Super Trouper", "Thank You For The Music" and "Dancing Queen".

Benny will be honorary doctor

Benny Andersson will become honorary doctor at the Stockholm University on September 26th, 2008. The Faculty of Arts that appointed Benny explains that this is the best way to call attention to Benny's important input in Swedish folk and pop music.

B & B updates

Björn Ulvaeus appeared on Swedish TV on Tuesday evening in the TV special "Rakt på sak" (Straight talk). He was talking about religion and politics, ABBA, Mamma Mia and future plans for himself and Benny Andersson. The usual question about a possible ABBA comeback was of course asked and Ulvaeus said that ABBA is probably the only group from the 1970s that does not make comeback these days. The latest act that is back is the rock group Led Zeppelin. The follow-up question was if there is anything in the world that could make it possible for ABBA to get together again. After a couple of seconds' hesitation said Björn that there was not.

New musical? Yes, both Björn and Benny plan to write a new one but they haven't had time to start searching for a good story as they were working with Mamma Mia The Movie.

The Kristina från Duvemåla case is closed in the court and the musical can be played again in the future but it is impossible to say whether it will be played on Broadway.

Finally the Swedish outtake to the Eurovision Song Contest which was held last Saturday in Stockholm - what is Björn's opinion about the Swedish contribution this year (Charlotte Perelli "Hero") - he likes the song - "it's catchy".

Björn interview on SVT

Björn was interviewed on Swedish TV in the special entitled "Sixties" on Saturday April 12, 2008. He remembered his first days as a pop star in the group Hootenanny Singers. He was even talking about the biggest pop artists in the 1960s as The Beatles and The Bee Gees. He said that The Bee Gees was probably the biggest pop act that created most great songs which became evergreens. Videos "Baby those are the rules" by Hootenanny Singers and "People Need Love" by ABBA were shown in the programme.

Mamma Mia - The Movie

Benny is currently working with the soundtrack for "Mamma Mia The Movie" which will have its premiere in the late summer 2008. He is absolutely satisfied with all vocals recorded by the actors playing main roles in the film: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgård.

Björn on TV8

On Sunday, October 7th, Björn Ulvaeus appeared on Swedish TV in channel 8 in the political talk show "Wolodarski". Björn was presented as the former member of the group ABBA but he did not talk about ABBA but the religion and its influence on politics. The interview was 12 minutes long.

Mamma Mia in Svenska Dagbladet 14.01.2007

The Sunday edition of "Svenska Dagbladet" has a big feature about the Swedish "Mamma Mia" that closed on 7 January in Stockholm. The article tells the story of the Stockholm show through the people who had worked with the musical. Benny Andersson is very shortly interviewed by the newspaper and he answers the question about a possible new musical. "Maybe there will be one more musical in the future. Why not, one more we can do before our time is over. But there are no plans for it right now." Right now he is writing songs for BAO (Benny Anderssons Orkester). This year he will be busy with the film version of "Mamma Mia" with Meryl Streep in the main role.

Mamma Mia closed in Stockholm

On January 7th, 2007 it was time for the last performance in Stockholm in Cirkus. ABBA fans, celebrities, Björn, Benny and Agnetha attended the show. The fans did not notice Agnetha's presence as she went in and out when the lights were already switched off. She was escorted by two men and she left some minutes before the show was over at 6.55 p.m.(go.to/Agnetha News). Björn and Benny appeared shortly on stage with flowers for the artists playing main roles in "Mamma Mia". Some small changes in the show occurred as for instance a short performance of "King Kong Song" and some improvements in dialogues. "Mamma Mia" was played in Stockholm between February 2005 and January 7th, 2007 and every show was as good as sold out. In May 2007 the Stockholm cast will play in Gothenburg. All tickets were sold out already in December 2006.

Pictures from the last performance of Mamma Mia in Stockholm

Björn on German TV, 21.10.2006

Björn sent video message with congratulations when the German music magazine "Bravo" celebrated its 50th birthday on German TV channel Pro Sieben on Saturday October 21st, 2006. On the shelf behind Björn you can see the ABBA DVD "The Definitive Collection".