people-match
http://www.parismatch.com/People-Match/Musique/Actu/ABBA.-Money-money-money-181426/
Dimanche 25 Avril 2010
ABBA. Money, money, money
They left the spotlight 28 years ago, but Benny and bjorn, the boys from swedish legend band abba, are fashion like never before. They continue to sell millions of albums.
Christine Haas - Paris Match
This morning Benny arrived in Stockholm with his white Toyota dirty because he lives in the countryside and breed horses. He stopped before this high building of MONO MUSIC (his own company), on the isle of Skeppsholmen, facing the baltic. He said hello to the multitude of beautifull ladies he works with .He took his coffee in the kitchen and invite us in his desk which has a view on a park. There is everywhere pictures posters, modern paintings, but nothing from the abba period except a recent photo of the blonde Agnetha smiling and the dark haired Frida, actually blonde!
"i was 20 when i met Bjorn and we were very well known each one separatly .one night we crossed over with our cars ,returning from a gig with the hootenanny singers (a very popular folk group in sweden from 63 to 70).i was coming to perform right after him with my own band the hep stars (a pop band such as popular ).he invited us to a party set up before he was taking his military service ..
And the next morning ,we were in a garden with our guitars ,jamming to Beatles songs. we became friends very quickly .after meeting Agnetha and Frida ,from friends we became inseparable.before creating abba ,we celebrating parties together ,went on hollidays together.we then began writing songs together .we were ambitious ready to try everything new."
Memories overflow ,some are bittersweet. «everybody think that we had fun ,crazy time ,meanwhile we worked like crazy. Writing ,recording,releasing records,promos,tv,concerts and back to the start for new songs."
Nevermind, today the music still goes on . In a corner ,a keyboard,on the floor ,an accordeon; behind a glass door ,an aquarium of a little recording studio; no nostalgia,i keep on exploring different genres.i created BAO in a pure swedish tradition .i need music to fullfill my life ,but i am very far from the abba image. I'm proud of my son ludvig (leader of Ella rouge) who is following me and produces his third album.
In the afternoon ,Bjorn ulvaeus joins us not so far from the oldtown ,in the rival hotel,benny's hotel.in the last stage ,one of 99 rooms ,he is dreamy on the balcony and offers cakes and fruits put on the buffet.relaxed and voluble,he confirms that he invests a lot on Mamma mia !,the french version is out in the autumn.but he confesses, he spent most of the time doing what he likes ,travelling and taking advantage on his semi-retirement .he supports boating,so he owns an island not far from stockholm .he runs 10 KM everyday and spent hours with his four grand children,who became his priority.
Suprisingly the ex disco stars seem to have a healthy ,stable life.is it to balance the excess of the old days with abba ?."absolutely not! Since the start, we were married couples with children .in stockholm nobody was impressed by our success .for everybody we were simply Benny and bjorn.it would have been different if we were four guys ,like the stones !But we had familial responsibilities that avoid us doing mistakes. I don't remind having a single offer for drugs,for exemple.we didn't inspire this kind of foolishness. We were wise."
Regrets, no ,except for some costumes too kitsch,among the most viewed from the exhibition that will stop at several countries after the opening in london early 2010.
"i was particularly wild .i remember a superman costumes with high heels boots ,a red and white cape,a blue suit full of sequin, that was so tight that i couldn't sit down!.when i see the photos i feel quite ashamed; and start to understand why two hard straight guys like us would become gay icons."
The Abba heritage and the devellopement of the musicals : "chess " in 1986 and Kristina in 1995,take the most of their time.to take a breath,they agreed to take a walk around the Mälar lake,some floating ice still exits.at 63 and 64,the same grey coloured hair-beard-jacket-trousers ,Benny and Bjorn have the same cadency .they raise their glasses up to take a chance on the sun beam ."when we started selling records all over the world,our greatest award was that we won't have to do anything ,to cope anymore.we got entire control financially and artistically.of course there were rolls royces and other things but i'm getting less materialistic." says Bjorn.
In the car back home they continue their conversation ,going on since forty years without any cloud. Benny makes always Bjorn laugh,he says Benny is very childish.one talk ,the other listen,there are no atom of rival ry or ego feelings. Happy to live like everyone that luck has not deserted for a long time .they take their icon status with a great sense of humour and lucidity. Even they are mentionned as many times as ikea when it comes to talk about sweden.at stockholm ,they aren't always treated like idols.
" Benny has always been more self confident than i am,more light hearted,
i am anxious and always doubting.but i know that he has a deep integraty ,it's very hard to meet someone that we feel with trust completely and constantly. When thinking about future ,i see Benny playing an essential part .we have other projects ,Bjorn have to work for lyrics to benny's future music .are there any complain or criticism ? "Bjorn is like a brother ,he doesn't have to pretend to be someone he isn't . I take him like he is. Whatever he does i always will support him."
Christine Haas - Paris Match
