Entertainment

ABBA through the years – from Eurovision in 1974 to their digital stage production in 2022

September 3, 2021

Since their spilt in the 1980s, ABBA vowed never to reform.

But in a move that delighted fans around the world, the Swedish pop quartet announced they were releasing their first new album in 39 years, and taking their hits to the stage once again.

Their new digital production has been created by the same people that do visual effects for the likes of the Star Wars and Marvel films, and means Anni-Frid, Benny, Bjorn and Agnetha can (virtually) perform as they looked in their ’70s and ’80s heyday.

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ABBA are back!

Sky News has delved into the archives to look at the group from their humble beginnings, to their iconic Eurovision win, to their technological stage show next year.

ABBA performing as an unknown band in Sweden before they were famous in 1973. Pic: I B L/Shutterstock
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1973: ABBA performing as an unknown band in Sweden before they were famous – the people in that room had no idea just quite how influential they would be. Pic: I B L/Shutterstock
In this April 6, 1974 file photo, Swedish pop group ABBA celebrate winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest on stage at the Brighton Dome in England with their song Waterloo.
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1974: But it wasn’t long before the group were catapulted into global stardom, winning the Eurovision song contest with classic tune Waterloo. Pic: AP
1977: At the height of their fame, ABBA toured all over the world - here they are in Manchester in February 1977. Pic: Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
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1977: At the height of their fame, ABBA toured all over the world – here they are in Manchester in February 1977. The group said that the UK always felt like the place to be. Pic: Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
Abba performing at United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday evening, January 9, 1979 in New York, during taping of NBC-TV Special, "The Music for UNICEF concert." (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
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1979: Performing at a UNICEF fundraiser at the United Nations in New York – a long way from the bars of Stockholm… Pic: AP
1979: Voulez-Vous had just been released and the group went on to tour it - here they are in Edmonton in those dashing blue outfits on the first night of a North America tour. Pic: Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
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1979: Voulez-Vous had just been released and the group went on to tour it – here they are in Edmonton in those dashing blue outfits on the first night of a North America tour. Pic: Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
FILE - Members of the pop group ABBA, from left, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Foltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, appear in Tokyo on March 14, 1980.
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1980: They’d only been going a few years but it was already close to the end for Benny, Agnetha, Bjorn and Anni-Frid, pictured here in in Tokyo. Pic: AP
In this file photo dated Nov. 5, 1982, Swedish pop group ABBA are pictured at the Dorchester Hotel in London, with from left: Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Bjorn Ulvaeus.
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1982: It’s all smiles here – but the hit-churning group were about to take a break that ended up being their end – this is one of the last pictures of them as a group at the Dorchester in November 1982. Pic: AP
2021: The moment ABBA fans were waiting for - Benny and Bjorn at the Olympic park in east London speaking to Zoe Ball about the band's new music and stage show. Pic: Sue Moore
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2021: The moment ABBA fans were waiting for – Benny and Bjorn at the Olympic park in east London speaking to Zoe Ball about the band’s new music and stage show. Pic: Sue Moore
Bjorn Ulvaeus attends the American premiere of "Mamma Mia" at the Ziegfeld Theater on Tuesday, July 16, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini).
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2008: Bjorn Ulvaeus, who along with Benny Andersson, was the brains behind Mamma Mia! appeared at the premiere for the film version in New York – it was after the huge success of the stage show. Pic: AP
Benny Andersson, left, and Bjorn Ulvaeus pose for photographers upon arrival at the World premiere of the film 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again', in London Monday, July 16, 2018. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
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2018: And then the ABBA boys both appeared a decade later at the premiere of the sequel – Here We Go Again. Pic: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP