Björn Again is an
ABBA
ABBA ( ) were a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They are one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, and are one of the List ...
-inspired
tribute band
A tribute act, tribute band, tribute group or tribute artist is a Musical ensemble, music group, Singing, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act. Tribute acts include individual performers who mimic the so ...
from Australia, consisting of performers from various countries. The name is a reference to ABBA guitarist and vocalist
Björn Ulvaeus
Björn Kristian Ulvaeus (; born 25 April 1945) is a Swedish musician, singer, songwriter, and producer best known as a member of the musical group ABBA. He is also the co-composer of the musicals ''Chess (musical), Chess'', ''Kristina från Duve ...
. The band has performed worldwide since it was formed in 1988.
Character of the show

Björn Again parodies
Swedish pop group ABBA, using a mix of English and Swedish language known as "Swenglish"
or pidgin Swedish. The performers use the stage names Agnetha Falstart, Benny Anderwear, Frida Longstokin and Björn Volvo-us
in homage to the original ABBA members, plus bassist Rutger Sonofagunn and drummer Ola Drumkitt, based on Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert. The show features choreographed acts with unique costumes and song arrangements that differ from ABBA's original performances.
History
Björn Again was founded in 1988 in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
, Australia, by Rod Stephen and John Tyrrell. The style is a light-hearted parody of ABBA performed in pidgin Swedish or 'Swenglish.' Original band members included Rod Stephen, Peter Ryan, John Tyrrell, Dorina Morelli, Kathy Riseborough, Gavin Charles, and later Janette Stuart. Since the band's debut in 1989, Björn Again has performed approximately 5,500 shows in 72 countries over 34 years. By 1997, the band had three touring lineups. John Tyrrell has been the band's manager since the outset. Rod Stephen manages the UK/Europe lineup and John Tyrrell manages the Australasian lineup.
The band has recorded and performed live a total of 133 songs, including 55 ABBA songs, seven originals, and 62 covers by other artists. They released an EP of covers of
Erasure songs performed in the style of ABBA, called Erasure-ish,
which included the songs "Stop!" and "A Little Respect" that reached Number 25 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1992.
[
Björn Again has performed at events worldwide, ranging from large rock festivals, including Reading and Glastonbury, to private performances for celebrities, including Microsoft co-founder ]Bill Gates
William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American businessman and philanthropist. A pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, he co-founded the software company Microsoft in 1975 with his childhood friend ...
, comedian Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Sebastian Atkinson (born 6 January 1955) is an English actor, comedian and writer. He played the title roles in the sitcoms ''Blackadder'' (1983–1989) and '' Mr. Bean'' (1990–1995), and in the film series '' Johnny English'' (2003– ...
, actor Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is an actor and film director. Russell Crowe filmography, His work on screen has earned him List of awards and nominations received by Russell Crowe, various accolades, including an Academy Award, two Gold ...
, and Russian president Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...
.
In 1999, the UK Bjorn Again took part in a documentary for Channel 5 entitled "ABBA: Bjorn Again!", which featured the band on tour. Throughout the program the band members spoke in "Swenglish" accents. Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson
Göran Bror Benny Andersson (; born 16 December 1946) is a Swedish musician, composer and producer best known as a member of the pop group ABBA and co-composer of the musicals ''Chess (musical), Chess'', ''Kristina från Duvemåla'', and ''Mamm ...
have both praised Björn Again. After ABBA's former members said they were not going to perform together again, Andersson was quoted as saying in 1999, "Bjorn Again are the closest you can get to seeing ABBA."
The band attended a celebrity gala in costume at the London Savoy and received an award on behalf of ABBA from the Radio Times
''Radio Times'' is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in September 1923 by John Reith, then general manage ...
, to commemorate the 30 years since their Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...
win with " Waterloo" in Brighton on 6 April 1974.
In 2009 the band performed Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
's "Enter Sandman", with an additional drummer, to a Sonisphere Festival
The Sonisphere Festival was a touring rock music festival which took place across Europe between the months of June and August. The festival was owned by John Jackson and Kilimanjaro Live. It was jointly promoted by K2 and Kilimanjaro Live. It h ...
crowd at Knebworth
Knebworth is a village and civil parish in the north of Hertfordshire, England, immediately south of Stevenage. The civil parish covers an area between the villages of Datchworth, Woolmer Green, Codicote, Kimpton, Whitwell, St Paul's Wald ...
, as a nod to the headlining act. They were the opening act on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts (commonly referred to as simply Glastonbury Festival, known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts held near Pilton, Somerset, England, in most su ...
in 1999, 2009, and 2019.
On 17 December 2012, Björn Again performed at the Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...
Christmas party in London, attended by the Queen and members of the royal family. They also presented a show in honor of Agnetha Fältskog
Agneta Åse "Agnetha" Fältskog (; born 5 April 1950) is a Swedish singer, songwriter, and a former member of the pop group ABBA. She first achieved success in Sweden with the release of her 1968 Agnetha Fältskog (album), self-titled debut alb ...
at Stockholm's TV3/TV6 tenth-anniversary party, when Fältskog was quoted saying “It was a great show. I loved the choreography" and "Good luck for the tour.”
Discography
Albums
Singles
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bjorn Again
Musical groups established in 1988
Australian pop music groups
ABBA tribute bands
Australian parodists
Australian comedy musical groups
Parody musicians
Victoria (state) musical groups