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Group tour
Fancy a Stockholm pop
pilgrimage? Sara
Russell, author of
the
Abba Guide to
Stockholm
,
picks the
famous foursome’s
favourite spots…
Gamla Stan
“
On the cobbled
streets of the Old Town
you’ll find colourful
architecture steeped
in Swedish history, as
well as many charming
boutiques, cafés and
restaurants. One of the
most famous portraits
of Abba was taken in
Stortorget square, next
to the Royal Palace.
Pose like them next to
the huge iron well with
the gabled buildings in
the background.”
Djurgården
“
Djurgården is an oasis
of calm, an island in
central Stockholm where
locals go for a bit of
peace and quiet. After
learning about Swedish
history in the museums
and braving the roller-
coasters of amusement
park Gröna Lund, you
can indulge your Abba
geekery by trying to spot
the parts of the island
where they filmed
Abba
–
The Movie
.”
Stadshuset
“
City Hall’s tower
can be seen from
almost anywhere in
Stockholm and there
are spectacular views to
be earned by climbing
its steps. This ornate
waterside building is
the home of the annual
Nobel Prize festivities
and, more importantly,
it’s where Benny
Andersson gave his first
public performance at
eight years old.”
What to
expect at
themuseum
I
ngmarie Halling, who helped
Abba’s band members in and out
of Owe Sandström’s outrageous
costumes on tour in the late 1970s,
is the curator of Abba The
Museum in Stockholm. She put the collection
together with input from all of the band,
particularly Björn Ulvaeus.
A key part of the new Swedish Hall of Fame in
Djurgården, Halling was inspired in part by her
visit to Elvis’s home, Graceland. “Visitors will walk
in the footsteps of the group, entering manager
Stig Anderson’s office, their studio, rehearsal
areas, dressing rooms and the stage itself. It’s like
a behind-the-scenes documentary.”
Many items have already been on the
Abbaworld
touring exhibition, with items split
between Australia and European countries. Now
they are together in one venue for the first time.
“
The fans love the costumes, because they are so
iconic and well preserved. We have them behind
glass, but we have replicas the fans can get close to.
On tour, the girls wanted them to be like the Elvis
jumpsuit – easy to move and jump around in. Frida
was taking dance lessons and was very much into
that. Agnetha wasn’t quite as keen, so they found a
choreography that worked for both of them.”
It’s not just costumes, though – for example,
there’s a 63 Fender Stratocaster, used by long-term
session musician Lasse Wellander on tours and on
record, that’s now worth NOK225,000.
Visitors can also photograph themselves
pretending to be on stage with Abba or wearing
their iconic costumes. The pictures can be
downloaded later from the website.
The museum’s managing director Mattias
Hansson says there’s a more serious side to the
museum, particularly The Visitors’ Room. “It
marks the break-up of the couples, and the band,”
he says. “
The Visitors
is the last record they ever
did and is a 1980s monument to hard times
coming. The room has recreated that feeling and I
find it really touching.”
“
This is an exhibition about four people who
are alive and kicking,” says Halling. “We want
them to be cool with it, as after a while this tends
to be the official truth of Abba. Clichés are easily
made and then it grows into something different.
This museum shows it as it was.”
abbathemuseum.com
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