ABBA: THE TRUE BACKSTAGE STORIES – ONE SHOW ONLY!

ABBA The Museum is proud to present the first of the season’s POP Talk series on Sunday, August 17, featuring three key figures in ABBA’s touring around the world during the late 70’s. Tour Promoter, Thomas Johansson, Stage Manager/Lighting Designer Jimmy Barnett and Ingmarie Halling, responsible for costumes, dressing room and make up, share never-before-revealed stories about ABBA on tour, 1977-1980 in what promises to be a pop-culture moment.

ABBA is considered one of the world’s most successful pop groups with 380 million albums sold. During their 10 years of career, ABBA toured the world, performing in Europe, North America, Australia and Japan. 

“Our POP Talk series is a must for all diehard ABBA fans, and this first one will be a pop-culture moment for all music lovers,” says Mattias Hansson, CEO ABBA The Museum. “On stage will be three of the many key players from ABBA’s inner circle for one show only discussing life behind the scenes with the group and how they contributed building ABBA on tour between 1977-1980, visually, back stage and – perhaps most important – practically.”

This POP Talk, will feature a number of fascinating backstage stories about how one of the greatest pop bands on earth took their hit-song catalogue on the road, in a decade of pure pop excellence. The audience will be privy to stories, photos and film clips that have never before been shared with the public. And, of course – there will be plenty of great ABBA live in concert music. Ingmarie, Thomas and Jimmy were also part of the team at the Wembley Arena concerts in November 1979. On Sunday, August 17, they will be sharing memories from that unforgettable moment in ABBA’s career for the very first time.

This is a pop-culture moment not to be missed. One show only!

POP Talk – ABBA On Tour will be moderated by Mattias Hansson and it will be in English.

Time: Sunday, August 17 from 4-5pm. (please note that there is a limited number of seats and the audience should be seated by 3:30pm)
Place: ABBA The Museum, Djurgårdsvägen 68, Stockholm
Tickets: available at our web shop www.abbathemuseum.com/en/shop-en or at the museum box office. Tickets cost SEK 195 and include entrance to the museum.

The soon to be released The ABBA – LIVE AT WEMBLEY ARENA can be pre-booked via the web shop, www.abbathemuseum.com/en/shop-en, for delivery after the September 29. The set, produced by Ludvig Andersson, features the complete November 10, 1979 ABBA show at Wembley Arena, available as a 25 track double CD or a 180gm beautiful triple vinyl and contains a rare performance of Agnetha’s ‘I’m Still Alive’, unreleased on any album.

About the Speakers
Jimmy Barnett is originally from London. He was the Production Manager for ABBA from 1977 to 1980, and Lighting Designer for the European and Australian tours of 1977. Jimmy also worked as Lighting Designer for The Rolling Stones in 1975 and 1976 and Lighting Designer for Queen from 1978 – 1984. Jimmy went on to run companies for Vari-Lite in Europe and Los Angeles before moving to New Zealand in 1990. Jimmy now works for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, a New Zealand government organisation helping New Zealand companies succeed internationally.

Thomas Johansson is the legendary Swedish promoter and tour producer that worked with ABBA from 1973 and onwards. He made sure that all live shows and TV performances by ABBA were kept to the highest global standard. He has worked with almost all of the biggest artists in the history of rock and pop music, including the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Roxette. Today Mr. Johansson is the chairman of Live Nation International. But it all started with ABBA. He was there, and believe us, he has stories to tell.

Ingmarie Halling is the curator and producer of ABBA The Museum and author of the book “ABBA – The Backstage Stories”. Ingmarie went on tour with ABBA from 1977-1980 and was responsible for all their costumes, make-up and dressing room.

Facts ABBA The Museum
ABBA The Museum and the Swedish Music Hall of Fame are celebrating their first year of operations with top visitor numbers. In just 12 months, the museum has received over 350,000 visitors, the majority of whom come from abroad. During the year, the museum has furthermore been named by the Global TripAdvisor Award as one of the top three destinations in Sweden.
At ABBA The Museum visitors can follow the band’s amazing career from when the members of ABBA met in the late 1960s, through their breakthrough with Waterloo, to major world tours and the pause in 1982. Visitors can sing in the Polar Studios, try their costumes virtually and feel what it is like to be on stage with the band via a holographic stage solution. Moreover, many of ABBA’s fabulous stage costumes are on display in the Gold Room. Through the museum’s audio guide, Agnetha, Benny, Björn and Frida relate their own personal memories of their ABBA period for the first time. The audio guide script was developed by Cathrine Johnson, writer of the Mamma Mia! musical and feature film.

The exhibition Swedish popular music highlights Swedish music from the 20s to the present day. Over 400 Swedish artists are featured, including First Aid Kit, Roxette, Robyn, Entombed, Avicii and Cornelius Vreeswijk.

ABBA The Museum/Swedish Music Hall of Fame is located on Djurgårdsvägen 68, beside Gröna Lund on the scenic island of Djurgården in Stockholm. The building also houses the Melody Hotel and Restaurant.

Tickets can be booked and bought online at www.abbathemuseum.com.
For hotel and table reservations visit www.melody.se.

Opening hours & Tickets

Daily 10am to 8pm
Children under 7 years of age free of charge
Special rates for children from 7-16 years and for families.

Book at www.abbathemuseum.com
Stay updated at www.facebook.com/abbathemuseum

Visiting address
Djurgårdsvägen 68, Djurgården, Stockholm