Björn Again

Björn Again performing in Sydney, 2009

Björn Again is a light-hearted parody of ABBA,[5] using pidgin Swedish (or 'Swenglish'[1]) originally using stage names Agnetha Falstart, Benny Anderwear, Frida Longstokin and Björn Volvo-us referencing original ABBA members [2] including bassist Rutger Sonofagunn and drummer Ola Drumkitt based on Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert).[6] Björn Again has choreographed acts with costumes and song arrangements that different from ABBA.

Björn Again was created in October 1988 in Melbourne, Australia by Rod Stephen. The name Björn Again was Rod's pseudonym he used when skiing in the Victorian alps throughout the 1980s. This name was perfect for his new ABBA show.[7] After the first Björn Again show at a pub in the inner Melbourne suburb of Collingwood called The Tote Hotel on 6 May 1989 the show's popularity increased quickly, which first took the group Australia-wide and then overseas to international acclaim. Original members included Rod Stephen, Peter Ryan, John Tyrrell, Dorina Morelli, Kathy Riseborough, Gavin Charles and later Janette Stuart.[7]

Björn Again has in total recorded and performed live a massive 133 songs including 55 ABBA songs, 7 originals and 62 covers by other artists. When Erasure had a hit with Abba-esque, Björn Again responded with an EP of covers of Erasure songs done in the style of ABBA, called Erasure-ish.[8] The EP included the songs "Stop!" and "A Little Respect" that achieved Number 25 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1992.[9] Later that year, a cover of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town reached Number 55 in the UK charts.[9] In August 2009, Björn Again performed Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' with an additional drummer to a receptive Sonisphere Festival crowd at Knebworth as a nod to the headlining act.[10]

Björn Again has performed at events from large rock festivals worldwide including Reading and Glastonbury,[11] to private performances for celebrities, including playing at parties for UK golfer Colin Montgomerie,[12] Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates,[13] comedian Rowan Atkinson,[12] actor Russell Crowe,[14] and Russian president Vladimir Putin.[15][16]

On December 17, 2012, Björn Again performed at the Buckingham Palace Christmas party attended by the Queen and members of the royal family and their staff.

On 23rd Nov 2007, Björn Again performed a show in honour of Agnetha Fältskog at Stockholm's TV3/TV6 tenth anniversary party. She was quoted saying “It was a great show. I loved the choreography" and "Good Luck for the tour”[7]

On 18th Jan 2005, Björn Again attended a celebrity gala in costume at the London Savoy to receive a belated award on behalf of ABBA from the radio times acknowledging 30 years since their Eurovision Song Contest triumph with Waterloo in Brighton on 6 April 1974.[7]

In 1999, the UK Bjorn Again took part in a documentary for Channel 5 entitled "ABBA: Bjorn Again!", this included Björn Again on tour. The documentary explored some of the history of the show. Throughout the programme the members spoke in "Swenglish" accents.

Both Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have lauded Björn Again a number of times over the years, and after ABBA's former members made their intentions known that they were not going to perform together any longer, Andersson was quoted as saying in 1999, "BJÖRN AGAIN are the closest you can get to seeing ABBA. ABBA will never reform!"[17]

In 1999, 2009 and 2019, Björn Again was the opening act on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival.[18]