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| '''BJÖRN AGAIN''' was founded in 1988 in Melbourne, Australia by Manager and Bass player Rod Leissle. The show quickly achieved worldwide cult status and has now performed over 4000 concerts in 57 countries in 20 years. Having recently been endorsed by ABBA’s Agnetha Fältskog, Rod aims to keep his band at the top and continue for as long as people want to hear the songs of ABBA performed the way BJÖRN AGAIN do them ... hopefully for another 20 years!! | |||
| {{Infobox Musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians --> | |||
| | Name = Björn Again | |||
| | Img = | |||
| | Img_capt = | |||
| | Img_size = | |||
| | Landscape = | |||
| | Background = cover_band | |||
| | Genre = | |||
| | Occupation = | |||
| | Years_active = ]-Present | |||
| | Label = | |||
| | Associated_acts = | |||
| | URL = http://www.bjornagain.com/global.htm | |||
| | Current_members = | |||
| | Past_members = | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Björn Again''' is an ] ], taking their name from ], a member of ABBA, and a pun on the phrase "]". | |||
| This tribute band has become so successful that as of ] there are five Björn Agains performing in various parts of the world. Björn Again originate from ], and have been touring since ]. Their seventeen-year existence exceeds that of the original ABBA by some margin. | |||
| ---- | |||
| Björn Again was created in ] by Melburnians Rod Leissle and John Tyrrell who not only oversee all of Björn Again's global touring activities but occasionally play in band;<ref></ref> Rod bass, John drums. After Björn Again's first show at a small pub in Melbourne called The Tote on May 6th 1989 the band's popularity increased quickly, which took them Australia-wide then overseas to international critical acclaim. The band is now regarded as the most successful tribute band ever and one of Australia's most successful musical exports. | |||
| "It was a great show. I loved your choreography ... it was very true to life.....When do you play your next shows?... Good Luck for the tour" - Agnetha Faltskog (TV3 / TV6 20th Anniversary party Stockholm 2007) | |||
| <!-- Unsourced image removed: ] --> | |||
| ⚫ | " |
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| Björn Again take a very light-hearted approach to their portrayal of ABBA.<ref></ref> While keeping pretty faithful to the songs themselves, the rest of the act is something of a send-up or parody. The group talk among themselves and to the audience in a faux-Swedish accent, and have stage names which resemble the group's original names in a humorous way: Agnetha Falstart, Benny Anderwear, Frida Longstokin and Björn Volvo-us. The band is supported by bassist Rutger Sonofagunn and drummer Ola Drumkitt (from long-time ABBA session musicians Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert). | |||
| Björn Again have also occasionally ]ed songs by other artists. When ] produced an EP of ABBA covers called ''Abba-esque'', Björn Again responded with an EP of covers of Erasure songs done in the style of Abba, called ''Erasure-ish''. The EP included the song 'A Little Respect' which achieved Number 25 on the UK charts in September 1992. | |||
| "When ABBA broke up, I assumed our music would fall into oblivion so in the early 90's with Björn Again becoming popular and when U2 invited Benny and I on stage to sing Dancing Queen, I just assumed we were being sent up. But now I see they were paying tribute to us" - Björn Ulvaeus (Q Magazine ???) | |||
| The band has performed at many of the big rock festivals world-wide including Reading and Glastonbury,<ref></ref> plus has sold out shows at The Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Arena in London, The State Theatre in Sydney, the SECC in Glasgow Scotland and Irving Plaza in New York. The band are also in high demand for private shows having played at parties for top UK golfer ], ]'s ], comedian ] (Mr Bean), and at ]'s Wedding in Australia in 2003 which made world headlines. | |||
| "Thanks for the great show guys" - Kylie Minogue (New Years Eve Wembley Arena 2006) | |||
| In the words of ABBA's ]: | |||
| "A wonderful evening in this magnificent setting dancing to Björn Again" - J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter Author (2006 MS Charity Ball) | |||
| {{quote|“The best of luck. I always thought that someone who looked like me ought to have a successful career!|"Telegram from Björn Ulvaeus to Björn Again, Sweden ‘90}} | |||
| In the words of ABBA's ]: | |||
| www.bjornagain.com | |||
| ⚫ | {{quote|"“Fans had better make the most of Björn Again because that’s the closest they are going to get to seeing ABBA. ABBA will NEVER reform!"|Benny Andersson, live on Capital Radio London Feb ’99}} | ||
| To date the various franchises of Björn Again have performed around 4,000 shows in over 50 countries, and there seems to be little sign that their popularity is diminishing. | |||
| In 1996 three of the original Australian group members Janette Stuart (Agnetha) Peter Ryan (Benny) and Gavin Charles (Björn) left the band and returned to Australia, new members were quickly brought in to continue the success. Now there are several Björn Again groups across the globe to feed the demand. A few of the current members have successful careers of their own outside of Bjorn Again including TJ Davis who played "Frida" had a hit in 2001 with "Wonderful Life" and Aileen McLaughlin who plays "Agnetha" has toured as a backing vocalist with several artists including Tom Jones, Lisa Stansfield and most recently Jason Donovan. Joanne Rowden who plays "Frida" has had a good career in acting starring in Coronation Street back in 2000 and other major television roles. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Bjorn Again}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 15:49, 20 March 2008
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| Björn Again |
|---|
Björn Again is an ABBA tribute band, taking their name from Björn Ulvaeus, a member of ABBA, and a pun on the phrase "born again".
This tribute band has become so successful that as of 2007 there are five Björn Agains performing in various parts of the world. Björn Again originate from Australia, and have been touring since 1989. Their seventeen-year existence exceeds that of the original ABBA by some margin.
Björn Again was created in 1988 by Melburnians Rod Leissle and John Tyrrell who not only oversee all of Björn Again's global touring activities but occasionally play in band; Rod bass, John drums. After Björn Again's first show at a small pub in Melbourne called The Tote on May 6th 1989 the band's popularity increased quickly, which took them Australia-wide then overseas to international critical acclaim. The band is now regarded as the most successful tribute band ever and one of Australia's most successful musical exports.
Björn Again take a very light-hearted approach to their portrayal of ABBA. While keeping pretty faithful to the songs themselves, the rest of the act is something of a send-up or parody. The group talk among themselves and to the audience in a faux-Swedish accent, and have stage names which resemble the group's original names in a humorous way: Agnetha Falstart, Benny Anderwear, Frida Longstokin and Björn Volvo-us. The band is supported by bassist Rutger Sonofagunn and drummer Ola Drumkitt (from long-time ABBA session musicians Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert).
Björn Again have also occasionally covered songs by other artists. When Erasure produced an EP of ABBA covers called Abba-esque, Björn Again responded with an EP of covers of Erasure songs done in the style of Abba, called Erasure-ish. The EP included the song 'A Little Respect' which achieved Number 25 on the UK charts in September 1992.
The band has performed at many of the big rock festivals world-wide including Reading and Glastonbury, plus has sold out shows at The Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Arena in London, The State Theatre in Sydney, the SECC in Glasgow Scotland and Irving Plaza in New York. The band are also in high demand for private shows having played at parties for top UK golfer Colin Montgomerie, Microsoft's Bill Gates, comedian Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean), and at Russell Crowe's Wedding in Australia in 2003 which made world headlines.
In the words of ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus:
“The best of luck. I always thought that someone who looked like me ought to have a successful career!
— "Telegram from Björn Ulvaeus to Björn Again, Sweden ‘90
In the words of ABBA's Benny Andersson:
"“Fans had better make the most of Björn Again because that’s the closest they are going to get to seeing ABBA. ABBA will NEVER reform!"
— Benny Andersson, live on Capital Radio London Feb ’99
To date the various franchises of Björn Again have performed around 4,000 shows in over 50 countries, and there seems to be little sign that their popularity is diminishing.
In 1996 three of the original Australian group members Janette Stuart (Agnetha) Peter Ryan (Benny) and Gavin Charles (Björn) left the band and returned to Australia, new members were quickly brought in to continue the success. Now there are several Björn Again groups across the globe to feed the demand. A few of the current members have successful careers of their own outside of Bjorn Again including TJ Davis who played "Frida" had a hit in 2001 with "Wonderful Life" and Aileen McLaughlin who plays "Agnetha" has toured as a backing vocalist with several artists including Tom Jones, Lisa Stansfield and most recently Jason Donovan. Joanne Rowden who plays "Frida" has had a good career in acting starring in Coronation Street back in 2000 and other major television roles.
References
- Bjorn Again - Harrogate International Centre
- BBC Leicester Music - Bjorn Again at DeMontfort Hall Reviewed
- Bjorn Again - review by : Mark Champken - Glastonbury Festival 1999