flement? Micke Bayart, author of ABBA by Micke, who is based in Stockholm, has his own opinion on that. ”I think most of us appreciate the fact that Sweden’s largest music export is finally being honoured with a museum. It follows the tradition of Swedish history, in a way – we have the Nobel Museum, the Vasa Museum, and Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren, the ‘mother’ of Pippi Longstocking, is immortalized with Junibacken – and now it is time for ABBA. We will most likely enjoy revisiting our youth and the 70s, while at the same time showing a new generation what ABBA was all about.”
”Looking out for a place to go” On 7 May, we witnessed the arrival of Sweden's newest tourist attraction, and the world's latest and greatest shrine to pop music – ABBA The Museum, in Stockholm's Djurgården. Ahead of the opening, Scan Magazine sought out a preview of what to expect via the museum's curator. By Karl Batterbee | Photo: Bengt H Malmqvist©Premium Rockshot
The interactive exhibition dedicated to the legendary Swedish pop group has now opened, and hoards of visitors are expected to contribute towards making it one of Scandinavia's top attractions. But with so much already known about ABBA, from their heyday in the 70s and 80s, to two global revivals that took place in the 90s and 00s thanks to the release of the Abba Gold compilation and the Mamma Mia musical respectively, I do wonder what is left to learn about the band. The museum's curator Ingmarie Halling soon puts me right. ”If you are a hardcore fan, you will love being able to walk in ABBA's footsteps through the exhibition, including the Polar office, the dressing rooms, the tailor's stu-
dio, and the Polar studio,” she tells me. ”These are places and items that no fan has ever seen because they have been on the other side of the door or stage. You can also see the costumes, dance in the videos, sing in the studios, and even try on the ABBA costumes virtually.” It is an exhibition that will also appeal to those who perhaps do not know so much about ABBA and want to discover more. ”Through the settings and the audio guide the story is told by ABBA themselves.” The museum will thus undoubtedly be well received by fans of the band, who will find plenty of reasons to flock to the attraction. But how are the regular Swedes looking upon the museum's existence? With a sense of pride, amusement or baf-
How must it feel to have a museum opened up in your honour while you are still alive and able to see it for yourself? In the case of ABBA, I would expect them to agree that it's been a long time coming. Micke knows the band themselves better than most, so I asked him for an insight on how they are feeling about it. ”I think they have a very Swedish, modest view on it. Flattered of course, and yet at the same time having a down-to-earth attitude towards it. Björn is the most active former member working with the museum project, supported by the other three. Therefore, we can expect something very special as they always want to give the very best once they become involved in something, just like when they were recording their songs. And from a practical point of view, it is a good way of cleaning out their wardrobes.” Their wardrobes’ loss is our gain. Anyone else want to virtually try on a royal blue satin jumpsuit?
Illustration of the museum: Johan Celsing
For more information, please visit: www.abbathemuseum.com