Björn Again

Björn Again performing in Sydney, 2009

Björn Again parodies Swedish pop group, ABBA,[6] using a mix of English and Swedish language (known as "Swenglish"[1] or pidgin Swedish). The performers take on stage names that pay homage to the original ABBA members, including Agnetha Falstart, Benny Anderwear, Frida Longstokin, and Björn Volvo-us,[2] as well as bassist Rutger Sonofagunn and drummer Ola Drumkitt (based on Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert).[7] The show features choreographed acts with unique costumes and song arrangements that differ from ABBA's original performances.

Original logo for Björn Again, still in use by the Australasian lineup

Björn Again is an ABBA tribute band that was founded in Melbourne, Australia in October 1988 by Rod Stephen and John Tyrrell. The name Björn Again was inspired by Stephen's pseudonym he used while skiing in the 1980s,[8] and is a light-hearted parody of ABBA using pidgin Swedish or 'Swenglish.' The original members included Rod Stephen, Peter Ryan, John Tyrrell, Dorina Morelli, Kathy Riseborough, Gavin Charles and later Janette Stuart. Since their debut in 1989, Björn Again has gained a lot of popularity and gone on to perform approximately 5,500 shows in 72 countries over 34 years. By 1997, Björn Again had three touring lineups. John Tyrrell has been the band's manager since the outset. Nowadays, Rod Stephen manages the UK/Europe lineup and John Tyrrell manages the Australasian lineup.[9]

Björn Again is an ABBA tribute band that has recorded and performed live a total of 133 songs, including 55 ABBA songs, 7 originals, and 62 covers by other artists. They have also released an EP of covers of Erasure songs done in the style of ABBA, called Erasure-ish,[10] which included the songs "Stop!" and "A Little Respect" that achieved Number 25 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1992.[11]

Björn Again has performed at events ranging from large rock festivals worldwide, including Reading and Glastonbury,[12] to private performances for celebrities, including playing at parties for UK golfer Colin Montgomerie,[13] Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates,[14] comedian Rowan Atkinson,[13] actor Russell Crowe,[15] and Russian president Vladimir Putin.[16][17]

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. They also performed a show in honor of Agnetha Fältskog at Stockholm's TV3/TV6 tenth-anniversary party, where she was quoted saying “It was a great show. I loved the choreography" and "Good Luck for the tour.”[8]

In 1999, the UK Bjorn Again took part in a documentary for Channel 5 entitled "ABBA: Bjorn Again!", which included Björn Again on tour. The documentary explored some of the history of the show, and throughout the program, 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!"[18]

Björn Again has also 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. They performed Metallica's "Enter Sandman" with an additional drummer to a receptive Sonisphere Festival crowd at Knebworth in August 2009, as a nod to the headlining act.[19] Additionally, they have been the opening act on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 1999, 2009, and 2019.[20]