ABBA refuses $1 billion reunion offer

[Diva]

STOCKHOLM (http://www.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/News/02/02/showbuzz/) , Sweden -- Members of the Swedish '70s band ABBA say they won't get back together -- not even for $1 billion.

An American-British consortium offered them that amount to reunite for 100 concerts, but they refused. "It is a hell of a lot of money to say no to, but we decided it wasn't for us," Benny Andersson tells the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet.

ABBA disbanded 17 years ago, but their hit songs are currently experiencing an international revival. Part of the credit goes to the teen group A-Teens, whose covers versions of "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" and "Mamma Mia" have risen up the charts. And the musical "Mamma Mia," based on ABBA songs, has become a hit in London -- sending sales of the album "ABBA Gold" soaring.

ABBA got its name from the first initial of each band member: Anna-Frid, Bjorn, Benny and Agnetha. Agnetha Faltskog was married to Bjorn Ulvaeus; Andersson was married to Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Their relationships, as well as the band, broke up in 1983.
A BILLION dollars?!?!?!?! Okay, I admit listening to the songs. But there is no way I'd pay that much money for ABBA. Now if they could reserect Freddy Mercury and tour Queen, I'd sell my soul... practically. Who do you think is worth that kind of money? Either to get back together or just worth paying to see front row and center.

[Sterling]

Queen would have been one of my picks too, Freddie Mercury was just an amazing performer, and I'd wish I'd gone to see them when I had the chance. Some other picks that spring to mind:

- The Beatles, obviously (if you could somehow resurrect Lennon and Harrison). Arguably the greatest rock/pop band in history, 'nuf said.

- Pink Floyd (if you could get Roger Waters to start speaking to the rest of them again). Hugely influential, innovative music, fantastic light shows.

- The Pixies (if you could get the rest of them to start speaking to Black Francis / Frank Black again). Without The Pixies, there would have been no Nirvana. They represent everything that was great about the 90s grunge scene. They were also, according to 1st hand accounts I've heard, very tight live.

- U2. Probably the finest concert experience of any current band.

- Moloko. If you're into dance music, go to a Moloko concert (I have, three times, and they just get better and better). Quirky, like a loved-up Portishead (only much much better), fronted by the unique vocal talent of uber club-queen Roisin Murphy, their concerts tend to be dancier than their straight studio material, sounding like a 'live remix' and guaranteed to get the blood pumping.

- Madness. For sheer kinetic ska-band fun, they're pretty much impossible to beat. I defy anyone to go to a Madness concert and not come away with a huge grin on their face.

[dc]

Abba didn't get my offer of $1 B and a pair of my new GF's soiled underwear?

Bitch smells GREAT!

[Jake]

I'd like to see Elvis. The living young and skinny Elvis, that is. I don't know I'd deal with a room full of screaming teenie boppers, but the atmosphere would be incredible.

Led Zepelin with original members would be worth seeing too.

[Sterling]

I'm with you there. There are several others I'd add to the list too, but I just wanted to pick out a few personal favourites.