CHART NEWS

Here are the chart stats for the week of 23-30 December 2005.

SWEDEN:
Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! (Swedish) - back in at #58
ABBA - ABBA The Movie DVD - up 2 to #8

AUSTRALIA:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection DVD - up 11 to #20

UK:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - back in at #50 (The highest entry of the week)

GERMANY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - up 3 to #54
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - up 6 to #52

AUSTRIA:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - up 1 to #36

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

A & E SPECIAL: FURTHER COMMENT

The A&E special aired recently and I was pleasantly surprised.

The show was obviously geared to the US audience which I liked. Specifically explaining how Eurovision works, & highlighting "Dancing Queen" & "Fernando".

However 1 hour is just not enough time to completely cover their career. It glosses over quite a bit. Most notably Frida & "Take A Chance On Me" Benny, Björn &
Agnetha's solo careers were talked about and videos shown, but nothing about Frida's!

Aside from the narrator, Carl Magnus Palm plays a major role in telling the ABBA story. Also interviewed are Marie Ledin, Lasse Hallström, Tomas Johansson and big names in the US music industry- Fred Bronson from Billboard, music promoter-Sid Bernstein, Anothony DeCurtis from Rolling Stone Magazine, Jerry Greenburg-president of Atlantic Records and some guy named Shelly Schultz who was their agent from 79-80?

There were lots and lots of photos shown throughout, a few here and there I hadn't seen. Of course Mamma Mia! was given a big feature and even showed the footage of Frida & Agnetha arriving at the Swedish premiere.

As usual, some mistakes like saying ABBA went to Australia in 1975 and making it out as though "Fernando" was the follow up 'hit' single to "Dancing Queen" The narrator also pronounces Ulvaeus as 'ool-vus'

All in all I'm happy with it, but then again anytime ABBA is given any kind of promotion in the US gives me a big screaming 'O' LOL!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pepe, California, USA

GAY GALA NOMINATIONS 2006

QX, Sweden's main gay magazine, have their annual Gay Gala and as part of the Gala, present awards in a number of categories. They have just announced the nominations for the Gay Gala 2006 and there are a few ABBA related nominations. The awards are presented at Cirkus on 30 January.

MUSICAL / SHOW OF THE YEAR
Mamma Mia!
Saturday Night Fever (with Andreas Lundstedt from Alcazar)
Grease (with Magnus Carlsson from Alcazar).

FOREIGN SONG OF THE YEAR
"Hung Up" - Madonna
"My Number One" - Helena Paparizou (Eurovision winner)
"You're Beautiful" - James Blunt

SWEDISH SONG OF THE YEAR
"Hall Om Mig" - Nanne
"Alla Flickor" - Linda Bengtzing (Melodifestivalen song)
"Live Tomorrow" - Laleh (beautiful song by Sweden's answer to Dido)


There are also a few other nominations that might be of interest. Eva Dahlgren has been nominated for Homo/Bi Of The Year (Peter Jöback was last year's winner) and also Artist Of The Year. Also nominated for Homo/Bi Of The Year are Alexander Bard and Andreas Lunstedt. Bodies Without Organs is up for Artist Of The Year. The controversial film "Mysterious Skin" is up for Film Of The Year.

The full list of nominations can be seen at http://www.qx.se/gaygalan/

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

MARIE GOES SOLO

Aftonbladet reports that the A*Teens' Marie Serneholt's new album will be released in March, preceeded by a single at the beginning of February.

The album is produced by Jörgen Elofsson , a songwriter and producer from the world famous Cheiron Studio. He has written hit songs for the likes of Westlife, Britney Spears, Will Young, Guy Sebastian, Boyzone and even Peter Jöback ("Higher").

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

BENNY PRODUCES NEW ALBUM

From the free paper Metro

The major producers are almost lining up to be working with her. Jörgen Elof was sponsoring her record and Benny Andersson produced her group.

And now arrives Sara Jangfeldt's one man show about Dorothy Parker in SVT (Swedish Television) and on record.

When Benny saw Sara Jangfeldt, Anna Granath and Lisa Östberg from his musical Chess and in a staging at Dansens Hus he became hooked on their music.

- Now we'll have to make a record based upon this, Benny said. And so we did, tells Sara Jangfeldt, 29 years old.

Benny Andersson has produced the threesome's debut album which will probably be released the coming spring. The group is called Florence.

- It sounds like an early Eva Dahlgren, with poetry lyrics and rouge arrangements, tells Sara Jangfeldt.

Benny Andersson didn't write any songs to the group, but his character is there within the production.

- Benny has contributed to the complete sound, and you'll probably hear a trace of ABBA in the final mix, says Sara Jangfeldt.

She is the musical artist who has become the star producer's favourite, and right now she's playing in "Kiss me Kate" in Göteborg. For several years she has been creating her own performance "Enough Rope" where she has been interpreting the writer Dorothy Parker.

Ti Spektra / To English by Linda Granqvist

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, Sweden

FRIDA DVD REVIEW

Here's a short review from Dagens Nyheter about the Frida DVD.

Frida - 4XCD 1XDVD

Last year the large Agnetha Fältskog box arrived, jsut a week before Christmas. Now comes the Frida equvivalent, almost as close to this Christmas. In spite of their remarkable lack of productivity these former ABBA queens seem to have hard to meet deadlines.

Agnetha Fältskog's box consisted mostly of her pre-ABBA records. Frida's box consists on the other hand mostly of her post-ABBA work. And that's a notable difference. On top of that Frida's box contains a DVD spanning over her complete career, from a young winner of a talents contest and up until being a worn out and retired musician. It's a simple selection of old TV-clippings and a maraton interview in a Swiss-inspired panorama environment.

And as usual it's the oldest material which is the most interesting. The clips from "Hylands Hörna" from 1967 is truly breathtaking - and was this TV-host really so bland? But Frida was a professional already back then, in spite of a difficult mike.

Othervise she don't reveal that much in the long interview. And in spite of her so-so records you are impressed by her.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, Sweden

BOX SET REVIEW

Marcus Dunk in the Daily Express (UK) on Friday (Dec 16th) declared The CSR box as his 'Album of the week' and wrote a nice review:

Some people say the Beatles, others say the Stones, and a few even say the Beach Boys, but for my money the best band in the history of pop would have to be ABBA.

Sure, they've been slated, with purists trying to dismiss them as nothing more than a camp joke or Eurotrash disco, but the songsters (Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid) were always about a whole lot more than sparkly, flared jumpsuits and the Eurovision Song Contest. They may have been a pop band, but ABBA were a pop band with depth.

Like all the best performers, Benny and Björn instinctively knew from the start that truly great pop songs are those that have a hint of sweet sadness running through them. Ring, Ring, Dancing Queen, SOS, Mamma Mia - these are songs that, as the band once said, reflected "times of joy and times of sorrow". In other words, they were tunes you could dance to, sing along to and get over a broken heart to (sometimes at one and the same time). They're perfectly-crafted gems, which is why they still sound so irresistible today.

If that sounds good, this big, beautiful box set has everything you could possibly ever need when it comes to a group. Not only do you get every ABBA album (Ring, Ring to The Visitors) a DVD, a disc of rarities, a book of lyrics and plenty of glossy pics all in a sky blue suede-covered box, you also get something truly rare and wonderful: all ABBA's foreign-language versions of their biggest hits.

That means Swedish and German versions of Ring, Ring, a Spanish version of Dancing Queen (La Reina Del Baile), and the true highlight, the French version of Waterloo ("Deja, a Waterloo Napoleon du se rendre"). Quite how this little ditty went down in France, however, remains a mystery that even this comprehensive collection cannot answer.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Julie Rickwood, London, UK

BENNY INTERVIEW IN AFTONBLADET

In aftonbladet there's an interview with Benny about his ringtone for the Swedish Red Cross. Below you'll find my translation of it.

You'll find the Swedish article here :
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,750251,00.html


Congratulaions
***************
Congratulations, your ringtone has reached the "gold" status.

- That's funny. When the Red Cross talked to me about the project, I wanted to do something to help.

This years The Red Cross wants to do something about loneliness and isolation, which becomes a big problem in Sweden.

Was it the theme that got you to say yes?

- Yes, anyone would have done that. Everyone wants to do his share, especially in this "fellow ships time"

The ring tone is very nice, is it hard to write such a short song?

It is easier to write something that's short, you have less time to fill. I tried to do a ring tone which is connected to Christmas and which catches your attention as a ring tone.

How long is the song and what is it called?

It exists of two loops and the total time is 28 seconds. The song is called Red X-mas, which means Red Cross and Christmas.

Do you play yourself on the song?

Yes, I play all the instruments, clocks and celasta (kind of piano), a small piano and put them together.

Over 9,000 people have got your ring tone as an sms-gift. Are there many people who start looking for their mobile when they hear the ring tone on their mobile?

It's nice, I think. Lot's of people in Mamma Mia! have the song and nobody knows whose phone is ringing (smiles)

Finally, what's your Christmas wish?

A white Christmas.

Published in Afonbladet, written by Ulla-Lene Österholm

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Patrick Proost, Beerse, Belgium

WHAT A PARTY!

From the magazine Svensk Damtidning:

What a party!

The shy ABBA-Agnetha was partying with the best friend of the king.

For the first time in a long time Agnetha Fältskog let go in the eyes of the public when she was enjoying herself late at night last week.

The usually so shy 55 year old ABBA-star was dancing the whole night long and was captured by the camera together with the 61 year old Bertil Nordström, friend to the
Swedish king. And immediately the rumours were flowing.

Svensk Damtidning called up Bertil Nordström who told about the night:
- It was me and Andreas Lettström and two more guys who encountered Agnetha and her three friends at Noppes Bar. We tagged along with them and went on to Club Plaza. There I danced with Agnetha once and so did my other friends. Who Agnetha was kissing and hugging is more than I know, says Bertil Nordström, who sounds very upset over the fact that his night on the town became public knowledge.

- I already have a love, he tells and declares that he and ex-wife Catherine are divorced.

Bertil Nordström claims firmly that he does not know Agnetha and that he hasn't talked to her. The music was so loud that it was impossible to uphold a conversation.

Bertil is a very good friend to the Royal Family and his son Niklas is the godson to Carl Gustaf. His mother is the real stator Yuri Gadelius. Bertil is also one of the
king's best friends. They like to watch TV together when there's a game of football or ice-hockey.

For Agnetha Fältskog you might say that this night became a turning point in her otherwise rather withdrawn life. After all those years when she had to lock herself up in her home, stalked by the maniac Gert van der Graaf, she is no longer afraid of going out dancing in the Stockholm night. Other things which has brightened the mood of this fantastic ABBA star during the last few months is a newly bought summerhouse in Båstad and that she has been taken classes to get rid of her fear of flying.

By Chris Cederlöf / To English by Linda Granqvist

Note: Båstad is a posh little town in the north-western corner of Skåne, southern province of Sweden.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, Sweden

SPECIAL REPEATED IF YOU MISSED IT

For those that missed it (in the US), the Biography Channel will be playing
the new ABBA Biography TV special on 4 January 2006 at 8pm.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

MORE ON A&E SPECIAL

I've just watched the new A&E TV special on ABBA. I thought
it was well done, although it's only 45 minutes without the commercials.

It seems they interviewed the right people with the most time going to Carl
Magnus Palm, so I think that makes the show credible.

Other music people interviewed were, Thomas Johansson, Shelly Shult (agent), Ken Barns (music editor USA Today), Ben Brantley, Fred Bronson (Billboard Mag) Marie Ledin (Stig's daughter), Anthony Decurtis (Rolling Stone Mag), Sid Bernstein, Jerry Greenberg (President Atlantic Records), Lasse Halstrom.

The first 5 minutes were devoted to "Mamma Mia!", and I thought "Oh No!" But they got
"Mamma Mia!" out of the way early. They showed the Stockholm Premiere with Agnetha on Red Carpet (maybe some of you are in this). They Also showed B and B on Stage.

They showed Hootenanny Singers singing Mary Ann, Agnetha on TV show with Air Force. They explained Eurovision, and said Eurovision was the model for American Idol except they have to sing original songs. They talked about the Australian and American tour, and ABBA The Movie.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Bill Paganucci, New Jersey, USA

A&E SPECIAL

The A&E cable television channel in the USA aired a new ABBA biography this week.

There was some new commentary from Carl Magnus Palm, Jerry Greenberg (former CEO of Atlantic Records from 1970s) and also Marie Ledin who I have never seen before on any
ABBA Documentary.

Unfortunately, I don't feel anything new was put out there, besides a few rare snapshots of ABBA.

I do feel they stated something in error. The noted that Dancing Queen was Abba's only Number one in America. Very True. They stated their second highest Billboard charting was Fernando at #12. I don't think so. What became of Take a Chance on Me which reached #3 on Billboard. Not like A&E to misstate a fact!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ron Rotche, Florida, USA

NEW SCHLAGER BOOK WITH AGGIE & FREDDO

from magazine Intermezzo (SAMI) No.4 2005

There is a new book released in two volumes called Stora Schlagerboken-Swedish singers 1954-1969. It presents all singers during this time within rock, pop and
schlager

Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad are featured in the first volume. it can be ordered from www.cdon.com each volume cost about 50 Eurp each.

--------------------

There was an 1 hour TV special in Sweden this previous weekend about Janne Schaffer. He talked about his career. There was footage shot outside Polar Studio and a performance with Ted Gärdestad (from the 90s). It was broadcast on SVT.

U.S. COVER BAND - adbacadabra

adbacadabra - The Ultimate ABBA Concert will also be appearing at the Circus Maximus showroom through the end of the year. You really do owe it to yourself to see this wonderful, all ages concert. The music of ABBA has never sounded better!

Caesars Tahoe - Circus Maximus adbacadabra Performances
December 2
December 9 & 10
December 26 through 30

For showtimes, ticket information, and more upcoming dates, please visit the official adbacadabra website at www.adbacadabra.com.

From the official adbacadabra website:
With the new resurgence of the '70s, portrayed in part by the hugely popular, live musical production of Mamma Mia!, the music of ABBA is finding its way back into the hearts of those who lived it then and taking over the hearts of those who are experiencing it for the first time now.

adbacadabra promises to continue the momentum by performing the group’s greatest hits in full ABBA fashion and flair. You won’t be able to sit still in your seats as songs like S.O.S., Super Trouper and Dancing Queen are recreated with such precision you'll swear you were listening to the originals themselves. The melodies of Fernando and Chiquitita will rekindle those feelings of first loves. Take a Chance on Me and Voulez Vous will lift you out of your seats to dance!

The show is authentic in music and dress and is performed to live music that will leave you excited and melancholy... at the same time.

HALLSTROM HOPES TO DIRECT MAMMA MIA! MOVIE

Recently there was an Interview with Lasse Hallström in Swiss magazine "20 Minuten weekend".

The questions were mostly about Hallström’s new picture "An Unfinished Life" starring Robert Redford, but the Swedish director talked also about ABBA and a future movie-version of Mamma Mia.

The interview was conducted by Swiss journalist Benjamin Bogli. Here my translation of the ABBA-relevant parts:

Bogli: In the past you have worked a lot with ABBA. Are you still in contact with the former band members?

Hallström: Oh, yes. I meet the guys frequently. Actually, we are even planning to do a film version of their musical "Mamma Mia!" This would be a great thing to conlude my work with ABBA, which started in the early 70s.

Which is your favourite ABBA-song?

I think it’s "Under Attack" (starts humming the song) I really hope that we can make that movie-musical.

(Interesting that "Under Attack" is his favourite ABBA-song, one of the two videos he didn't direct!)

Thanks to ABBA fan Eric Langner, Switzerland

NO BAO TOUR IN 2006

Görel Hanser has advised she is hopeful that Björn & Benny's masterpiece, Kristina från Duvemåla, may go ahead sometime in 2007 in the USA. It is also because of this that there will be no BAO tour in the summer of 2006 in Sweden.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Norma Parker, Stockholm, Sweden

BJÖRN'S NEW HOUSE ON ABBA ISLAND!

FROM EXPRESSEN:
http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=478482

THIS IS ULVAEUS’ NEW PARADISE

Recently he bought a house on Viggsö Island in Stockholm archipelago for 6.7 million (Swedish krona).

- It’s a nice summer house, but not a luxury house, says Björn’s wife Lena Ulvaeus.

Picture: Björn Ulvaeus and his wife Lena has bought the million house in the idyllic archipelago on Viggsö to be able to spend more time with the whole family. It’s going to be nice, says Lena.

West of Grinda, 20 minutes by boat from Vaxholm, Viggsö is located. ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, 60, has had a small house here since the 70s. His paradise has now grown bigger.

Recently Björn and his wife Lena, 55, bought the neighbour’s house from ABBA manager Stikkan Anderson’s son Lasse Anderson for 6.7 million Skr. For that amount they also got an extra 5,900 square metres of beautiful archipelago plot to add to the 8,460 square metres they already own on the island.

A few metres from the ocean

The house from the 1930s is only a few metres from the ocean and has a big platform in the water and two boat houses. The house has three bedrooms, one office and a big kitchen.

Except for this there are two balconies and a terrace where Björn and Lena can enjoy the summer sun with a view of the Grinda Bay.

- From the beginning it was an old fisherman’s cabin which has been rebuilt. It’s a nice summer house, but not a luxury house, says Lena Ulvaeus to Expressen.

The Ulvaeus’ bought the house to be able to spend more time with their family; children Emma, 23, Anna, 19, Linda, 32, Christian, 28, and grandchild Tilda, 4, Linda’s daughter.

- Now that we have two summer cabins the whole family can come out if they want to.
"Relaxing with the silence"

- We like to spend time in the archipelago. It is so relaxing with the silence. And it’s going to be nice to sit there and read and do our crosswords when we get older, says Lena Ulvaeus.

The island is also a part of Swedish pop music history.

Yes, Viggsö is important to Björn. This is where he and Benny wrote a great deal of Abba’s early hits, in a small guest cabin, says Lena Ulvaeus.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Niklas Albinsson-Collander, Goteborg, Sweden

SVENNE & LOTTA IN CAR CRASH

Svenne and Lotta were involved in a car accident outside of Sävsjö on Mon 19Dec. The pair escaped via the car's windows.

The pair were on their way from their home in Sävsjö to Motala to sign records and take part in a Christmas gala, when they hit black ice and ended up in a ditch.

Svenne said they didn't have a chance, the car just lost control.

They couldn't get the doors open and had to crawl out of the car's window. Lotta was taken to hospital in Eksjö by ambulance with back pains, but x-rays have revealed no damage to her spine.

The pair believe they owe their lucky escape to their guardian angel.

http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=489506

Thanks to ABBAMAILers Paul Carter & Kylie Lindsay, London, UK

CHART NEWS

Here are the chart stats for the week of 9-16 December 2005:

SWEDEN:
Cast Recording: Mamma Mia (Swedish) - Down 6 to #58
ABBA - ABBA The Movie - DVD Chart - Down 2 to #12

AUSTRALIA:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - DVD Chart - down 4 to #28

GERMANY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - up 15 to #61
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - back in at #63, week 144

AUSTRIA:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - down 1 to #63

ITALY:
ABBA - La Nostra Storia - down 2 to #29

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

AGNETHA BACK IN THE CHARTS

Whoever would have thought that any of the solo remasters would chart?

Well, it is the mid-price chart and it is *that* time of the year.

Agnetha and Linda's Christmas album entered the Swedish mid-price album charts last week at number 10 and is currently at number 8.

Also of interest, Peter Jöback's Christmas album is at number 2, Tommy Körberg's Christmas album is at number 5 and Nanne's Greatest Hits album is at number 10.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

ABBA #17 IN BRITISH TOP 100 ACTS LIST

Top 100 Most Successful Acts Of All Time

The Book Of British Hit Singles & Albums has unveiled their annual list of the Top 100 Most Successful Acts Of All Time. The annual Top 100 rates itself as "the most definitive and genuine list of its kind" as it's based solely on the total number of weeks each contender has spent on the official UK Singles and Albums charts and not on arbitrary voting.

The artists are ordered according to who has spent the most weeks on the combined official UK singles and albums charts, and the list represents more than 50 years of chart music from 1952 to the present day.

The Top 20 list (with last year's placings in brackets) is:

1 (1) Elvis Presley
2 (2) Cliff Richard
3 (4) Queen
4 (3) The Beatles
5 (5) Madonna
6 (6) Elton John
7 (7) The Shadows
8 (8) Michael Jackson
9 (10) U2
10 (9) David Bowie
11 (11) Rod Stewart
12 (12) Frank Sinatra
13 (13) Diana Ross
14 (14) Dire Straits
15 (15) Simon And Garfunkel
16 (16) The Rolling Stones
17 (17) ABBA
18 (18) Fleetwood Mac
19 (19) Phil Collins
20 (20) Paul McCartney


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Shawn Wilson & www.erasureinfo.com

FRIDA HITS OUT AT REUNION SNUBS

FROM THE "WHAT A WANK" DEPARTMENT...

www.contactmusic.com

Reclusive former ABBA star ANNI-FRID LYNGSTAD has blasted her bandmates for snubbing offers to reform.

The singer, known as FRIDA, reveals she has often considered a reunion of the Swedish supergroup but her ex-husband BENNY ANDERSSON and BJORN ULVAEUS have always turned down tours and one-off concert specials.

Speaking candidly on new DVD FRIDA, THE DVD, she explains, "I've felt that it would be fun to do something with ABBA in recent years, but, basically, they're not interested."

And she insists that the band's inactivity has led to unfair speculation about her relationship with bandmate AGNETHA FALTSKOG.

Lyngstad explains, "Our relationship is warm and sisterly."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

Q MAGAZINE REVIEWS BOX SET

This month's Q Magazine from the UK (Jan 2006, Bono on the cover) reviews the Complete Studio Recordings box set.

I scanned the article and photo, you can see it here: http://rocketmanla.com/abbaqs.jpg

I typed out the almost embarrassingly favorable review below.

Rod Reynolds Los Angeles, USA

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


THE FAB FOUR Sod IKEA, they're still Sweden's finest export

During a documentary featured on one of the two DVDs that stand alongside the nine CDs (all eight albums and one rarities disc) which form this collection, ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus explains that there is little point an album track existing if it could not be a single. Accidentally, perhaps, he has tapped into ABBA's genius.

Their extraordinary singles are part of our cultural fabric. As is known, some of these chart the rise and fall of two relationships (the sheer joy of 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do' to the bleakness of 'One of Us'), ensuring that almost their entire canon is coated in Scandanavian melancholy. And all this from a band singing and writing in their second language.

It is the art of despair ('Super Trouper' speaks of being "part of a success that never ends" but also asks "How can anyone be so lonely?") and there are fewer smiles than Joy Division. But 2:05 minutes into the oft-mocked 'Fernando' are five seconds of the most heart-stoppingly gorgeous music you will ever hear.

The singles guarantee immortality, the videos (all here) remind us that ABBA's fevered sexual undertow came from the raven-haired Anni-Frid Lyngstad, but the real revelation, hitherto lost in too-easily-assumed slapdash history, is that Ulvaeus is correct. Almost everything sounds like a single, yet ABBA were an albums band. 'Another Town Another Train' and 'Disillusion' from the 1973 debut 'Ring Ring' suggest they always were.

Eight years later, their final album, 'The Visitors', included the unyieldingly bleak 'When All is Said and Done' and 'Like an Angel Passing Through my Room' ("In the twilight hour, I am alone). By then, they were getting really good at it. Astounding.

- John Aizlewood

DOWNLOAD: When All is Said and Done, Fernando, Under Attack, Super Trouper, Waterloo

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Rod Reynolds, Los Angeles, USA

EXPRESSEN TRANSLATION: AGNETHA ON THE TOWN!

http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=485972

ABBA-Agnetha and a close friend to the King met at a Stockholm night club.

The unknown man who danced cheek to cheek with Agnetha Fältskog and made her smile happily on the dance floor is Bertil Nordström, aged 61, and a very close friend to king Carl Gustaf of Sweden.

Agnetha and Bertil had several dances, one of them was the Whitney Houston hit "I will always love you", at the very popular "Plaza Club" in Stockholm. They were sitting at the same table in the VIP-sectione of the establishment. Eye witnesses tell that Bertil also kissed her. Agnetha, who usually tries to avoid publicity, smiled happily at the camera and seemed to enjoy to once again being part of the Stockholm night life.

The couple danced close together, but they left the place separately. Agnetha was picked up by her chauffeur at 3.30 am.

Bertil Nordström is a very close friend to the Swedish King, and considered to be part of the inner circle that is also fully accepted by Queen Silvia. When Bertil's children Niklas and Jenny were christened in 1988 the entire Royal family were present. The King is godfather to Jenny, and Queen Silvia is godmother to Niklas. The King and Queen were also guests of honour when Bertil married Yuri Gadelius in 1976.

Bertil often arrange parties and other meetings for the King, and they meet quite often. Bertil runs several business enterprises and a farm in Bälinge close to Uppsala. He also owns a house at Beckholmen, a part of Djurgården in Stockholm.

Bertil and Agnetha have known of each other for at least 20 years. Bertil knows all celebreties that are going out in Stockholm, according to Expressen's source. Bertil is divorced, and now lives with another woman. When asked about the night with Agnetha he replies: This is not very amusing. I refer further questions to my lawyer.

Bertil and a few friends went to the "Plaza Club" for a beer, and Agnetha turned up with three lady friends. People always dance at that place. Bertil danced with Agnetha, and they talked for a while. Stockholm is quite small, and he has met Agnetha several times throughout the years.

By Tomas Carlsson and Lars Johansson, Expressen

Thanks to ABBAMAILer & translator Tony Becker Helsingborg, Sweden

MORE ON UK VERSION OF "ALL TIME GREATEST HITS"

The following from the Mamma Mia website:

ABBA’s ALL TIME GREATEST HITS’

20th December 9 PM ITV1

This Christmas ITV1 will examine the top 20 hits from Swedish super group ABBA in a special documentary. Featuring unique commentary from the band, it will be one of the first documentaries to focus solely on the world-renowned music of ABBA, and the reasons behind its universal appeal. Pop-stars of all ages join in revealing their favourite top 20 ABBA hits - such as Bono, Robin Gibb, Girls Aloud and Lulu. The London cast of MAMMA MIA! also decide which of ABBA’s hits should be in the top 20, and the program features commentary from MAMMA MIA!’s Global Producer Judy Craymer.

The programme makers will use a new software package called ‘Hit Song Science’ (HSS), currently used in recording studios to predict whether a track will turn out to be a hit record or not. The HSS software will rate ABBA’s top 20 singles against each other and against a database of today’s chart to see which would be their most successful track. As the chart counts down, the show will feature past performances from ABBA, as well as video clips of other acts that have covered their songs, including Erasure, who did Voulez Vous and Take a Chance on Me and Stephen Gately who released Chiquitita. Classical singer Hayley Westenra, who is the fastest selling debut classical artist of all time, also performs her version of SOS.

But which ABBA song would hit the number one slot in today’s pop charts? Will Dancing Queen be top of the league? Where will Money, Money, Money come? And what about Waterloo? Tune in to find out!

Also, the following, at:
http://www.mamma-mia.com/london/news.asp

• London cast sees 4 millionth customer
• Mamma Mia returns to South Africa
• Broadway production has record Thanksgiving weekend
• Spanish cast recording released in U.S.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ron Miskoff, Edison, USA

ANOTHER BOOK WITH ABBA CONTENT

As if we haven't had enough ABBA stuff to add to our collections over the past couple of years, this week I've stumbled across a book that quite surprisingly features ABBA.

The book is called I Was There: Gigs That Changed The World, written by Mark Paytress. It's a very big coffee table picture book with some text. The premise of the book is legendary, famous and infamous concerts.

I didn't have a good look, but it seems to cover the usual sort of suspects: various festivals, the usual rock legends, etc etc, over the past 50 or so years. And right slap bang in the middle are several pages about ABBA's first Australian concert in Sydney on 3rd March, 1977 - the infamous rain concert.

There are a few full page photos from the Australian tour (nothing that really indicates that they were from that particular concert rather than any of the others), and a page of text about that wet but fabulous night. No particularly personal eye-witness accounts, though the text has a familiar ring to it (to anyone who's ever visited my Australian site).

I've had a quick look around the net, and it seems to be listed on every bookstore site. Just go to any of them and search by title (or author, or ISBN - 1844033422).

I don't know whether we can consider this an essential addition to your ABBA collection, but it's great to see ABBA included in something like this for a change.

Here is a link to the publisher's website:

http://www.cassell-illustrated.co.uk/cassill/display.asp?isb=1844033422

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

AGNETHA OUT ON THE TOWN: FULL STORY

TRANSLATION OF EXPRESSEN ARTICLE:
http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=485111

ABBA-AGNETHA PARTIED WITH A NEW MAN LAST NIGHT

This is Agnetha Fältskog partying last night. The ABBA-star is dancing closely to an unknown man until early morning. At the celebrity night club Club Plaza in Stockholm the shy superstar’s isolation is ceased.

Picture: HAPPY AGAIN. For the first occasion in a very long time Agnetha Fältskog was out in the night life. She seemed to be very happy in the company of her friends at the celebrity club Club Plaza in Stockholm last night.

Small picture: Agnetha Fältskog was dancing closely to her friend on the packed dance floor.

The usually so shy Agnetha Fältskog was enjoying herself in the nightlife. The star was showing her feelings for her new friend, an unknown man in the upper middle ages. The two were dancing closely and was kissing among the other guests at the crowded celebrity club.

The pair stayed on the dance floor for quite a few songs before they went back to their friends at the VIP table. This was the same table as the one where Princess Madeleine and her friends was partying at a week ago.

Sitting closely

Agnetha and her new friend went back and sat close to each other. The star was holding his hand for a long time.

It was like the ABBA star never wanted the wild party with the friends to end. The guests at Club Plaza, the night club Alexandra’s old premises, got to experience a sensation.

Agnetha Fältskog has for a long time kept her self away from the public life, in her house at Ekerö. She lives by herself, is seldom seen out in the city and always brings a guard with her. At the premiere of "Mamma Mia" in February, which was supposed to be the ABBA-friends’ reunion, Björn, Benny and Annifrid didn’t even get to talk to her. Agnetha was hiding with her guard next to the stage, and didn’t come
into the auditorium until the light were out and was raising her hands to protect her face. As soon as the curtain fell she escaped to an awaiting limo.

Struck by love terror

The reason for this is mainly Gert van der Graaf with whom Agnetha had a relationship with. Year 2000 the Dutch man was convicted with deportation and a restraining order after exposing his idol to love terror.

- I’ve been deprived my freedom for over a year. He has watched over me everywhere, been standing and waiting at my gate, rummages in my mail box, Agnetha describes that time period.

After that she has been scared to go outside. Until last night.

She brought the night to an end by dancing to the romantic ballad "I will always love you", with Whitney Houston.

Agnetha’s party was among the last guests to leave the club a little after three this morning.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Niklas Albinsson-Collander, Goteborg, Sweden

CHART NEWS

Here are the chart stats for the week of 2-9 December 2005.

SWEDEN:
Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! (Swedish) - up 7 to #52
ABBA - ABBA The Movie - up 5 to #10 (DVD Chart)

AUSTRALIA:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection DVD - down 15 to #24

GERMANY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - down 4 to #76

AUSTRIA:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - down 18 to #62

ITALY:
ABBA - La Nostra Storia - down 1 to #29

OFF:
UK - ABBA GOLD
SWEDEN - ABBA GOLD

Madonna - Hung Up.
This single appears to have peaked everywhere now (that I have seen). The only country where it didn't make the top 2 was USA, where it hit #7. It peaked at #2 in: Ireland, New Zealand, and Canada (airplay). Otherwise it was #1 (14 countries known).

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

AGNETHA: PARTY GIRL

http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=485111

Expressen reports that Agnetha spent a night on the town with a male friend. "Club Plaza" a so called "celebrity club" in Stockholm was the venue and Agnetha was in high spirits throughout the evening.


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Stephen McLaughlin, United Kingdom and Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

TV SHOW VIOLATES AGNETHA'S LAND

A few days ago there was a TV show 'Under Cover' that was about stalkers and obsessive fans. There was a segment about the Gert and Agnetha story. Agnetha was mentioned as "Sweden's most beloved artist and also Sweden's most secluded artist".

The host of the show, Charlotta, desided to go to Agnetha's home and see how she protects herself against stalkers. Charlotta went up to the gate and it was open. She saw a sign with "Trespassing forbidden" and "Warning for the dog" but she desided to walk through the open gate. After a while she saw a surveillance camera that looked like it was from last centrury, and it wasn't even plugged in.

Charlotta got all the way up to the house and showed Agnetha's stable buildings and how beautifully the house was situated by the water. And she was very close to the actual house. She said that she was going to walk up and knock on the door and see if Agnetha was at home. But right then a man came in a car and told her (very politely) that this was private property and she had to leave. Don't know who this was because his was was edited blurry, but it seemed more to be a friend of Agnetha's rather than a guard.

Charlotta did as she was told and walked all the way by foot back to the gate. After a while standing by the gate a guard with a big dog from Securitas guarding company came in a car, but by then Charlotta had already went past the gate down to the house and back.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Niklas Albinsson-Collander, Goteborg, Sweden

FRIDA BOX SET REPORT

I bought the new Frida box set here in Amsterdam today. I was able to watch
the DVD today! Ah bliss!

The box looks very classy in black and white, the booklet is a bit, well, boring or should I say nothing special.

The story from Theodor Kallifatidis ( I read a book by him 200 years ago, it was very moving about a boy who commits suicide, but that's another story ;-) is cute, about an elderly couple who have a summer house on Gotland. Frida once left her jacket there ("then she left and left her jacket behind. Did she want to shed her skin, perhaps? It is not out of the question. She has done that a couple of times in her life"). Now every year when the couple arrive at the cottage they take out Frida's jacket to air.

I think Frida's foreword is nice and quite touching. Just like the short story it's there in both Swedish and English. I think the original Swedish expresses the feelings better; the translation could have been more precise.

So for everyone who hasn't got the box yet or for those who have the DVD without the booklet here's Frida's foreword (in English!)

***

To my family, all my friends and fans whose wholehearted love has supported me, and who have given me welcome criticism of what I have done. Within this supportive framework my musical life has pulsated and my innermost desires have become experiences which, in turn, have become great, and sometimes nostalgic, memories.

In my world of music, I have known special people com and go. Talented people have touched my soul. Some have remained indelibly printed in my heart, some have faded a bit.

When I listen to my old recordings, emotions and memories bring out sadness and joy together, The result is that many people's destinies are now woven into the tracks of this CD.

I give my thanks and dedicate to:
BENNY - "Var är min clown"
PHIL - "You know what I mean"
STEVE _ "Comfort me"

In memoriam I dedicate to:
RUZZO - "Som en sparv"
DANIEL BALAVOINE - "The face"
KIRSTY MAC COLL - "One little lie"
STIKKAN - "Principessa"

***

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Bonnie Rietveld, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

A&E SPECIAL UPDATE

This is from the cable TV channel A & E website, so let us assume this is indeed the new documentary which CMP discusses on his website as a current project. I hope so. Here is the information as posted on the A & E page:

ABBA.
Airs on Thursday, December 22 at 9:00am ET

The Swedish pop group ABBA (Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad) had a string of hits in the 70's and 80's before breaking up in 1982. Throughout much of the world, especially Europe and Australia, the ABBA phenomenon never went away, with repackaged hits compilations and live collections continuing to hit the charts long after the group's demise. Their music was revitalized and introduced to a new generation yet again with the premiere of Mamma Mia!, a global smash-hit musical based on their catchy tunes. It remains a top draw on Broadway today, proving that truly outstanding music never loses its charm. TVPG

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Graeme Dempsey, Vancouver, Canada

BJÖRN SPEAKS ON BOX SET!

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=76033

ABBA release may be last, says Bjorn

Tuesday Dec 6 06:30 AEDT

The latest ABBA compilation to hit the record stores will be its final record release, a former member of the Swedish group predicted, but fans' dream of seeing the pop quartet reform would never come true.

Bjorn Ulvaeus said that ABBA had no intention of following in the footsteps of other famous bands that have regrouped in recent years.

"We believe that what we did then was pretty good," he told Reuters in a telephone interview during a trip to England.

"But after, we felt that the energy was running out towards the end of the 1970s, we decided, why should we do a Rolling Stones or a Queen?" he said.

"ABBA was the highlight of mine and (fellow ABBA member) Benny Andersson's creativity, and most groups actually only have seven or 10 years of creativity. Some of them go on anyway."

Asked whether the new box set of ABBA's complete studio recordings, featuring nine CDs and two DVDs, would be ABBA's last commercial offering, he replied: "Absolutely ... If you ask me, yes."

He said that the collection had primarily been the idea of record company Universal Music rather than the group, but it was what the fans wanted.

"I like the fact that everything is now out there and released, because we haven't been able to do much for the fans over the last few years," he said.

The creators of classic tracks like Super Trouper, The Winner Takes It All and Waterloo have sold in excess of 100 million albums worldwide, many of them compilations released after the band split in the early 1980s.

Ulvaeus and Andersson are attempting to transfer their Swedish show Kristina to Broadway, and have been working with Herbert Kretzmer, responsible for the lyrics of hit musical Les Miserables, on translating the work.

"It is very difficult to go from something so Swedish to America, but on the other hand it's a subject that everyone knows and especially in America - about emigrants and immigrants," Ulvaeus said.

He plans to hold workshops in New York next spring before deciding whether to launch the show there.

Ulvaeus said the music industry had only come to appreciate ABBA in recent years, and that during its heyday, the best selling pop act was widely derided.

"In the 1980s we were so distinctly uncool, it was incredible. But still we had been working so hard and putting our lives into every track, and people didn't appreciate that.

"The fans did of course, and the public who bought the records, but critics, no way."

Yet today, none other than Madonna is borrowing from ABBA hit Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! on her chart-topping 2005 dance single Hung Up.

"I see that as a tribute," said Ulvaeus.

"We almost always say no to these things," he added.

"Madonna's assistant came over to Sweden and played the track, and it was so catchy that Benny and I immediately said 'Yes'. We have loads of offers like that but we never say yes, but in this case it was so cleverly done."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Cathy Olds, Newcastle, Australia

A&E REVISED

For U.S. fans:

The Thursday Dec 22 at 9 AM (EST) one hour ABBA program will be on A&E itself, not on The Biography Channel. It is followed by a one hour program about The Bee Gees.

This all makes me think it is just a re-play of their old ABBA show...nothing new & exciting.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Aileen Schafer, Pennsylvania, USA

FRIDA ARTICLE IN BILLBOARD

Frida Admits Longing For ABBA Reunion

December 05, 2005, 4:15 PM ET

Jeffrey de Hart, Stockholm

Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad has considered a reunion of the Swedish supergroup of which she was once part. "I've felt that it would be fun to do something with ABBA in recent years," she says. However, because of bandmates Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' success with three stage musicals and Andersson's solo work, "Basically they're not interested," she adds.

The revelation comes in a new interview featured on the Universal Music DVD "Frida the DVD" -- released today (Dec. 5) in Europe, with Asia, Australia and the Americas expected to follow -– Lyngstad also states that, despite persistent rumors to the contrary, she maintains contact with co-vocalist Agnetha Fältskog. "Our relationship is warm and sisterly," she says.

The interview was filmed July 22 at Chez Vrony in Zermatt, Switzerland, and conducted by producer Mats Jankell. It is interspersed with four hours of comprehensive footage dating from 1967, including rare Swedish Television performances, record company promotional films, solo videos, personal footage and a clip of her most recent recording, "The Sun Will Shine Again," written by and performed with Deep Purple's Jon Lord in 2004.

Marie Ledin of Anderson Records -– named in honor of her late father, ABBA mentor Stikkan Anderson –- is responsible for the project. "The idea that we should make a DVD came from a Frida fan from the beginning," she said. "Then I spoke to [Universal Sweden managing director] Mårten Aglander about it. Since Frida turned 60 this year we thought it would be a good idea to do the DVD and also do a box set with the Polar [Music] albums."

The box set "Frida 4xCD 1xDVD," also released today, includes the DVD along with four of Lyngstad's five solo albums. It excludes her 1971 debut, her only album for EMI, although some of that material is represented with early live televised performances. The box contains a 20-page booklet with a "unique, poetic short story" about Lyngstad by renowned Greek-Swedish author Theodor Kalifatides.

The albums included are Polar Music's "Frida Ensam" (Frida Alone), produced by Andersson in 1975, "Something's Going On" produced by Phil Collins in 1982 and "Shine" produced by Steve Lillywhite in 1984. Her most recent album - 996's "Djupa Andetag" (Deep Breaths), produced by Anders Glenmark – is on Anderson Records, distributed by Universal.

"It was not hard to convince Frida to do this project," Ledin says. "We discussed it about a year-and-half ago and she said, 'Yes, that's a good idea.' Mats did the research and got the clips. Then we sent them to Frida on a DVD and she liked them. The best part is with Lars Berghagen." The two perform a version of Ray Stevens' "Gitarzan."

"It's amazing that ABBA is always relevant," Aglander says. "There's always something happening with ABBA even 23 years after their last recording. You never know, but it feels like it will keep going. I'm sure the popularity of ABBA always exceeds every expectation."

According to Lyngstad, there isn't much room for another album for the time being. "My motivation today when it comes to my musical career is pretty non-existent," she says. "It was there up until a few years ago, but there's a time for everything and that ship has sailed."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Niklas Albinsson-Collander Goteborg, Sweden

CHART UPDATE

Here are the charts for the week of 25 November 2005 to 2 December 2005.

SWEDEN:
Mamma Mia! - back on at #59 (Week 21)
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - back on at #53 (Week 5)
ABBA - The Movie - DVD Chart, down 8 to #15

ITALY:
ABBA - La Nostra Storia - up 11 to #28
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - Off.

AUSTRALIA:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - DVD Chart, down 3 to #9
ABBA - 18 Hits - Off the top 50.

UK:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - up 1 to #64

GERMANY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - down 5 to #72 (Week 100)
ABBA - ABBA The Movie - off

AUSTRIA:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - up 4 to #44

GREECE:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - Off.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

MAMMA MIA! SWEDISH SOUNDTRACK GOES GOLD

The Swedish cast album joins the triumphant ranks of international Mamma Mia! cast albums

December 1, 2005

The musical Mamma Mia! is playing to sold-out houses at the Cirkus theatre in Stockholm, Sweden. Now the acclaimed Swedish cast album has received a Gold Record award and last weekend the cast received their gold records.

The original Mamma Mia! cast album, recorded in London in 2000, has reached Platinum status in the United States, Australia, and Korea, Double Platinum in Canada, Double Gold in Great Britain and Gold in Germany and New Zealand - and now also in Sweden! The German version has received a Platinum award in Germany and the Dutch version is a Gold album in The Netherlands.

18,000 people watch a Mamma Mia! performance each night the world over. Currently, there is a total of 11 different productions playing globally. More than 24 million people have seen Mamma Mia! since its world premiere in London, April 6, 1999


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robert Verbeek, Duiven, The Netherlands

LUDVIG STORY

ABBA offspring Andersson rocks with Rouge Saturday December 3, 01:29 AM STOCKHOLM (Billboard) -

The younger son of ABBA member Benny Andersson may submerge his identity within six-piece rock act Ella Rouge, but Ludvig Andersson remains proud of his association with the 1970s hitmaker's enduring legacy.

"I just do my best; whether it comes out sounding like ABBA or Led Zeppelin, I don't know and I don't care," the 23-year-old singer/guitarist says. "I'm not afraid to if walk in my father's footsteps -- if I have 1 percent of his talent and abilities, I'll be very happy."

Ella Rouge's self-titled debut was released October 26 in Sweden on Andersson's new Moby Dick Music label, with he co-owns with his manager/business partner, Fabian Bonnier.

Andersson's 2004 solo pop debut, "SRO" (S56 Recordings), included local radio hit "One Touch." The self-published Andersson wrote or co-wrote the new set's 11 tunes. He says Moby Dick is keen to licence "Ella Rouge" internationally, and he will be in Japan in December in an effort to strike an Asian deal. Reuters/Billboard

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dionne Kennedy, Colne, UK

CUTE STORY FROM NEW FRIDA DVD

In the DVD Interview Frida talks about Agnetha in a very warm way. This little story she tells is very endearing

Her stepdaughter Henriette was in Saint Tropez and called Frida to tell her that she was lying by the pool ... next to Agnetha !!!! So Frida asked her to pass the phone, but right at that moment Agnetha was gone. Anyway Agnetha had told Frida a month earlier that she was seeking help for her fear of flying, so apparently she did and flew to Saint Tropez. Frida says about this (in a very warm and nice way) that she was very happy for Agnetha and that she thinks it was very brave and good of her.

The DVD is full with such nice little anecdotes. It is really a fantastic experience to watch it.

Thanks to ABBAMAILers Jurgen Parys & Erik Menkens, Bremen, Germany

POP IMPORT NEW PRODUCTS

Information from Pop Import, Sweden

I have Per Gessle's (from Roxette) new LP with ”Son of A Plumber”

Special price on Agnetha's box “De första Åren”
29 Euro/35 us $/45aus $/19£ incl postage

Price on Fridas new CD/DVD
65Euro/75 us $/45£/95 aus$
incl postage

POP IMPORT
SWEDEN
popimport@telia.com

LISTING FOR UK VERSION OF NEW ABBA TV SPECIAL

From the UK Radio Times listing magazine:-

ABBA'S ALL-TIME GREATEST HITS
Tuesday 20th December - ITV1 - 21.00 - 22.30

"Weddings and office parties wouldn't be the same without at least one hit from the Swedes who crafted some of the most popular hits of the last few decades. But just how good were they? With help from the likes of Bono, Lulu, Rachel Stevens, Neil Sedaka and Girls Aloud - plus analysis from some dubious technology - this program attempts to provide the answer."

Then, under "Pick of the Day", the Radio Times writer writes:-

Would the legendary ABBA's music be a hit today? Yes, says this program, which uses new computer software to predict how ABBA's 20 bestselling songs would fare in the charts were they released now. Apparently, four would make the top ten.

Now this twist isn't going to fool anyone. This is a list program, albeit an enjoyable one with an impressive line-up of interviewees between the clips (Malcolm McLaren, Neil Sedaka, Bono and Robin Gibb among them). Along the way - and at an hour and a half it's a very long way - a pop "panel" comprising such music know-alls as Girls Aloud and Daniel Bedingfield try to guess the order of the hits. None of them gets the number one tune right. Neither did I. I thought it was going to be the track that Donny Osmond reveals "can even make former US Secretary of State Colin Powell dance in the aisles".

Thanks to ABBA fan Marcus Tustin, London, UK