BJÖRN @ BANCO LINKÖPING bench

El periódico sueco Aftonbladet muestra como Björn regresó al banco de Linköping donde conoció a Benny hace 51 años. El nuevo banco se inauguró en su honor hace un año y hoy Björn se sentó en él por primera vez. Incluímos transcripción del artículo en inglés más abajo.

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet shows how Björn went back to the Linköping bench where he met Benny 51 years ago. The new bench was opened in their honour a year ago and today was the first time Björn sat on it. Including transcript of the report below.

 [from Facebook: Abba Info]

Over 51 years ago, Björn and Benny met on a bench in Linköping. ThenABBA was formed. Last year a new bench was opened in their honor and today tried Björn Ulvaeus for the first time.

"It gets so real in some way when it's actually in place," he says.

It is 51 years since Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson met for the first time on a bench in Linköping. On June 5, 1966, the date was, and their band Hootenanny Singers and Hep Stars were out on tour. After celebrating at the then Rally Hotel, the artists continued to play the guitar together on a bench in the park Slottsparken. The rest is history, as you usually say.

Last year, in the 50th anniversary, a memorial was opened, which is a new construction of the bench. Now Björn Ulvaeus is there for the first time for a trial sit.

"What I realized when I came here is the physical fact that it actually was in this park we sat together for the first time over 51 years ago. It will be so real in some way when you are actually in place, he says to the Nöjesbladet.

And long time has passed. Together, the two have created new memories, and the first meeting is not as fresh in the head anymore.

"You know, it has been so many years so I have a picture of it, but if that picture is true or not, I dare not say," he explains.

"You can call room service"

After his bench-visit, Björn Ulvaeus will move on to his hometown to inspect his new apartment. It was at the end of January that his company bought the guest harbor in Västervik and invested 200 million kronor on the project.

"Slottsholmen will be, or is, a landmark already. And the marina will be the best marina on the east coast, me saying, who is a boat man myself," he says.

The project includes a restaurant, entertainment areas and a marina.

"I expect to try to make it a kind of entertainment center too," he says.

In addition, the new building contains 38 apartments that are for sale, where he himself has one.

- And a carefree accommodation. I've done it just the way I want it. That you can call room service if you want and you can clean it if you want. You can have the boat below the balcony, "he says.

New grandfather

But his project not only involves visiting Västervik. He also travels to London for work with both the new "Mamma Mia: Here we go again" movie with premiere 2018, and the "Mamma Mia, the party" show that starts in 2019. He has many projects on the go.

"Yes it just seems like I'm doing so much, but I delegate, you know," he says.

He still needs a little time off, because he is also a new grandfather.

- I'm grandpa five times earlier, and now grandfather again, so six grandchildren. It is wonderful. We will go on holiday together, all the children and all the grandchildren, and then we will be 16 people. We are going to Sri Lanka for Christmas, he says.

Björn Ulvaeus is back where everything started - on a bench in Linköping.

There he met Benny Andersson - and it was the start of 51 successful years with ABBA and his own projects like Mamma Mia.

Now he looks back - and tells us how the Abba members meet today.

"We all saw each other not a long time ago," he says.

On June 5, 1966, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson met at a bench in Linköping. The duo was on tour with their respective bands - Hootenanny Singers and Hep Stars - and jammed together on a bench in the park Slottsparken in the city.

It was the start of one of the most successful chapters in Swedish music history - ABBA, phenomenal success with Mamma Mia and a series of side projects.

Last year, the duo was honored for their efforts with a new bench next to the place where they met 51 years ago. The bench plays music and on Thursday, Björn Ulvaeus visited the site.

"If we had not met here, I would definitely have chosen another course in my life. It's one of those things that has been completely fundamental in my life, "he says.

Björn Ulvaeus: "Absolutely fundamental"

Björn and Benny began to record music and then involved their respective partners, including the artists Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The super group ABBA was a fact and celebrated great success with hits like "Waterloo" and "Mamma Mia".

Björn and Agnetha got two children together but divorced in 1979. ABBA dissolved in 1982 - but the quartet is still meeting.

"We met not a long time ago. It's only a month since we met all four. We had a meeting about a project called Virtual ABBA, says Björn Ulvaeus.

The ABBA members still meet

Björn Ulvaeus is glad that they can work together - and that the contact between all ABBA members is so good.

"It is very nice that we have been able to be good friends all four of us. You often read about bands that have become bitter enemies. But we have been able to avoid it altogether. On the contrary, we all feel a gratitude and humility that it became like it became, without realizing why I believe.