ABBA were one of the most iconic pop groups of all time. The Swedish “Mamma Mia” power group may not be producing hits anymore, but it will be a long time before they’re forgotten. However, despite the fact that the band and its members have spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about ABBA. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: They Exploited the Law. To save money before they hit it big, the members of ABBA took advantage of a Swedish law that stated clothing could be tax deductible if you could prove it wasn’t used as “daily wear.”
Number Fourteen: They Share a Name With Seafood. Before they decided to name themselves ABBA – which, for the record, is an acronym of their first names – there was something else named Abba: a brand of seafood. The company has existed since 1838, and they sell items such as pickled herring and caviar.
Number Thirteen: Agnetha lost her Pants Onstage. When ABBA member Agnetha Faltskog was just five years old, she performed “Billy Boy” on stage at a Christmas show that had been put together by her father. When she was performing, the waistband of her pants came apart, and she struggled to keep them on throughout the rest of the performance.
Number Twelve: They Weren’t All Swedish. In fact, Anni-Frid Lyngstad was born in Bjorkasen, Norway.
Number Eleven: They Went to a Sex Club With Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin recorded their final interview at ABBA’s Polar Music Studios. One night, Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant decided to go out with ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, and they ended up at a local sex club.
Number Ten: Their Music Videos Were Groundbreaking. Not only were ABBA one of the first bands to use videos to promote themselves, but their music videos were directed mostly by Lasse Hallstrom, who is an Oscar winner.
Number Nine: They Promoted All Sorts of Products. In fact, ABBA promoted a baby food company in 1973, and they also sold one of their songs to an electronics company in 1976. Stay tuned for part two of this list, coming soon!