Abba

Benny Andersen is born in Vangede, Denmark. He will find success as a song-writer, poet, author, composer and pianist. He is said to be the most widely read, most often sung and best loved of modern Danish lyricists. NB. He should not be confused with Benny Andersson from Abba!

Frida Lyngstad is born in Narvik, Norway. She will find international fame as Frida of Swedish supergroup Abba.

Edwin Shirley is born in Cranbrook, Kent, England, UK, Europe. He will find success as a rock'n'roll trucking pioneer whose fleet of vehicles will transport equipment for artists including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Abba, Queen and Michael Jackson.

Seventeen year old aspiring Norwegian singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad marries salesman and fellow musician Ragnar Fredriksson. Lyngstad will find fame first as a solo artist and then as a member of Abba.

Twenty-one year old Anni-Frid Lyngstad wins the New Faces talent competition in Sweden, Europe, singing the song En Ledig Dag. That night, as part of her prize, she appears on Swedish tv. (She will go on to international fame as a member of Abba).

Agnetha Faltskog records Jag Var Sa Kar (I Was So In Love) at Philips Studio, Stockholm, Sweden, Europe. It will reach No1 in the Swedish Pop Singles Chart and Agnetha will find greater international success as a member of Abba.

Bjorn And Benny, Agnetha And Anni-Frid release a new single, He Is Your Brother/Santa Rosa, in Sweden on Polar Records. They will find greater success after changing their name to Abba.

Abba release a new single, Dancing Queen, in the USA on Atlantic Records.

Abba release a new single, Dancing Queen, in the USA on Atlantic Records.

Abba arrive at Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, Holland, Europe, on a promotional visit.

Abba enter the Billboard Top 40 singles chart in the USA with Dancing Queen, which will peak at No1.

On their first world tour, Abba play the second of two days at the Meyer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Australia, Oceania.

On their first world tour, Abba travel from Adelaide to Perth, Australia, Oceania, and book in at the Pamelia Hotel.

On their first world tour, Abba take the morning off for a cruise along the Swan River, before playing the second of three days at The Entertainment Centre, Perth, Australia, Oceania.

On their first world tour, Abba fly out of Perth, Australia, Oceania, en route to London, England, UK, Europe.

The Jacksons including Michael Jackson, perform Blame It On The Boogie during recording of the Abba Snowtime tv special in the Central Hotel, Leysin, Switzerland.

Abba begin their 52-date Ab ba : The Tour tour, with a show at Northlands Coliseum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

On their first North American tour, Abba play at Concord Pavilion, Concord, California, USA.

On their first North American tour, Abba play at San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, USA.

On their first North American tour, Abba play at The Active Center, Tempe, Arizona, USA.

On their first North American tour, Abba play at the Performing Arts Theatre, Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

On their first North American tour, Abba play at Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

Abba play the first of six nights at Wembley Arena, London.

Abba play the first of six nights at Wembley Arena, London, UK.

Abba play the second of six nights at Wembley Arena, London, UK.

Abba play the third of six nights at Wembley Arena, London, UK.

Abba play the fifth of six nights at Wembley Arena, London, UK.

Abba play the last of six nights at Wembley Arena, London, UK.

Abba play the second of two nights at Bingley Hall, Stafford, England, UK, Europe.

Abba play their last gig in Europe, in the Main Hall at The RDS, Dublin, Ireland, Europe.

Abba enter the Billboard Top 40 singles chart in the USA with Chiquitita, which will peak at No29.

Abba release a new single, The Winner Takes It All.

Abba deliver their seventh UK No1 album - The Visitors, which is also their eighth and final studio album. It is one of the first records to have been recorded and mixed digitally.

The Visitors by Abba is the new UK No1 album and, on the same day, it is announced in the UK rock press that all-girl punk band The Slits has split up.

The new No1 album in the UK is the Abba compilation The Singles - The First Ten Years.

Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson of Abba visit Moscow, Russia, to meet singing star Alla Pugacheva, to whom they offer a role in their upcoming musical, Chess, but she has to refuse because of "the poltical climate in the USSR." While in Moscow, the Abba members are accompanied by lyricist Tim Rice, Swedish promoter Thomas Johansson and Benny's wife Mona.

Agnetha Faltskog, better known as the blonde one from Abba, co-hosts BBC1-tv's Wogan Show live from Sweden, Europe.

The similarity of sections of comedian Harry Enfield's UK hit Loadsamoney to Abba’s 1974 smash, Money Money Money, prompts Abba's publishers to approach Mr Enfield about royalty payments they feel he owes them.

It is reported that seventies superSwedes Abba have turned down a $1 billion offer to reform for a tour.

It is announced by The Official Charts Company in the UK that the album ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits has overtaken sales of The Beatles'

According to research carried out by The Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, UK, the most recognisable pop song ever is announced as Wannabe by The Spice Girls. The complete Top 10, with the lengths of time required to recognise them, is as follows :

1. Spice Girls, Wannabe - 2.29 seconds
2. Lou Bega, Mambo No. 5 - 2.48 seconds
3. Survivor, Eye of the Tiger - 2.62 second
4. Lady Gaga, Just Dance - 2.66 seconds
5. Abba, SOS and Roy Orbison, Pretty Woman - 2.73 seconds
6. Michael Jackson, Beat It - 2.8 seconds
7. Whitney Houston, I Will Always Love You and The Human League, Don’t You Want Me - 2.83 seconds
8. Aerosmith, I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing - 2.84 seconds
9. Lady Gaga, Poker Face - 2.88 seconds
10. Hanson, Mmmmbop - 2.89 seconds

Abba Monopoly, an Abba-oriented version of the popular board game, is made available to buy via the band's website.

All four members of ABBA attend the opening of member Bjorn Ulvaeus' new business venture, a theatre-restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden, Europe, based on and named after their hit single Mamma Mia. This marks the first time all four members of ABBA have been photographed together since they attended the premiere of the movie Mamma Mia in London in 2008.

ABBA announce that they have recorded two new songs, which will be performed in a 'live' tour during which virtual reality avatars will perform their songs.