ABBA blog

I have to be honest: when Palazzo Editions contacted me in early 2021 and asked if I would be interested in writing a photo-based book celebrating the 50th anniversary of ABBA's first single, 'People Need Love', I had no idea it would get so much attention and love, much less be published in three languages (although the German edition was a possibility even back then). Nor did I expect that there would be so many reviews and so much interest from the media, even less that I would be invited to the Louder Than Words literary festival in Manchester to talk about the book. But all this happened, and I enjoyed it all very much indeed.

Although the book wasn't published until September 2022, I was interviewed about it on BBC Radio as early as February. Then, in May, I was the subject of a press conference at the Foreign Press Association in London, together with my friend Ian Cole. When ABBA At 50 was published, I signed copies at Foyles Stratford, while the book shot to number one on Amazon UK's International Music books chart. Waterstones Piccadilly singled out ABBA At 50 for special recommendation.

The reviews were also very nice, one writer calling it "a work that comes from a place of love and respect for ABBA but isn’t afraid to look beyond the story we all know", another stating that it was "truly an impressive and worthy tribute to the Swedish superstars on their 50th anniversary". I was even on Australian television to talk about the book! Links to reviews and interviews are available on my page for ABBA At 50.

As if all this wasn't enough, the French edition of the book was also made available as a special edition magazine, published by the newspaper Le Monde.

Finally, I'm happy to announce that 2023 will see publication of ABBA At 50 in two more languages, bringing the total up to five. A publisher in Poland (I am not allowed to reveal which at this point) and the Hungarian publisher Helikon will both release their own editions. At this time, I don't know anything about the publication dates, but will post information as soon as I have it.

What a year for ABBA At 50!