GUIDE TO STOCKHOLM
GUIDE TO STOCKHOLM
PREMIUM PUBLISHING Stockholm
Premium Publishing Box 30184 SE-104 25 Stockholm Sweden Visiting address: Warfvinges väg 34 Phone: +46 8 545 689 20 E-Mail: info@premiumpublishing.com Web: www.premiumpublishing.com Publisher: Wille Wendt Project leader: Liska Cersowsky Project assistant: Roger Holegård Map graphics: Myran Grafiska Graphic design & illustrations by Billy Adolfsson: www.billyadolfsson.com Printed by Bulls Graphics, Sweden Paper: MultiArt Silk 130gr The ABBA Guide To Stockholm ISBN: 978-91-87581-07-6 The book is also available in a German language version. ISBN: 978-91-87581-08-3 © 2014 Premium Publishing — a div. of Internal AB All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, digital, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.
4
…Preface
Welcome to Stockholm, The Capital of Pop! A blue tit is sitting in a lilac arbor and chirps its most curious spring melody. A squirrel jumps from the roof tops and onto branches to eventually land on a green and soft lawn… Djurgården is a green and scenic island in Stockholm, which is why we chose to open ABBA The Museum right here – in the middle of the Royal National City Park (Nationalstadsparken). We couldn’t have found a better place than this beautiful island with all its tourist attractions, which welcome more than 15 million visitors each year. It almost seems like it wasn’t by accident that the museum opened not far from the place where ABBA were photographed for their very first single cover, under the rain shelter (see p. 116) at Djurgårdsbrunn, close to the winding Rosendalsvägen, where ABBA The Museum now has its administrative offices.
INTRODUCTION
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The photos of ABBA in their hometown Stockholm shine the most when they were taken on Djurgården. One of my absolute favorites is the photo “Under The Autumn Tree” (see p. 90) and of course “The Park Bench Session” (see p. 92), which were both taken at Rosendalsvägen, only a few hundred meters from ABBA The Museum. It is the photos and events with ABBA in Stockholm which define the epic pop fairytale from the North. A fairytale which resulted in approximately 100 of the world’s best timeless pop songs and a music phenomenon which today continues to fascinate people all around the world. Many Swedish artists, songwriters and producers have been inspired by ABBA’s success to strive for – and achieve – international recognition. ABBA’s story is now reviewed, sorted, brought up-to-date – and presented – at ABBA The Museum, on Djurgården, in the heart of Stockholm. All year round we welcome you at the museum to take part in the feeling of becoming ABBA’s fifth member. We welcome you, regardless of season, to a natural beautiful Stockholm. ABBA’s Stockholm. Mattias Hansson CEO, ABBA The Museum
At the opening of the museum. From left: CEO Mattias Hansson, Björn and 2012 Eurovision winner Loreen.
6
…Introduction
Back in 1974, ABBA put Sweden on the world map by winning the Eurovision Song Contest. The band became the most well-known Swedish pop export and gained immense global success – which still continues to this day. Largely due to ABBA’s achievements, Sweden has strengthened its position as one of the world’s leading music-producing countries, with its capital at the heart of the action. Stockholm is not only the home of acts like Roxette, Europe and Robyn but has also established itself as a creative centre for numerous international pop stars such as Britney Spears, Celine Dion, The Backstreet Boys and Jennifer Lopez who have had many of their hits written, produced and recorded here. Stockholm is of course the home town of ABBA, and it was from here their successful careers were master-minded by Stig ”Stikkan” Anderson. Every year more than one million international visitors come to Stockholm to experience its wide range of cultural offerings, pulsating night life, modern Scandinavian architecture and, last but not least, its famous traditional meatballs! With The ABBA Guide to Stockholm, you can now at last walk in the footsteps of Sweden’s biggest ever pop band. Experience the city’s many entertainment attractions, museums, concert halls, restaurants, cafés, shops and of course the beautiful and unique archipelago with its zillions of islands. While I am sure your discovery of ABBA’s Stockholm will be enjoyable and exciting, it is important to note that any private addresses featured in this book have absolutely no current connection to ABBA or its members. They are included purely as reference for location purposes. Please respect the privacy of the people who now live at those addresses. Have fun and enjoy your ABBA-flavoured stay in Stockholm! Sara Russell
INTRODUCTION
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…Contents Central Stockholm Sheraton Hotel ....................................................................................... 12 Kungliga Operan .................................................................................... 14 Operakällaren.......................................................................................... 15 Sankt Jacobs kyrka ............................................................................... 17 Hamburger Börs .................................................................................... 18 China Teatern .......................................................................................... 19 Nordiska Kompaniet ........................................................................... 21 Polar Music offices (Hamngatan) ............................................... 22 Grand Hôtel .............................................................................................. 24 Strand Hotel ............................................................................................. 26 Konserthuset ........................................................................................... 29 Alexandra’s disco................................................................................... 30
Norrmalm/Vasastaden Metronome Studios ............................................................................ 32 Hard Rock Café ....................................................................................... 34 Tyrgatan cover session ...................................................................... 35 Polar Music offices (Baldersgatan) ............................................ 36
Kungsholmen Polar Music Studios............................................................................. 38 Stadshuset ................................................................................................. 44
Södermalm Slussen ......................................................................................................... 46 Hotel Rival ................................................................................................. 48 Bastugatan ................................................................................................ 50
Gamla Stan Kungliga Slottet ...................................................................................... 52 Skeppsbron ............................................................................................... 56 Västerlånggatan ..................................................................................... 57 Stortorget................................................................................................... 58 Frida and Benny’s flat ........................................................................ 60 Järntorget................................................................................................... 63 Evert Taubes Terrass ........................................................................... 64
Skeppsholmen Af Chapman.............................................................................................. 66 Mono Music ............................................................................................. 68 Paradiset..................................................................................................... 70
Östermalm/Gärdet Mornington Hotel................................................................................. 72 Castle Hotel .............................................................................................. 74 Frida and Benny’s apartments ..................................................... 75 TV-Huset and SVT ................................................................................. 76 Ladugårdsgärdet.................................................................................... 82 Sjöhistoriska Museet .......................................................................... 84
Djurgården Stig’s grave ................................................................................................ 86 Ulla Winbladh ......................................................................................... 88 Under the autumn tree .................................................................... 90 Park bench photo session ............................................................... 92 ABBA The Museum.............................................................................. 94 Cirkus .........................................................................................................100 Skansen ....................................................................................................104 Gröna Lund ............................................................................................110 Stig’s house............................................................................................114 People Need Love rain shelter ..................................................116 Djurgårdskanalen ...............................................................................118
Outside Central Stockholm Globen ......................................................................................................122 Hovet / Isstadion ................................................................................124 Lidingö ......................................................................................................125 Drottningholms Slott .......................................................................132 Gripsholms Slott .................................................................................135 Europa Film Studios .........................................................................138 Marcus Studios....................................................................................142 Ulriksdals kyrka ...................................................................................144 Vallentuna ..............................................................................................145 Barkarby airport .................................................................................148 Glen Studio ............................................................................................150 Viggsö ........................................................................................................152
Appendix for super fans...............................................................156 Further afield .......................................................................................158 Recommended books and websites....................................160 Acknowledgements and photo credits..............................161
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Polar Music Studios
S:t Eriksgatan 58
S:t Eriksplan
3, 4, 56, 77, 94
Polar Music Studios opened with a big reception and photo call on 18th May 1978. The building was the Riviera cinema overlooking a stretch of water on Kungsholmen and in a previous life it was even a giant swimming complex. The team of Benny, Björn, sound engineer Michael B Tretow and manager Stig Anderson decided to convert parts of the building into a recording studio after encountering massive problems in finding sufficient studio time in Sweden. They decided to build their own studio rather than go abroad and record. It was bought for 30 million Swedish Kronor and allowed ABBA and other Polar Music artists to consolidate their recording activities in one location. It should be noted that even though ABBA were the owners of the building, they shared it with a number of tenants. Inside the entrance was a magnificent blue carpet with the Polar Studios logo in white. In the foyer was ”the music machine”, a huge piece of art by the designer of ABBA’s album covers and stage sets, Rune Söderqvist. It was built in 1978, consisting of drums, brass instruments, an old square piano and a chime. It could play Thank You For The Music. Michael B Tretow told the official ABBA Magazine in 1979, “We bought all the best equipment we could at the time, but the electronics industry is constantly improving its products and new studios are springing up all the time. I have no doubt that our technical specifications have already been eclipsed in some areas.”
38
KUNGSHOLMEN
From the eight-sided control room with large glass windows, Michael could see, as well as hear, every musician in each of the five separate rooms of ”acoustical environments”. The inner walls of one of the areas, mainly used for recording drums, was a memorable continuous mural of clouds and blue sky, making it look much bigger than it was with its 251m2 of floor space. Michael continued, “We can get over 40 musicians in here at one time, all housed in booths to suit their own instruments. For instance a whole string section can be housed in its own highly ‘reflective’ area whilst the guitars and vocals stay in the ‘non-reflective’ zone. The drum booth takes two drummers and with timpani and tuned percussion, and choirs can be completely isolated acoustically. The Polar Studios can supply you with almost everything except hiss, noise, distortion and a decent cup of coffee!” The first track completed in the brand new studio was Summer Night City but mixing the song wasn’t as plain sailing as they’d hoped and over the years Benny, Björn and sound engineer Michael B Tretow have all freely admitted that the track caused them major headaches. On 5th September 1979, ABBA’s music video for Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) was filmed in the studios. The song was already recorded; the performance was purely for the video. At the same time a video for the Spanish version of I Have A Dream called Estoy Soñando was made.
KUNGSHOLMEN
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36
Ladugårds Gärdet
The Barn’s Field
69, 69K Källhagen
Ladugårdsgärdet, meaning the barn’s field, is a large open grassy area in northern Djurgården, also known as Gärdet. It is located just across the road from Sjöhistoriska Museet (see p. 84). ABBA were photographed sitting on a Swedish flag with the 155m high Kaknästornet (Kaknäs Tower) in the background in 1972. Kaknästornet is the hub of all radio and TV transmissions in Sweden. Views from the top of the tower are spectacular. There is a restaurant and a gift shop. The tower has one of the fastest elevator rides in the world. Pictures from this photo session were used in 1973 on the Ring Ring single in West Germany and on the white label promo single of Another Town, Another Train from Japan. During filming for ABBA – The Movie, Frida appeared in a photograph throwing a frisbee during rehearsals at Ladugårdsgärdet, also with Kaknästornet in the distance.
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ÖSTERMALM / GÄRDET
ÖSTERMALM / GÄRDET
83
40
Under the Autumn Tree
Rosendalsvägen
Djurgården Tram 7
44
As part of the photo session taken by Bengt H Malmqvist that resulted in photos being used for the Greatest Hits album, some ”under the autumn tree” shots were taken very close to Ulla Winbladh restaurant (see p. 88) where there are lots of trees. The pictures were taken around mid-day even though the lighting looks like it’s towards the end of the day with the sun low in the sky. According to Bengt H Malmqvist, the photo was taken within 50m of the restaurant Ulla Winbladh. The correct tree is the nearest one to the little café and the zebra crossing as you turn into Rosendalsvägen. If you look closely on the picture opposite, you can see the back of the sign pointing towards Skansen and Bergbanan (Funicular – the cable railway), just to the right of Frida’s back. Behind the tree, is the bronze statue of King Karl XV of Sweden on his horse by Charles Friberg. Agnetha’s body obscures the statue in the photograph.
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DJURGÅRDEN
DJURGÅRDEN
91
42
ABBA The Museum
Djurgårdsvägen 68
Djurgården Tram 7 Djurgården ferry from Slussen
44
www.abbathemuseum.com
ABBA’s very own museum opened to the public on Tuesday 8th May 2013 in a purpose-built space just a stone’s throw from Gröna Lund (see p. 110) as part of the Swedish Music Hall of Fame. Its origins lay in an idea to open in 2009 on Södermalm but when that fell through, it turned into the ABBAWORLD touring exhibition that visited London, Melbourne, Sydney, Győr (Hungary), and Prague between 2009 and 2011. The exhibition is housed underground while the building seen from the street is the Melody Hotel, built in conjuction with the museum. Benny, Björn and Frida attended the opening of ABBA The Museum on 7th May 2013 and gave many interviews to the massive media presence there that night. Various swedish singing stars, including Tommy Körberg, performed in a 30-minute music and light show in the windows of rooms of the Melody Hotel culminating in an appearance on the top floor balcony by Björn. There he addressed the crowd of guests, celebrities and ex-colleagues of ABBA, press and fans standing below him. He said, “Where does music come from? The famous film director Ingmar Bergman once asked that question in a radio show. Well, no-one has been able to give an answer of course. But one thing we can know – It goes straight to the heart. Your intellect might try to interfere but music is unstoppable. Stockholm now has a fantastic new building. ABBA The Museum takes visitors through ABBA’s entire career, beginning in the 1960s.
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DJURGÅRDEN
A house totally dedicated to music has opened. It’s a great moment and I can’t think of any better words for this moment than thank you for the music.” As ABBA’s song blared out in the cold night air, fireworks erupted in time to the music. ABBA The Museum is an interactive permanent exhibition and covers every possible aspect of ABBA’s career. Your tour begins with a giant video presentation by Jonas Åkerlund after which you get a flavour of ABBA’s early days as solo performers performing in folkparks. Replicas of the writing-hut on Viggsö (see p. 152), Stig Anderson’s office at Baldersgatan 1 (see p. 36), the Arrival helicopter (see p. 148), the park bench (see p. 92) and the Polar Music studios (see p. 38) all give the visitor an idea of what the ABBA members experienced at close quarters.
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E & xpa Re n vi de se d d
– Agnetha Fältskog
Come on, let’s go! The ABBA Guide to Stockholm is the first book of its kind,
taking you to a selection of more than 60 important ABBA places in and around Stockholm. ABBA used their home town regularly as a back-drop for their record covers, music videos and dozens of photo shoots. Find out where the famous park bench photo was taken or scenes from ABBA – The Movie were filmed and where ABBA recorded their world famous music. This handy book will also guide you to Stockholm’s biggest tourist attractions and many popular entertainment venues, like Kungliga Slottet, Stadshuset, Gröna Lund, Konserthuset and the Hard Rock Café – all places that have played a part in ABBA’s career and legacy. The guide has been brought up-to-date and now also includes the newly opened ABBA The Museum on Djurgården! The ABBA Guide to Stockholm contains hundreds of photos, all the addresses and transport information you will need, and of course a map of Stockholm and its surrounding area.