Despite claims that they would "never appear on stage again," Swedish pop legends ABBA did grace the stage for the first time in 30 years this summer at a private gala honouring the band's 50-year career. Now, it's been revealed that ABBA will be returning to the stage for an upcoming "entertainment experience."
The project will incorporate virtual reality and artificial intelligence to create a new form of musical entertainment. The band — comprising original members Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad — have been working with pop mogul Simon Fuller (the man behind pop phenomena like American Idol and the Spice Girls) on the upcoming venture.
"We are exploring a new technological world that will allow us to create new forms of entertainment and content we couldn't have previously imagined," Fuller said in a statement.
As Billboard reports, Fuller has taken an interest in "hyper-realistic digital humans" as of late, prompting some to speculate that a hologram version of the band could be on the way.
Full details about the project are expected to be revealed in 2017, though Andersson hinted that it will function as a "time machine" of sorts.
"We're inspired by the limitless possibilities of what the future holds and are loving being a part of creating something new and dramatic here," Andersson said. "A time machine that captures the essence of who we were and are."
Lyngstad added, "I hope this new Abba creation will excite them as much as it excites me."
Before this summer's gala, the last time all four members appeared together was at the opening of Mamma Mia! The Party in Stockholm in 2008. They haven't performed together as a quartet since 1986.
The project will incorporate virtual reality and artificial intelligence to create a new form of musical entertainment. The band — comprising original members Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad — have been working with pop mogul Simon Fuller (the man behind pop phenomena like American Idol and the Spice Girls) on the upcoming venture.
"We are exploring a new technological world that will allow us to create new forms of entertainment and content we couldn't have previously imagined," Fuller said in a statement.
As Billboard reports, Fuller has taken an interest in "hyper-realistic digital humans" as of late, prompting some to speculate that a hologram version of the band could be on the way.
Full details about the project are expected to be revealed in 2017, though Andersson hinted that it will function as a "time machine" of sorts.
"We're inspired by the limitless possibilities of what the future holds and are loving being a part of creating something new and dramatic here," Andersson said. "A time machine that captures the essence of who we were and are."
Lyngstad added, "I hope this new Abba creation will excite them as much as it excites me."
Before this summer's gala, the last time all four members appeared together was at the opening of Mamma Mia! The Party in Stockholm in 2008. They haven't performed together as a quartet since 1986.