Good morning! It's one minute to five, and it's a beautiful day.
It's time for me to go. Catch you tomorrow night-
- with the latest and greatest in country music.
All you truck-drivers, late-nighters and early risers - remember:
What you see is what you get. This is Ashley Wallace...
Thanks for keeping me company.
ABBA - the hottest property on the pop scene.
They sell sixty million records around the world.
- ABBA? - Yep. How does this grab you:
"Radio 2тW will present, on the night of their departure from these shores"-
- "a two hour ABBA radio special. For the first time"-
- "your favourite country and western host turns ace reporter."
That's really not my bag, is it?
Come on, it's a good challenge. Take it!
We want ABBA!
I know it's a rush, but l want it on air 7.30 the night they leave.
That gives you one week.
What about Lenny? I mean, Lenny handles the pop scene.
Lenny's not on. He's too slick, he's too superficial.
I want an exclusive, in-depth interview with the people themselves.
ABBA, the people. The real people.
We want ABBA!
I want an interview. I want a gut-level dialogue.
An exclusive, gut-level... dialogue. You know what l mean?
You don't want me to interview... You don't want me to interview them?
- You want me to just have a chat? - Come on. You know what l mean.
Yeah... But...
Get inside their heads. I don't want to know what they have for breakfast.
I want to know what they think, what they feel, what they fear...
- What they hate! - Sure. Right. I understand.
We want ABBA!
Listen... тhe pop scene's never been touched like this before.
Really?
We want ABBA!
I mean... lt's a good idea.
I mean, about not sort of being an interview.
A slice of life. Got me?
We want ABBA!
Good on you, Ash, my boy.
Your deadline's the night that ABBA departs these shores.
- 7.30 tonight week. - Right. Okay. Good.
Go.
Go - right.
We want ABBA!
Are you sure you want me to do this documentary?
Don't use that word. It's not a documentary, it's an event!
This is going to be worldwide.
We want ABBA! We want ABBA!
Lots of cameras around.
What do you want us to do?
- What's all this? - I don't know.
Hello!
A little wave.
Excuse me, pal... Do you know what time ABBA are arriving?
- 9 o'clock, I think. - Where are they coming through?
I really don't know.
You all right?
All right... See you!
Excuse me, what time are ABBA coming through?
- They've gone out the back door. - The back door?
But I have to interview them.
You'll just have to wait for the press conference, won't you?
- It's on in half an hour. - Do you know where?
ABBA wishes to thank their supporters for coming-
-and are sorry they cannot see them.
- I'd like to rent a car, please. - Do you have a reservation?
No, I don't, but... just any car. Any car, as long as it's fast.
And now we take you back to the ABBA press conference.
Here they are - ABBA.
They've finally hit Australia for their long-awaited tour.
- What?! - ABBA, the pop group.
- Do you know where they're staying? - Who?
The pop group - ABBA. Do you know where they're staying?
Any performer gets very nervous before going on stage.
Do you still go through that traumatic experience before you go on stage?
Every show is a bit nervous before you...
You think you have a good performance-
- because you had a good audience the day before.
But going from Amsterdam to London-
- or from London to Sydney, is such a difference.
I'd hate the sound of 30,000 people booing.
Excuse me, is this the rightjam for King's Cross?
- No, it's back that way. - Thanks.
I think the travelling is very, very hard.
Come on!
One day when l woke up during our European tour...
...I started to think "Where am l? In which city?" And it's terrible.
I think that it's a bit of an asocial life on tour.
You just eat, sleep, go on stage, and nothing more.
And it kills creativity in a way that I don't like.
It's boring to travel, but it's fantastic to be on stage. I love that.
- Move! - The biggest pop group ever...
The group's arrival in Australia has been accompanied by a blaze of publicity.
According to the promoters, they're bigger than тhe Beatles.
And with an entourage of 105 people-
- they're almost twice as big as The Rolling Stones concert.
While they're here they'll perform eleven concerts in ten days-
-to an estimated 140,000 people.
ABBA are obviously very big business-
- and the organizers are treating them like royalty.
They've even arranged a civic reception for them in Melbourne.
Do you take drugs or alcohol, or anything like that?
- No drugs. - You're clean?
No, not clean, but we don't take any drugs.
The four ofyou admit that you are now millionaires.
Are you worried that you make money faster than you can spend it?
No. It's a lot of money coming in, but there's a lot oftax to pay-
- if you're a Swedish citizen, which is fair. But still, it's...
It's a matter of hard work, and the money isn't that important.
Really, it's more a matter of pleasing yourselves in what you're doing.
We can't do anything else in the future-
- than trying to keep ourselves happy in our work.
I'd like to direct a couple of questions to Agnetha, if l may...
I read somewhere, where you are the proud owner of an award-
- which declares you as the lady with the sexiest bottom.
Is that true?
How can l answer that? I don't know.
I haven't seen it!
Thank you, ABBA. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen oftelevision.
Excuse me. Do you know where ABBA are?
- I think they've left. - They've left... They've gone?
We want ABBA! We want ABBA! We want ABBA! We want ABBA!
Have you filmed the umbrellas out there? It's a fantastic sight.
Agnetha, I have...
- ...four kilos of make-up. - Is the make-up artist here?
- Where could she be...? - She'll come if you ask her.
Don't go out and get your hair wet, okay?
We want ABBA! We want ABBA!
Because the only thing l'm worried about is that the powerjust stops.
The opening?
Just walk out there.
I don't think there's much we can do, really, with the wind and the rains...
There's not a lot we can do.
We want ABBA!
Ten minutes to the show of a lifetime!
Thank you!
All right. All right.
- Can l see your press card, please? - I haven't got my card on me.
I'm sorry, but l can't let you in ifyou haven't got a card. Okay.
But I'm a radio announcer. I've got to get an interview with them.
There's nothing I can do. If you haven't got a card, you can't get in.
- I'll buy a ticket. How much are they? - Sold right out.
I haven't got one left. I'm very sorry.
Hello, Sydney!
Very glad to see you!
I'll tell you one thing: You make us forget the rain.
I just hope that we can make you forget it, too!
ABBA tickets for sale... ABBA tickets going cheap. Want any tickets, mate?
- Want any ABBA tickets? - Are you selling tickets?
- How much? I'll buy one. - 50 bucks.
50 dollars? I haven't got 50 dollars.
You ain't gonna see ABBA then, are you?
Thank you, Sydney!
The Sydney Opera House?
They should be there, mate, that's what they reckon.
Terrific. тhank you very much. Thank you.
Could you... hold this?
Could you, sort of, hold it in the middle?
Let's have a smile.
Down. Lower! Down a bit. That's it.
- Happy now. - What do you mean, "happy"?
Excuse me... Is it possible to have a talk?
Not now.
Go somewhere and have a quiet talk?
I know that this is an incredible hassle for you... with all these people.
I can understand these problems that you have-
- but ifwe can go somewhere quiet... Have a drink or something to eat.
Go back. Press photographers only.
- Can we go somewhere quiet...? - You can't go anywhere with them.
No interviews today at all, it's just press photographers.
Yeah, yeah, sure. Everything's fine. There's no need to worry.
I met them at the airport, we spoke for quite a long time...
Yes. Yes. тhere's just one thing:
- I have to go to Perth. - Perth?
That's 2,000 miles and a very expensive airfare away.
Yes, I know that, but you wanted the close personal story, and they...
That's the way it has to be.
I have to get to know them. They have to trust me.
I want every listener on 2тW to share ABBA with you-
- and me and all of us, privately. Right?
Don't worry. I'll get the personal side.
No, no, no. I'll be able to edit and record as l go.
I've already got some interviews in the street-
- some comments on people, how they feel about the group. Yeah.
Oh! Also... Could you send my press card to Perth?
I left in such a rush that l left it in the studio.
- Can l help you? - Yes.
Could I... Can l have these two т-shirts, please.
I'll take this as well. Thank you.
Thank you.
ABBA: Four members. Agnetha and Björn, married.
Frida and Benny, living together.
Frida: Described as modest, unobtrusive, self-critical.
Born: 1945, Norway.
Moved to Sweden one year old.
Before ABBA, solo career in jazz.
Benny: Described as calm, stable, open and generous.
Born: '46. Played accordion from early age.
Self-taught pianist. Member of Swedish pop group Hep Stars.
Hits on Swedish charts.
Agnetha: Described as practical, observant.
Born: 1950. Worked as telephonist for car firm.
Spare-time singer with dance band.
Recorded own songs that made Swedish charts.
Björn: Described as intelligent, good with languages and business.
Born: '45. Formed folk group at school-
- called Hootenanny Singers. Hits in Swedish charts.
Earlier studied company economics and law.
Manager Stig Anderson, known as fifth member of group.
International breakthrough by winning-
- the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton in '74 with "Waterloo".
ABBA: Now selling more records worldwide than any other group-
- since the Beatles. Live in Stockholm.
Summerhouses on island in archipelago.
Most songs written in small cottage-
- byjamming together with piano and guitar.
Ladies and gentlemen. ln a few moments we will be landing in Perth.
Why do you like ABBA?
I suppose it's... It has a good beat.
It's got good rhythm, I think the lyrics are good.
I think it's appealing to all people.
When a little baby of about eighteen months can say "ABBA"-
- and recognize the pictures and recognize the music...
...I think it even appeals to the very, very young as well, you see.
What do you like most about their music?
Well, l like the clean-cut beat of the music...
- Just the beat? - No, the beat...
And the clean-cut appearance ofthem. They're a fantastic group.
What do you think oftheir...?
...because l think they're nice and clean.
- What do you mean by that? - They've always dressed nicely...
...and tidy. l think that's what we all like, the older people.
I don't know about the kids, but we do, anyway.
It's a bit quieter than the more modern ones at the moment.
Not quite as loud.
Well, they look tidy on stage, even though they have nice costumes.
Some of the groups today look positively ugly on stage.
I think they appeal to the young children, too.
Perth, Wednesday, interview number five:
What do you like most about their music?
Make me very happy. Make me wanna get up and dance.
- And... Just everything. - Thank you.
Thank you. тhank...
- Are you an ABBA fan? - Not particularly. l hate them.
I've got a 12-year-old ABBA nut. He's got the records and posters.
The house is full ofthem. It's as much as a man can stand.
- Hi. Has my press card arrived yet? - Just a moment, sir.
No, I'm sorry. There's no mail at all for you.
We want ABBA! We want ABBA!
We want ABBA!
Look, can't you see l'm a journalist?
But you haven't got a press card, and we're all sold out.
There's nothing I can do, I'm sorry.
Excuse me. I'm doing some interviews. Are you an ABBA fan?
- Yes, I am. - What do you like about the group?
Well... They're a clean-cut group...
...with nice music and a nice beat.
That's great. Fantastic. Thank you very much.
Excuse me... Do you know where ABBA are?
- Yes, they're straight through there. - Good. Thank you.
Very nice.
- What do you think you're doing here? - I-l-I've...
- ...got an interview... - Who with?
- ABBA! - Who said?
- Stig Anderson, their manager. - Well, show me your press pass.
- You haven't got a press pass. - Well, l have, but I...
You haven't got an interview either, have you?
- Out! - But listen...
Thank you.
Thank you!
ABBA - which floor?
Number 5, but you haven't got a chance!
That's okay, l'm a professional.
- The Sydney reviews. - Thank you.
Would you give me that one, please.
- What does "kinky" mean? - Kinky? It's a...
...sort of a perversion. Usually sexual perversion.
What do they find kinky?
- "ABBA's kinky, velvet bed." - "Velvet" what?
- Velvet bed. - Bed.
"This is the giant bed Agnetha and Björn ordered"-
- "to be ready at the hotel."
"And the manager made sure their dressing-gowns were ready"-
- "when the super group arrived."
What a kinkyjournalist.
Your bottom was the best thing in the show.
- "Agnetha's bottom tops show!" - Oh, my God...
Don't they have bottoms in Australia?
"'Damn!', a middle-aged man beside me said with feeling."
"It's really something worth seeing."
I suppose he thought that was a very funny headline.
At least I did something for the show, didn't l?
Nah, nah, nah. None ofthat stuff here, okay?
No, it's okay. I've got an appointment.
I have an appointment... I've got an appointment with them.
Nah.
That's a really interesting sound you're making. l collect funny sounds.
- Would you like to do it in there? - Nah, nah.
Thank you. l think l've got it.
Nah, nah. Cut that shit out.
Look, there's no need to shove!
That was pretty dangerous for a while, wasn't it? The rain on the stage?
- No, not really. - You were very lucky.
- You didn't hurt yourself. - Yes, really.
Excuse me.
Cut it out!
Listen, pal. I ought to shove this microphone-
- so far down your throat l could record your stomach talking to you...
Haven't I seen enough ofyou today? Guided tour is this way!
This is known as an elevator. It goes up and down, and you're going down.
Benny!
Björn!
Hello?
Good morning!
Everything is going really well here. Everything's fine.
There's just one small problem.
I have to tag along with them to Adelaide.
Adelaide...
Ever-lovin' Adelaide is taking a chance with you, Ashley.
Listen, you don't have to worry.
I know them all quite well...
...but the time is not ripe yet for an interview.
I'm trying to remain friends with you, but you're making it bloody difficult!
They have to have confidence in me.
It's too early. Do you know what I mean?
All right, go to Adelaide.
But please, Ashley, get that dialogue we spoke of!
I'm sorry. I didn't get that.
The dialogue!
Oh, the dialogue! Yes.
The dialogue... That's exactly why I wanted to wait.
Oh... Just one more thing. My press card.
Can you send it on to Adelaide? Great. Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen. Shortly we will be landing in Adelaide.
Please fasten your seatbelts-
- and make sure that your seat is in an upright position.
They have a very distinctive, a very individual sound-
- which is all their own, which is very difficult for others to copy.
The girls' voices have their own special sound.
They utilize the technical facilities of a studio to the utmost.
I believe it was an English critic that commented that if you took-
- an ABBA song apart and laid all the different pieces out before you-
- there would be only one way to put the song back together again-
- and that's the way, of course, that they had originally done it.
- Okay... - It's inflated.
- I thought it would hang... - It's like a cloud.
- It looks good. - It's a really good roof.
What do you like about their songs?
It's got type of... a feeling that, you know, you're happy.
I just like them. I don't know why I do. I just like them.
There's nothing really special about them. They're only human beings...
Except their music. That's what's special.
Right. Listen, l just want to recheck with you on the arrival arrangements-
-in Melbourne on Saturday morning.
Start with violins and then the chellos. There's only two violas.
Somebody, give me a hand with this.
Very comfortable! Very comfortable.
Their image is very clean-
- and it does provide a large contrast to a great number of popular groups.
They don't have anything to do with chains and violence.
Their music and their performance has to do with having a good time.
I think most parents react very favourably to ABBA.
At the concerts, amongst the public-
- you see sometimes two, even three, generations of a family.
Just a small portion. Could you rip it off please!
I think it would be very wise ifyou all slowed down a little bit-
- and just took your time and sat down. There's plenty of room.
Well, they're not like other groups, you know, that get up-
- and sort of go crazy, play their guitars and shake their heads.
- Thanks very much. - Okay.
ABBA books and posters! 75 cents each!
ABBA buttons! Get your ABBA buttons here!
- I don't much... - What don't you like about ABBA?
- They show offtoo much. - How do they show off?
They just wear too many...
They just wear too many clothes. And too much make-up. That's all.
We want ABBA! We want ABBA!
Well, l like them...
...very much. They are very nice people.
Would you like to tell me why you like ABBA?
Because l sing it...
- I'm sorry. Could you tell me again? - I sing it.
You sing it?
I like the songs, and it's really good.
What do you like about the songs?
The parts that are good.
What parts are good?
The songs are good, because their names are good.
The names ofthe songs, and l like ABBA best.
And one ofthe men is sexy, you know. They look sexy.
- Do you think ABBA are sexy? - Uh-uh. Nice.
So do I. I think they're nice, but it's a bit sexy.
- Sexy?! - Sexy...
Hey, I'll tell you something about ABBA!
Do you know that ABBA's in the Bible? It means "father".
- It's in Mark. - I didn't know that.
The Gospel according to St. Mark. Chapter 16.
"Abba the Father", it says. He told me. I thought he was pulling my leg.
It's right in there. A-b-b-a.
Abba - Father.
I've got to get that interview.
I've just got to get it.
Hey! Can everybodyjust... Let's see some ofthe people in the back-
- by some ofthe people in the front dropping down a little bit.
Okay, everybody! Looking up this way, and a bit of action!
- Take it easy, will you! - Stop it, will you.
Come on, fellas.
No pushing, eh? Take it easy.
- Excuse me. Please... - Not you again.
Just five minutes. Please.
- Not tonight, Josephine. - Just for five minutes?
- Can l...? - No, you can't.
Melbourne...
Ashley...
Did you say Melbourne?
At 7.30 tomorrow night...
I have...
Ashley, l have told 40,000 people that at 7.30 tomorrow night-
- we will give them a two-hour ABBA radio special.
In depth, with warmth... and sincerity.
Please, Ashley...
Please?
Hey you!
Excuse me... You are ABBA's manager, aren't you?
- Yes, I am. - I hope you can help me.
- I have to get an interview with ABBA. - Ignore this man, Mr. Anderson.
- He's crazy. - Take it easy, will you!
I'm doing a radio special, and it has to be on air tomorrow night.
I really need that interview.
But Mr. Anderson... I'm really desperate.
If you're down in the reception by 10 o'clock tomorrow morning...
- ...I will arrange this for you. Okay? - For sure?
- I'll get to talk to them? - Okay. Bye-bye.
From concert to concert from town to town
as though her whole world was spinning.
She got what she wanted, and yet
she feels like a marionette!
Two. тhree.
Four. Five.
Six. Seven.
Eight. Nine. Ten.
Hurry!
They're 3,80 dollars.
One, two, three, four - and again. One, two, three, four.
Okay, and we change across. Down again. One, two, three, four.
Last time. One, two, three, four.
So sit down, please. There are a lot of children behind you-
- who want to enjoy this concert as much as you. Don't you?
It is time to get your rocks on!
First row, right? тhank you.
Everybody on stage!
All right! тen minutes and away we go!
We want ABBA! We want ABBA!
Thank you. тhank you so much.
- I'm gonna talk to them tomorrow. - Really?
- Yeah. Interview them. - Really?
- Yeah. - Good luck.
Very good! Very good.
You've been sitting for a long time now, so it's about time you got up-
- because we're gonna play a dancing number for you - "Dancing Queen".
Why the hell didn't you wake me up?
...and music, dancing and singing.
Just like we do here in Moomba for the Moomba Festival.
Let's get together and have fun!
We want ABBA! We want ABBA! We want ABBA!
We want ABBA! We want ABBA!
The Moomba Festival presents the last appearance ofABBA in Australia.
- I suppose they've gone already? - Who?
- ABBA. - Theyjust left for the airport.
- They've just... - They've just gone.
- ...for the airport? - I'm afraid so.
Is there anyone else you wish to speak to?
You're beautiful.
Testing one, two. Testing one, two... Aaaaaah!
- Thank you. - We love you!
Goodbye!
Mr. Wallace... Your press card's arrived.
Keep it. It's yours.
Excuse me... l'd just like to... Can l have a... an interview...?
- Sure. - If I can just... get this...
If you just...
That was absolutely fantastic. Thank you very much!
I have got everything I need. That's just great.
Fantastic. Thank you. It's been a pleasure meeting you.
You're fantastic. Have a nice trip home! Thank you.
Love you, buddy boy! Righto, see you soon.
We made it!
Not now...
Radio 2... Radio 2TW, and make it fast.
Right. Hang on to your hat.
- What are you up to? - Radio special on ABBA.
ABBA? You're not with that mob, are you?
Strewth. l took the wife and kids to see them the other night.
Bloody terrible it was. Cost me a fortune.
I thought it'd be the nicest, cleanest show I could take the wife and kids to.
Not on your life, mate! They came dancing out on stage-
-all dolled up in these white cloaks.
And before you know it, they rip half their clothes off!
And instead offacing the audience with the microphones in their hand...
And this sheila had on the tightest pair ofwhite slacks you ever saw.
...she suddenly turns her back on the audience and starts flapping her...
You know what l mean. Starts flashing at the audience. Doing this sort ofthing.
Can you drive a bit faster?
I can't hear you. Could you please move a little.
People were so nice, you know, and we had a really good time.
We've had such a good time, and l'd really like thank everybody-
-for supporting us so much.
There she was with what they say is the most beautiful bottom in Europe.
I've seen a few bottoms in my time, I guess it was pretty nice.
We're both red-blooded males. I quite admired it in a way-
- because I can take that sort ofthing, but not in front ofthe wife and kids!
And it's not the sort ofthing you want to go flashing at them.
Not in front of, literally, thousands of little kids. Flashing it away there.
Goodbye!
- "l am a tiger..." - Keep the change.
What sort of a song is that?
We want ABBA! We want ABBA!
Just in time, Ashley.
- In studio 2. - Right!
- Hi. - We thought you'd never make it.
Neither did I.
- Okay. l'll go and tell Jim. - Thanks.
- Benny... - A pleasure working with you.
- See you again. - Bye-bye. All the best.
- All right. - Practice the outside inside, all right?
- Practice the inside outside. - I'll practice some of it.
Thank you. тhis is a crazy thing, you know - leaving everything.
This is Ashley Wallace, back from Sydney...
...Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne, with...
...a two-hour special, including an exclusive, on-the-spot interview-
-with those super-Swedes, ABBA.
There's nothing really special about them. They're only human beings...
- Are we on the air? - Everything's okay.
- We're on the air... - Except their music. That's special.
We're on the air!