Report: Promoters ask ABBA to play Jackson dates
Source: 'Millions on the table'
July 2, 2009, 11:06 a.m.
STAFF REPORT
Britain's "The Sun" is reporting that AEG Live, the firm that was set to promote Michael Jackson's 50-show run at London's O2 Arena, is trying to lure legendary Swedish pop band ABBA out of retirement to play the shows.
Jackson was set to kick off his "This Is It" series of 50 shows at the arena on July 13.
"There's a little foursome out in Sweden we keep talking to," said AEG Live's David Campbell.
ABBA - an acronym formed from the first letters of each of the group members' given names (Agnetha, Björn, Benny, Anni-Frid) - achieved superstardom during the 1970s, but the band broke up in 1983 because of personal tensions.
"There are millions on the table," a source told "The Sun" of the ABBA offer. "But there are many hurdles to overcome."
Earlier in the week, the same publication reported that AEG Live president Randy Phillips had opened the door to the possibility of family members - former members of the Jackson 5 - to reunite and play the shows as a tribute.
"At some point the world needs to see this production," Phillips told Sky News. "And I would imagine if we could do it, it would be done as a tribute with the family, with the brothers performing and some of the sisters - stuff like that."