ABBA unveil their incredible digital avatars

ABBA unveil their incredible digital avatars

It only takes a month for her avatar to take the stage.

And in anticipation of their first show, ABBA have released images of their digital selves, which will be performing as part of their new ABBA Voyage concerts at a purpose built London stadium.

The holograms were created after weeks and months of motion capture and performance techniques.

Avatar: In the shots, the pop pioneers resemble their much younger Regals and are clad in 1970s silver sequined ensembles Now: Agneta Fältskog, now 72, looked stunning straight away as she faced the camera and looked like she was at the peak of the band's fame (pictured in 2021).

Disco Divas: Abba released footage of their avatars ahead of their digital concerts. In the photos, the pop pioneers resemble their much younger regals and are clad in 1970s silver sequined ensembles

In the shots, the pop pioneers resemble their much younger Regals and are clad in silver sequined 1970s ensembles.

An 850-strong team from Industrial Light & Magic, the company founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas, spearheaded the company’s first foray into music.

Agneta Fältskog, now 72, looked instantly stunning as she faced the camera, looking like she was at the peak of the band’s fame.

Her blonde hair falls loosely in a loose curl and the talented singer wears a disco-inspired V-neck blouse.

Avatar: Fellow singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 76, who now sports faded locks, looked equally youthful with her signature fiery red hair Now: In a similar sequined outfit, the singer looked gorgeous as she donned a smoky eye and a simple nude lip (pictured in 2021)

Dancing Queen: Fellow singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 76, who now sports faded tresses, looked equally youthful with her signature fiery red hair.

Back together: An 850-strong team from Industrial Light & Magic, the company founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas, spearheaded the company's first foray into music

Back together: An 850-strong team from Industrial Light & Magic, the company founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas, spearheaded the company’s first foray into music

Avatar: Songwriter Björn Ulvaeus, 77, looked different as she showed off her freshly shaved face Now: His blonde hair, now a striking salt and pepper hue, styled in a shaggy bob (pictured in 2021)

Mama Mia! Songwriter Björn Ulvaeus, 77, looked even different as she showed off a freshly shaved face

Fellow singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 76, who now sports faded tresses, looked equally youthful with her signature fiery red hair.

In a similar sequined outfit, the singer looked gorgeous as she sported a smoky eye and a simple nude lip.

Songwriter Björn Ulvaeus, 77, looked even different as she showed off a freshly shaved face.

Avatar: Fellow composer Benny Andersson's avatar looked slimmer, his blond hair thick and luscious Now: The 75-year-old's younger self sported a blonde beard as he too gazed at the camera (pictured in 2021)

Young goat: fellow composer Benny Andersson’s avatar looked slimmer, his blond hair thick and luscious

His blonde hair, now a distinguished salt and pepper hue, is styled into a shaggy bob.

Fellow composer Benny Andersson’s avatar looked slimmer, his blond hair thick and luscious.

The 75-year-old’s younger self sported a blond beard as he too gazed at the camera.

One more time!  The pop pioneers originally split in 1982 but reunited earlier this year to record ninth studio album Voyage and unveil plans for an immersive digital stage show

One more time! The pop pioneers originally split in 1982 but reunited earlier this year to record ninth studio album Voyage and unveil plans for an immersive digital stage show

The pop pioneers originally split in 1982 but reunited earlier this year to record ninth studio album Voyage and unveil plans for an immersive digital stage show.

But band members Benny and Bjorn insist the reunion is a one-off as the band are unlikely to record any more music following the release of their first latest album Voyage in 39 years in November.

Speaking to The Guardian, Benny said: “That’s it… It has to be, you know.”

Touching on the band’s initial breakup, which followed nearly a decade of chart dominance, he added, “I didn’t really say, ‘That’s it’ in 1982.

“I never said myself that ABBA would never happen again. But I can tell you now: This is it.”

Shows: ABBA (pictured 1974) announced their new album Voyage and their Avatar residency in London last year

Shows: ABBA (pictured 1974) announced their new album Voyage and their Avatar residency in London last year

The group rose to prominence after winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with the hit single Waterloo.

They released tracks like Mama Mia!, Dancing Queen, Take a Chance On Me and Thank You For The Music before retiring from the music industry.

The quartet previously said that despite their enormous worldwide popularity, they would never reform and have sold more than 400 million albums in 50 years.

Reunited: The foursome previously said they would never reform despite their enormous worldwide popularity and have racked up more than 400 million album sales in 50 years (pictured together in 2012)

Reunited: The foursome previously said they would never reform despite their enormous worldwide popularity and have racked up more than 400 million album sales in 50 years (pictured together in 2012)

In an interview with Australia’s A Current Affair, Bjorn teased: “That’s the vision we have, an experience that nobody in music has had before.”

“You know, on opening night, you sit in the audience and you see this thing, you see ourselves… it’s going to be weird and wonderful,” he added.

The singer promises that it will be as close to reality as possible.

“It’s going to be us, like we’ve really infused ourselves in these avatars with movement, with facial expressions, with the voices, all that stuff makes it, it’s us,” he told the program.

The Sun reported: “The state-of-the-art concert, set to run until 2025, will feature Abba in their prime as holograms of themselves.

They're back: The show comes 50 years after the group's formation (pictured November 1976), which for most of its existence has consisted of two married couples

They’re back: The show comes 50 years after the group’s formation (pictured November 1976), which for most of its existence has consisted of two married couples

“It will be set up in a purpose-built 3,000 seat venue in Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, where it will open next spring and a full album of new music in preparation.”

It added: “The 6,710-square-foot theater will host eight shows per week and will provide a 360-degree immersive experience, giving fans the chance to get up close and personal with the recreations of the superstars, who will be taking part on stage by real artists.” .’

The Waterloo group went their separate ways at the height of their careers, and in their final years Björn divorced bandmate Agnetha, while Benny and Frida also split.

They performed together for the first time in decades in 2016 at a private event marking the 50th anniversary of songwriters Björn and Benny’s first meeting.

Tickets for the ABBA Voyage concerts are available at abbavoyage.com.

Stars: The foursome previously said they would never reform despite their enormous worldwide popularity and racked up more than 400 million album sales in 50 years (pictured circa 1975)

Stars: The foursome previously said they would never reform despite their enormous worldwide popularity and racked up more than 400 million album sales in 50 years (pictured circa 1975)