ABBA team up with Dolce & Gabbana to design their incredible stage comeback outfits
ABBA are set to become unlikely fashionistas with their live show Voyage next month – with Dolce & Gabbana designing outfits especially for the band.
I can reveal that it was ABBA who invited the luxury Italian fashion house to help dress Agnetha Faltskog, Frida Lyngstad, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson for their special shows in London.
But the bestselling quartet won’t actually be slipping into the designer outfits them-selves.
BAND PUSHED THE LIMITS OF FASHION
The one-off costumes have been digitised and will be “worn” by the band members’ avatars, which will “perform” the show.
My exclusive photo shows Agnetha’s avatar wearing one of the outfits, a Greek-style white dress with a gold waistband.
In their heyday in the Seventies, the pop juggernauts pushed the limits of fashion by wearing eccentric jumpsuits and flares.
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But the digital performers will be wearing all-new gear when they hit the stage at the purpose-built ABBA Arena in East London, when the virtual shows open on May 27.
A concert insider said: “Dolce & Gabbana got on board really early on in the process and this has been years in the making.
“It is one of a handful of designers who worked on the costumes, which were stitched together before being digitised by the experts at Industrial Light and Magic, who are behind the shows.
“It was really important that every thread moves on stage as it would do if it was being worn by a real person, so the meticulous process has taken ages, but the results are incredible.”
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The show will feature 20 songs including two from their No1 reunion album Voyage, which came out last November. It will also see the avatars talk to the crowd.
Although they have said they will never sing live together again — hence the digital residency — there are hopes that all four members could be at the opening night.
Bjorn said: “It’s such a privilege. No artist has ever experienced that. There you are on stage, and yet you’re able to see it and feel it. I really look forward to that.”
COME AND AVA GO...
AVA MAX posed in this kooky outfit to plug her new single, feisty summer anthem Maybe You’re The Problem, which is about blaming a partner for relationship issues.
She said: “Everyone always says, ‘It’s not you, it’s me’, but sometimes the problem really isn’t me, it’s you.
“This new music is the most personal I’ve ever made.”
Other new tracks out today include MK and Paul Woolford’s Teardrops, HRVY and Steve Aoki’s Save Me, and Marina, formerly Marina And The Diamonds, has released a tenth anniversary version of her album Electra Heart.
And Lady Gaga has confirmed my story that her new single Hold My Hand, from the latest Top Gun movie Maverick, will be released next Tuesday.
RADIO 1’S CLARA: I’LL SKIP BREAKFAST THANKS
CLARA AMFO has ruled herself out of hosting the Radio 1 breakfast show when Greg James eventually steps down.
He has been the anchor since 2018 when he took over from Nick Grimshaw.
But Clara, who joined the station in 2015 and who is seen by many as his natural successor to what is generally seen as the top job on the BBC station, told NME: “I couldn’t do it.
“I have the utmost respect for Greg and for Grimmy, who went before him.
“But it’s one of those ones where you’ve got to really want to do it in order to do it. And I don’t really want to do it — simple as that.”
Explainin the discipline of being a Radio 1 DJ, she added: “You’ve always got to be on, but for breakfast you’ve got to be a particular kind of on, and I don’t think I could handle it.
“I’ve done weekend breakfast (shows) and I could do that again, but every day? Nah, I know my lane.”
KIM WAIL OF THE TAPE
KIM KARDASHIAN weeps with relief in the latest episode of her family’s Hulu reality show after her now estranged husband Kanye West retrieves a laptop holding the rest of her sex tape with ex-boyfriend Ray J.
Kim, who had feared it would be leaked like the other part was in 2007, tells her family: “Kanye flew home last night and I want to show you guys what he brought me.
“He got me all of the f***ing tape back. He met up with Ray J and got it all back for me.
“I know Kanye did this for me, but he also did this for my kids.
“I want to shield them from this and if I have the power, or Kanye has the power to, that is just the most important thing.
“I’m so emotional because of it. It means a lot.”
ASTON BACKING SARAH TRIBUTE
ASTON MERRYGOLD wants JLS to perform at the tribute concert for Sarah Harding which is being planned by her Girls Aloud bandmates.
On the prospect of joining the fundraiser alongside Marvin Hume, JB Gill and Oritse Williams, he said: “I’d love to. Sarah was a beautiful soul. It’s always an honour to perform at tributes like that.”
Aston added that Sarah’s death from cancer last September, and the death last month of The Wanted singer Tom Parker, two years after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, had had a profound impact on him.
Aston, who will join the cast of touring stage show Footloose The Musical from July 25, said: “It’s unthinkable, so horrible.
“It puts life into perspective. You have to live every day like it’s your last and really enjoy it.
“You have to put a positive spin on things and live how you want to.”
LIL NAS X is working on his second album in the UK.
The Industry Baby rapper had been on holiday in Paris but travelled to London this week to get in the studio.
On social media he has already teased new songs Late To The Party, Down Souf H**s and Lean On My Body but the US star still has more to do on the follow-up to last year’s debut Montero.
While recording here, I’m hoping one of our own will be collaborating with him on the album.
NOEL STILL RIBBING ROB
NOEL GALLAGHER has reignited his feud with Robbie Williams, calling his biggest hit, 1997’s Angels, “an Oasis track by numbers”.
Noel said: “I’ve heard it. And thought what? ‘I wish I’d written that’? Angels is Oasis by numbers.
“Add a f***ing electric guitar on it and it would be.”
Noel and his brother Liam had a series of run-ins with Robbie through the Nineties and Noughties. Noel one dismissed his rival as “the fat dancer from Take That”.
And Robbie sent this column a wreath claiming Oasis were dead after the release of their 2000 album Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants.
Noel once lived near Robbie in London once but never bothered to call round.
He told the Matt Morgan podcast: “We were neighbours briefly. (Noel’s wife) Sara did see him with his missus pushing their newborn child round the block. I never seen him.
“Sara would be more friendly with him and his missus than me. Not that I’m at all unfriendly, just, you know.”
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Noel has always been a gent to me — as has Robbie.
But given the snowflake fake niceties of the showbiz world now, it’s nice to see a bit of banter fly again.