Abba’s enduring popularity with their global fan base is expected to attract plenty of bids for a famous piano, when the instrument goes under the hammer during September. Sotheby’s sale of the same Bolin grand piano that featured on many of the group’s biggest hits is being tipped to reach a figure of around £800,000.
Rock and pop auction
Potential buyers will have to wait until 29th September before they can start the bidding in earnest for the iconic piece of pop music memorabilia. That is the date chosen for Sotheby’s specialist “Rock and Pop” auction, as they seek to confirm their exalted place as a leading seller of rock and pop memorabilia.
The London auction house seems to be the perfect location to sell the piano that was played on tracks such as “Waterloo”, “Mamma Mia” and the unforgettable “Dancing Queen”. Although it was originally constructed for a jazz pianist called Bill Evans, the ownership of the piano transferred later on to a recording studio in Stockholm, Sweden. It was there that recordings of Abba’s Music were commonly made during the group’s stellar run to fame and fortune.
Benny Andersson from Abba called the piano “one of a kind” and a “great source of inspiration” during the recording sessions at that time.
Sotheby’s impressive track record
Sotheby’s track record from previous sales of music nostalgia is impressive to say the least.
A highly sought after manuscript of the lyrics for John Lennon’s “A Day in the Life” fetched $1,202,500 in the past. A set of manuscripts and drawings produced by The Beatles’ legend have also previously been sold for almost $3 million in their sale rooms.
It is expected that the latest sale will build on those earlier successes, as music history is sold to the highest bidder.
Included among the list of items in the intriguing auction will be instruments, lyrics, stage clothing, photographs and other related items relating to a number of music Celebrities, including The Beatles.
Abba’s popularity
After their unforgettable victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with “Waterloo”, Abba’s worldwide appeal flourished.
So much so that some sources suggest that they have sold in excess of 300 million singles and albums during their lifetimes.
The name ‘Abba’ cleverly represents an acronym of the first letters of the group members’ first names (Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid), not that their devoted fans were ever likely to forget who they were.
Tribute bands keep Abba ‘alive’
Despite the group disbanding in 1982, other celebrity acts have covered their songs and tribute bands have been formed over the years to keep the Abba dynasty and memory very much alive. Indeed, members of one of the most famous tribute shows, Bjorn Again have featured in the publicity by Sotheby’s ahead of the sale itself.