ABBA Sensation Press Articles

• Derby Telegraph feature on ABBA Sensation:

HALF of "ABBA" have moved to Derby – they all look a lot younger, and Bjorn is now living with Benny's ex-wife Frida. The songs and costumes haven't changed one bit though, as Derby-based ABBA Sensation look to recreate the sights and sounds associated with the Swedish supergroup. This tribute act was founded by Pete Nulty (Bjorn) and his partner Melody French, who should, in the natural order of things, be Agnetha (Bjorn's ex-wife) but instead takes on the persona of Frida. "Yes, technically, I'm having an affair with Benny's ex-wife," laughs Pete. "And Benny doesn't know. I often refer to Maria (O'Brien, who plays Agnetha in the act) as my 'wife'."
Pete had been working as a guitarist before meeting Melody while on holiday in Tanzania, where she was performing with Maria. When Pete and Melody returned home and became a couple, the idea for the tribute act was formed and they moved to Derby because it was a good central location. Since then, ABBA Sensation has never stopped working, especially as the Mamma Mia! phenomenon hit. Pete doesn't mind spending his working life as a Swede with bad dress sense rather than himself. "It's great fun," he says. "When you go on stage you always take on a different persona anyway; it's an overblown version of yourself. The only real difference is that I'm putting on a kimono and four-inch heels. "And Bjorn was the natural role for me to step into as I'm a guitarist and vocalist."
All four members of ABBA Sensation have solid showbiz roots. Melody had theatre and dance college training that led to jobs on cruise ships before doing a UK tour of the ABBA show Thank You For the Music. Maria has worked in the West End. Pete was in a band, while Chris De Gliss (Benny) has been a resident performer at venues around the world. Importantly, all share a love of ABBA's music. "I have grown up knowing the music," says Pete. "I love well constructed pop music and Abba are the masters of that. Along with The Beatles they are the best at producing the perfect three-minute pop record." Capturing the look of ABBA is also key for the band. "ABBA were quite focused on the costumes and some were fantastic, but it was the 1970s and some aren't the best in the world. "We can't recreate every hairstyle and costume they wore – we just skip over the perm era."
There are a number of other ABBA tribute bands on the circuit, the most famous being Bjorn Again, but with work flooding in, Derby's variation on the theme is finding there's plenty of room. "Bjorn Again are very good," says Pete. "And they are known as a band in their own right. "We aren't looking to steal their market place but we are young and fresh and part of a new generation of tribute bands coming along. "We have done very well in under two years and it would be great to build up to the level of touring Bjorn Again do."
Pete's favourite ABBA song is SOS – "a very well written pop song" – and he believes tracks like that will be around as long as people love pop music. "The music transcends generations and stands up much better than a lot of stuff in the charts today," he says. "And we are having a great time. It's hard work, there's a lot of travelling but we wouldn't change it for the world."

Derby Telegraph, April 29th 2010

• Troy's Tumblr Review on ABBA Sensation - here's what the lovely Troy from Wild Ents had to say about the band and tribute industry:

"So a quick check in from me today. As you may or may not know, I get to work with some great covers bands and tribute acts every single week. Mostly I have a great time and get to meet some fantastic people. I also get to meet some total douches along the way too. Im also sure that not everyone in that industry thinks fondly of me all the time. It’s just a ‘catty’ small world I guess.
Well this weekend, Im working with ABBA Sensation which (even though Im not an ABBA fan) ranks up there as being one of my favorite ABBA Tribute bands. Quick ABBA Tribute ‘Fact’, did you know there are an estimated 73,000 ABBA Tribute bands in the world? Nope? neither did I, I looked it up. But it’s safe to say that they all are keeping the economy running smoothly in the glittery spandex and wig sectors (if there even is such a thing)… My reason for liking them? They are young! Most ABBA tribute bands who are established on the UK and international tribute circuit have been going for over 15 years! After that amount of time, the spandex doesn’t sit as well as it used too Im sure (Ask Hulk Hogan), so it’s nice to see a younger crew take on the challenge of being ABBA. They are vibrant, they sound great and the bottom line is, it’s a great show and it beats the other older ABBA acts in to the middle of next year.
It goes without saying that Im all for younger people coming through on to this scene as that’s what it really needs. There are some tribute acts that are timeless - ABBA, The Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, Sinatra… the list goes on, but the tribute industry won’t unless the torch is passed or the gauntlet (so to speak) is picked up by a younger talent ready to give it all they’ve got. Yes! It’s a kooky industry, but someone has to do it. Take an artiste and put your own spin on things or even re-write the history books a little like Matt Goss (yes, him from Bros and Blade) is doing in Vegas. Anyway, Im looking forward to this Saturday when I work with ABBA Sensation IMO the UK’s finest ABBA Tribute band, stop by and show them some love".

Troy's Tumblr - Live Ents & Social Media in the UK