extremist gang warnings, Eurovision rejection and reclusive lifestyles
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Ace of Base, the creators of some of the most memorable Europop tunes of the 90s, have a history as colourful as their music. Their journey, from modest beginnings in Sweden to encounters with gangland threats and even an unsuccessful Eurovision bid, is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride...
The electro-pop outfit hailing from Scandinavia was born in Gothenburg in 1987, comprising siblings Jonas, Linn and Jenny Berggren, with Ulf Ekberg rounding off the quartet.
Starting out in the local club scene, the group initially found it tough to make their mark, given the Swedes' preference for heavy metal—a stark contrast to their techno beats. However, their fortunes changed when their single, Wheel of Fortune, hit the charts, paving the way for their next release, All that She Wants, to catapult them to global stardom.
The track went platinum and dominated the UK charts for three consecutive weeks in 1993.
(Image: Phillippe Caron/ Getty)
Their winning streak continued with hits like The Sign, becoming a club anthem worldwide in the early 90s. But, as quickly as they ascended to fame, they faded into obscurity just as swiftly, reports the Daily Record.
The last sighting of the group was during a series of concerts between 2007 and 2009, where they performed as a trio without Linn. Since then, the original band members have all embarked on vastly different journeys.
Jenny Berggren
Jenny, a former member of the band who left in the late 00s, was the only one to pursue a solo music career and also ventured into writing. In 2009, she penned her autobiography Vinna hela världen, which translates to 'To Win the World' in English; however, a translated version never saw publication.
Her solo musical journey began in 2010 with the release of her single, Here I Am, which peaked at number 14 on the Swedish charts. She followed up with another single, Gotta Go, and her debut album, My Story, within the same year.
(Image:)
Additionally, Jenny made an attempt to represent Denmark at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest with her track, Let Your Heart B Mine, but did not secure the nomination. In 2024, she joined Ulf in the documentary, Ace of Base: All That She Wants, which delved into the band's history.
During the programme, she shared a harrowing incident from the early '90s when an intruder broke into her home and threatened her with a knife.
Reflecting on the terrifying event in an interview with People, Jenny remarked: "I think that was when the star was born in me. I wanted to sing. I had to calculate with all the dangers, and I just realised, 'No, I want to sing. This is what I want'."
Ulf Ekberg
Ulf Ekberg has since shifted his focus to nurturing tech start-ups in Sweden. In a conversation with ABC, the ex-musician observed: "There's so many tech companies in Sweden, especially Stockholm.
"I'm interested in creating a sector in technology and music. I'm building companies, and it's been a fantastic last five years. It feels like everything is exploding here. We are in a lot of different sectors, but we try to keep it to the creative sectors as much as possible; movies, TV, music and entertainment, which are obviously very close to my heart."
(Image: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage)
In the documentary from the previous year, Ulf also reflects on his past association with a far-right extremist gang in Sweden during his teenage years, expressing profound remorse for this period in his life. In an interview with People, he elaborated: "I think it's a very important topic to talk about because it is a very angry world we live in right now. It's much more angry than when I was a teenager."
He continued, sharing his hope that his story could inspire others: "I hope that maybe that part of this documentary can show that even if you are completely lost, you can always find your way and it's never too late - which, I was blessed with a second chance in my life."
Jonas and Linn Berggren
Post-band life has seen Jonas and Linn Berggren retreat from the limelight, with Linn particularly shunning public attention. Jonas briefly resurfaced at an event featured towards the end of the documentary, whereas Linn opted to contribute through a letter, which Jenny reads out in the concluding episode.
However, the band did reunite for a one-off gig on their 30th anniversary. Much to the joy of numerous fans, they returned to headline the 90s Nostalgic Electric Circus festival in Canada, donning black lace and flower-inspired attire.
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