Ace of Base now as iconic 90s band suffer Eurovision failure and knifeman terror
Swedish Europop group Ace of Base were once some of the biggest names in music, but their story is one that is filled with surprise achievements, failures and regret
Ace of Base, the creators of some of the most iconic Europop tunes of the 90s, have had a rollercoaster journey. Their story is filled with everything from humble beginnings in Sweden to gangland threats and even an unsuccessful Eurovision attempt...
The Scandinavian electro-pop band was first established in 1987 in Gothenberg, consisting of siblings Jonas, Linn and Jenny Berggren, with Ulf Ekberg rounding off the quartet.
They started their journey performing in various clubs around the Swedish city but initially found it tough to gain traction, as heavy metal was the preferred genre for Swedes at the time, quite different from their techno sound. However, after their single Wheel of Fortune hit the charts, their subsequent release, All that She Wants, catapulted them to global fame, earning platinum certification and topping the UK charts for three consecutive weeks in 1993.
Their success continued with hits like The Sign, becoming club favourites worldwide in the early 90s. But, just as swiftly as they rose to stardom, they faded into obscurity.
The band was last seen performing in a series of concerts between 2007 and 2009 as a trio without Linn. Since then, the original members of the band have all embarked on very different journeys:, reports the Daily Record.
Jenny Berggren
Jenny, the only ex-member from the band to embark on a solo career after departing in the late 00s, also turned her hand to writing. She released her autobiography, Vinna hela världen, in 2009. However, a promised English version, titled To Win the World, never emerged.
Her solo musical journey began with Here I Am in 2010, peaking at number 14 in Swedish charts; she followed up with Gotta Go, and unveiled her maiden album, My Story, that year.
2010 saw another bid for the spotlight as Jenny contended for the honour of representing Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with Let Your Heart B Mine, but didn't secure the nomination.
Fast forward, Jenny starred in the 2024 documentary Ace of Base: All That She Wants, telling the band's story alongside Ulf.
She reflected on a terrifying incident from the early '90s in which a fan invaded her home and threatened her life by holding a knife to her throat.
Reliving the harrowing moment with People, she asserted: "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
Meanwhile, band founder Ulf Ekberg has swapped melodies for tech ventures back home. In conversation with ABC, Ekberg expressed his enthusiasm about the tech buzz: "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."
The documentary last year also saw Ulf candidly discuss his past affiliations with a far-right extremist group during his teens in Sweden, expressing profound remorse for his actions. Speaking to People, he continued: "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.
"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 shying away from the limelight, especially Linn who has kept her distance from the glare of fame. Jonas briefly emerged to attend an event highlighted at the end of the documentary, while Linn decided to contribute through a letter read by Jenny in the concluding episode.
The band, however, did reunite for a one-off celebration 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 outfits.
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