Abba: Brighton remembers Eurovision glory 50 years on

Abba won the Eurovision Song Contest at Brighton Dome on 6 April 1974

It's 50 years since Abba were launched into pop stardom when they strutted on to a Brighton stage in platform heels and satin knickerbockers.

Those who remember the band in the city during their iconic Eurovision Song Contest victory have been saying: "My my, just how much I miss you!"

Paul Samrah met the band outside Brighton Dome ahead of the event.

"We are Abba from Sweden," Bjorn told the 15-year-old. "And we are going to win the Eurovision Song Contest."

Mr Samrah told the BBC he did not know who the band were when he approached them for autographs.

"Obviously they were artists from their clothes," he added.

But after Abba stormed to victory with Waterloo on 6 April 1974, they became a household name, and dominated the charts over the next decade.

"Bjorn and Frida signed my book," said Mr Samrah, from Brighton.

"They were absolutely lovely. To get Abba's autographs before they were famous is my ultimate claim to fame."

Paul Samrah was 15 when he got Abba's autographs without knowing who there were

Brighton has retained a close connection with the song contest and Abba. There's a blue plaque, a new exhibition and a planned convention.

Inside the Dome, Carol Theobald, from Brighton, had VIP tickets to watch the contest.

She said: "My husband was a leading member of Brighton Council and we were given tickets.

"It was an exciting evening where we met some of the contestants at a reception after the event, including Olivia Newton John, who was representing the UK."

Carol Theobald was in the audience at The Dome for Eurovision 1974

Ms Theobald said she gave Abba "the highest score, as they were fantastic".

She said she recalled the costumes, and also the "outstanding" Waterloo, which would later become a favourite at discos across the world.

"That evening Abba became a global success," Ms Theobald said.

Neil Gunnell was also at Brighton Dome, aged 15, with his father who was station manager at BBC Radio Brighton.

He said: "Of course it was great to be there. Abba was like nothing we'd seen before.

"This was a rock song, not a pop song."

Neil Gunnell attended Eurovision 1974 aged 15

Mr Gunnell added: "Back in those days everything put forward by the UK was very boom-bang-a-bash-bash.

"It changed Eurovision."

Eurovision superfan, Gary Speirs, from Horsham, West Sussex, is attending his 33rd Song Contest in Sweden in May.

Gary Speirs became a huge Eurovision fan after watching Abba win on TV aged 11

His love for Eurovision stems back to Brighton 1974 when, aged 11, he was allowed to stay up late and watch Abba storm to victory.

He said: "Overnight I became a huge Eurovision and Abba fan without realising it."

"Through Eurovision, I have since made some amazing friends and travelled to places I may never have otherwise visited, like Baku, Kyiv, Tallinn and Riga."

Abba posed for photographers on Brighton beach the day after their Eurovision victory

The UK stepped in to host the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest after Luxembourg, the winner for the two previous years, declined due to the cost.

Despite receiving "nul points" from the British jury, Abba claimed victory and went on to become one of the most successful pop bands of all time.

Oliva Newton John's Long Live Love came fourth.

The Eurovision winners did a walkabout in Brighton the day after the contest

Speaking to the BBC in 2017 on the presentation of a blue plaque in Brighton to commemorate their historic win, Abba's Benny and Björn said they were "very honoured".

Andrew Comben, chief executive of Brighton Dome, said Eurovision 1974 had a huge impact on the city.

He said: "Abba's victory was a real moment for them and for us. A massive event in its own time which has grown over the decades."

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