In 2011, Bengt Pettersson bought First Hotel on the corner of Drottninggatan and Storgatan. There were rumours that the pop giants had first met at the hotel back when it was called The Rally Hotel, but he dismissed the stories as just a myth.
"Of course it's true! You could say that it's Benny's fault that my military career was so short" laughs Björn Ulvaeus, who made it to the rank of Lance Corporal.
In November, Björn Ulvaeus was a guest on the TV programme 'Hellenius Hörna', when he spoke about jamming with Benny in Slottsparken, the park opposite the hotel, the first time they met. Bengt Pettersson realised that there must be some truth to the rumours.
"German TV have been here and made a programme and I made contact with the waitress who got The Hep Stars to autograph a menu" says Bengt.
Planned Meeting
At the time, Björn played in the Hootenanny Singers and Benny was a member of The Hep Stars. Both groups were stars of the Swedish music scene. Even though the band members didn't know each other, there was a curiosity about each other and they decided to meet in Linköping. The Hep Stars intially misunderstood where to meet and ended up in Lidköping by mistake.
Tonny Roth, bassist in The Hootenanny Singers, who later became a doctor in Linköping, clearly remembers the night at The Rally Hotel on 5th June, 1966. That night and that meeting resulted in the sales of 400 million records and three highly acclaimed musicals.
"Quite simply, we were there to party. And we did. My memory escapes me whether we were thrown out of the hotel or decided to go out to Slottsparken and start jamming ourselves."
Linköping wasn't a city that The Hootenanny Singers usually stayed in as it lies a little too close to their hometown of Västervik. But on 5th June 1966, the city was perfect.
Military service
"Me, Björn Ulvaeus and Johan Karlberg were due to enlist for military service at the next day. One of the band members, Hansi Schwarz was exempt because he was German. The rest of us had been able to put it off for a few years, but our time had run out."
You must have been pretty hungover after that night?
"Yes, but at that age, you get away with a lot"
The guys were all well-known in the company and when the commanding officer asked the other recruits if it was OK to give the trio a little extra leave for their music career, everyone gave the thumbs up.
Do you regret giving up touring in 1968?
"No. I really wanted to study and I was never a Björn"
Are you still in touch?
"Yes. From time to time."
A waitress in 1966
Fröydis Sandberg from Åtvidaberg was a waitress at The Rally Hotel in the sixties. Thanks to her, Bengt Pettersson has the menu signed by The Hep Stars on 6th June 1966. On the back of the menu are the names 'Christer Pettersson', 'Benny Andersson' and 'Svenne Hedlund' along with the prices that show that tournedos Rossini cost 8kr and a choclate pudding was just 2.50kr
"Ah! Those were the days!" exclaims Fröydis, "All the big names came here: Count Basie, The Hollies, Family Four, Danny Kaye …. Artists could be themselves as it was a drive-in hotel and the guests could go from the garage directly up to the reception. We made sure they were left in peace"
We went the extra mile
The kitchen was supposed to shut at 11.15pm, but the staff were all service minded and would often stay later.
"The artists might ring late after a gig and ask if it was OK to get a bite to eat at midnight. And of course, we were happy to oblige" says Fröydis.
"I remember when Paul Anka was here. There was such a big crowd at the front of the hotel, we had to let him out via the kitchen door. And just imagine! When Charles Aznavour, a superstar French ballad writer, singer and actor came! He ended up marrying one of the girls on reception!"
Fröydis was always quick to get autographs and still has many at the bottom of a dusty drawer at home.
Despite her 76 years she is still going strong and has worked at Yxnerums Hotel and conference for the last 40 years.
"I just love the service industry!"
ABBA theme.
With Björn and Benny's 50 year anniversary coming up, the spotlight has landed on the Rally hotel (now a Best Western) and owner Bengt Pettersson is considering how to mark the occasion.
"We'll definitely frame the autographed menu. A corner of the hotel will be dedicated to ABBA. And we're even thinking about having an ABBA suite in the room where we think Björn stayed that night. That would really be something!"
We should be putting on a themed night on the 5th and 6th June, with ABBA tracks and some classic dishes from the Sixties in the restaurant.
"And if Björn and Benny fancy coming along, they're welcome to board and lodging with the compliments of the house! Ha ha!"