Huge 90s band Ace Of Base now from Eurovision failure to extremist gang regrets
From being involved in a far-right extremist gang to failing to qualify for Eurovision, the members of hit 90s group Ace of Base have been on quite the journey during their lifetime...
Behind some of the best Europop songs of the 90s, Ace of Base have had a wild history. From humble beginnings in Sweden to gangland threats and even an unsuccessful Eurovision attempt, their story has everything...
The Scandinavian electro-pop group was first formed in 1987 in Gothenberg, and was made up of siblings Jonas, Linn and Jenny Berggren with the quartet then being completed with founding member Ulf Ekberg.
The group began working their way around the clubs of the Swedish city but struggled to take off, with heavy metal being the go-to for Swedes at the time, a far cry from the techno sound. But, after the release of the single Wheel of Fortune broke them into the charts, their next release, All that She Wants, would make them a hit across the world, as the track became certified platinum topping the UK charts for three weeks straight in 1993.
They would continue to build on their success with hits like The Sign, becoming staples of clubs across the world in the early 90s. But, just as quickly as they shot to fame, they would as quickly disappear into obscurity.
The group were last seen in a series of concerts between 2007 and 2009 as a trio without Linn, but since then the band's original members have all gone down some very different paths:
Jenny Berggren
After leaving the band in the late 00s, Jenny was the only member to continue recording music with a solo career, as well as turning to writing. In 2009 she published her autobiography, Vinna hela världen, and although an English version translated to 'To Win the World' was due to be released, it never came to fruition.
In 2010 she released her first single, Here I Am, which only reached 14 on the Swedish charts before releasing her second single, Gotta Go, and her first album My Story that same year.
The same year she was in the running to be the Danish contestant for the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest with her song, Let Your Heart B Mine, but she failed to get through and gain the nomination for the country to go to the event. She also appeared alongside Ulf in the 2024 for the Ace of Base: All That She Wants documentary looking at the band's story. In the show, she also recounts a scary experience when a fan broke into her home and held a knife to her throat in the early '90s
Speaking to People about the ordeal, she said: '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
Founder Ulf Ekberg has found himself working with and trying to grow tech start ups in Sweden. Speaking to ABC, the former musician said: "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."
In last year's documentary, Ulf also talks about his involvement with the far-right extremist gang in Sweden as a teenager, something that has shown his deep regret for. In the People interview, he added: '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
Since the end of the band, two have stepped back away from the public eye with Linn in particular staying away from the spotlight of fame. Jonas made a very brief appearance at an event covered at the end of the documentary, while Linn chose to write a letter which Jenny reads in the final episode.
The band however did come back together for a one-off reunion on their 30th anniversary. To the delight of many fans, they came back to headline the 90s Nostalgic Electric Circus festival in Canada dressed up in black lace and flower-inspired outfits.
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Arg's party lifestyle was a huge source of contention, with most of their rows revolving around him keeping secrets from her and slipping back into his bad ways. : The couple end their relationship after five years after Arg allegedly relapses into his cocaine habit. Arg's party lifestyle was a huge source of contention, with most of their rows revolving around him keeping secrets from her and slipping back into his bad ways. Arg and Gemma Collins begin their romantic relationship in 2012, shortly after Arg's split from Lydia and she begins dating his 'rival' Tom Kilbey. 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