ABBA's 1970s Costumes Decidedly Worth The Tax Break
- Download
-
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/284742199/284742200" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> - Transcript
ABBA singer Bjorn Ulvaeus has revealed a secret behind the band's costumes. It was not only fashion that determined their sartorial choices.
JACKI LYDEN, HOST:
And now back in time to the era of ABBA. We're talking, of course, about the four gifted Swedes who took the '70s by the scruff of the neck with their hip-wagging brand of Euro pop. And almost as wonderful as ABBA's music were the band's outfits. Dungarees, hot pants, jumpsuits, platform boots, sequins and all of it worn with a dose of glamour. But it turns out that their sartorial choices weren't just about style. A new, official band biography reveals that ABBA actually got a tax benefit for donning outrageous outfits. Swedish tax laws allowed the cost of their costumes to be deducted against tax, but only if they were wild enough that they could not be worn for everyday use. So, yeah, of course they were in it for the music, but also the Krona.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MONEY, MONEY")
LYDEN: You're listening to WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News.
Copyright © 2014 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
