The Story of Ace of Base - How the Iconic 90s Pop Group Came to Be and Why It Broke Up (6 photos)

It just so happens that Sweden is incredibly rich in musical talent. Popular Swedish artists made waves around the world in the 70s, 80s, and, of course, 90s. ABBA, Roxette, Europe, Dr. Alban—who doesn't know the music of these bands? Ace of Base, whose music could be heard from every window in the 90s, holds a place of honor on this list.





A band destined to become a cult classic was formed in the early 90s by two guys from Gothenburg, Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg. They were inspired by the success of their fellow countrymen in ABBA and the desire to make music history. The budding musicians had everything they needed for success. Jonas's parents gave him an electric guitar, and Ulf was the proud owner of a computer. Naturally, they had a passionate desire to create and, of course, talent.



At first, the Swedes played techno, calling their band Kalinin Prospect. Despite their best efforts, success was slow, and their concerts were mostly attended by friends and acquaintances. They later changed their name to Tech Noir, but that didn't help. Then they decided to change their style, and it finally worked.

The music became softer and more melodic, and the new name, Ace of Base, sounded much more appealing. But two guys with guitars wasn't what the public wanted. After some thought, Berggren and Ekberg decided to add some girls to the band and invited Jonas's sisters. Linn and Jenny, who had experience performing in a church choir, took their vocals to a new level, and the now quartet Ace of Base began its march to success.

First Recognition, At Home and Around the World

With the new lineup, the band successfully performed not only in their hometown of Gothenburg but also in other cities across the country. They chose Mega Records to record their first album. The first song recorded on professional equipment was "Wheel of Fortune." It was one of Berggren and Ekberg's first compositions, and it had always received a lukewarm reception. But performed by the new lineup and recorded in the studio, the song unexpectedly took off. It topped the Norwegian charts and reached number two in Denmark and the Netherlands.





Followed by "All That She Wants" and the celebrated "Happy Nation," the band cemented their status as rising stars. The Swedish quartet was best received in their homeland, Asia. The American market was indifferent to the ambitious young band. Therefore, the musicians began to attack the US with particular vigor.

It was decided to reach overseas audiences with an exclusive offer. Ace of Base released a special edition of their debut album, titled "The Sign," specifically for the US. The album not only featured a new cover but also four additional tracks. This attempt to melt the hearts of Americans proved successful, and the band's triumph became worldwide.

The Gothenburg band achieved their coveted fame in just a couple of years. They had everything one could dream of: million-dollar album sales, staggering earnings, sold-out stadiums, and the most prestigious music awards. Billboard named Ace of Base the most popular non-American band in the world.



The album The Sign entered the Guinness Book of World Records thanks to a staggering 23 million copies sold! However, in Sweden, it was considered a failure and even included in the top worst albums of the year. But the musicians weren't at all upset by this—they'd long since stopped relying on their compatriots.

The Beginning of the End of a 90s Legend

It seemed everything was going perfectly, and only prosperity lay ahead. But the seemingly successful star-studded band began to show signs of dissatisfaction. First, Linn Berggren began to distance herself from the band. She sang solo less and less, and her sister Jenny sang in her stead more and more often. Even on the cover of the Flowers album, Linn appears in the background. Later, she even refused to go on another world tour, causing serious problems for the band.

The band was forced to justify itself to the public, assuring them that everything was fine. Reasons cited for the lead singer's absence included various vocal cord problems and a fear of flying. All of this seemed very unconvincing and further fueled rumors and fan discontent.

And then, suddenly, it turned out that without Linn, the band's luck had deserted them. The new album, Da Capo, was received with complete lack of enthusiasm for the first time in several years. A series of setbacks led to a split within the band, about which almost nothing is known. We only know the result: Ace of Base embarked on another European tour... as a duo.



Only Jenny and Ulf went on the tour. Jonas remained in Sweden, citing fatigue. Linn joined the band only once, in Germany. But that, alas, was her last appearance with Ace of Base. After the tour, she officially announced her departure.

Attempts to Restore the Band

The band almost broke up and was out of sight for two years. Then Ace of Base began performing again, this time as a trio. However, Jenny soon left the band. She began a solo career and even participated in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest selection. However, the attempt was unsuccessful, and Berggren didn't even make it to the final.

Despite a string of setbacks, Jonas and Ulf weren't about to give up. They found new singers, Julia Williamson and Klara Hagman, with whom they began performing in 2009. With the new lineup, the band also changed its name. From then on, it was called Ace of Base. In 2010, they recorded a new album, The Golden Ratio, which, unfortunately, received little attention.



The band tried to appeal to their audience by releasing new tracks in the good old 90s style. But their time had finally passed. In 2014, Williamson and Hagman left the band, and Ace of Base remained in its original, all-male lineup. Until 2016, Jonas and Ulf made desperate attempts to climb the charts, but to no avail. Their time had passed, and the project was canceled.

Thus ended the story of the legendary Swedish band, which left behind many top-notch hits. Ace of Base's songs are still listened to today, and some of their songs have become the basis for some excellent dance covers.