CityLife

ABBA beat Manc trio to top poll

IN THEIR PRIME: ABBA

IT was always going to take a venerable music heavyweight to beat our acts in the reunion gold rush stakes and so it has proved.

In a poll by online ticket exchange viagogo, perennial Swedish favourites ABBA have pipped The Smiths, Take That with Robbie Williams and The Stone Roses to the title of act most fans would like see reunited in 2009.

Buoyed by the phenomenal sales of hit musical-turned-flick Mamma Mia!, the feel good factor appear to have swept Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid to the top of the poll.

Despite reported billion dollar reunion offers, the chances of the poptastic quartet hitting the comeback trails seem non-existent though, with both the singers now living an idyllic country life back in Sweden.

The possibility of The Smiths caving in and hitting pay dirt appear similarly remote too – mercurial guitarist Johnny Marr is the latest to dismiss tabloid reunion rumours, happy to concentrate on his new role as a fully-fledged member of The Cribs.

And despite Mani’s assertion he will attempt to reunite The Stone Roses in 2009 and therefore celebrate the 20th anniversary of their seminal debut in style - it is not going to be easy either.

As though the bassist, reclusive drummer Alan ‘Reni’ Wren and guitarist-turned-artist John Squire have spoken favourably about joining forces again the past, the sticking point – as ever – is frontman Ian Brown.

With a new solo LP set to be recorded in Japan, the iconic Warrington-born singer has seemingly never forgiven Squire for walking out on the band just as they were set to begin work on a third album in 1996.

One band who could follow in Blur footsteps in 2009 though are manband favourites Take That.

After all four of the quartet have been a hugely success going concern again for two years now, after Gary, Mark, Jason and Howard reunited in 2006 following a 10-year break.

And with Williams now ripe for a return following a bizarre period spent chasing UFOs and aliens in the Nevada desert, don't rule out an appearance by the charismatic Stoke solo star at one of the band's sold out homecoming shows in June.

Here is the list in full:

1. ABBA
2. The Smiths
3. Take That with Robbie Williams
4. The Stone Roses
5. Guns N' Roses with Slash
6. Pink Floyd
7. Talking Heads
8. The Faces
9. Wham!
10. Jackson Five.

Which of the top 10 would you like to see return? Have your say.