A search for ‘world’s greatest tribute band’ delivers 75 million results. It’s a title nobody can call their own and so there are many contenders out there. However, as of now, there is only one real candidate for the title and this is Abba’s tribute to themselves, Abba Voyage, currently in a twice-extended run in a purpose-built structure next to what was London’s 2012 Olympic Stadium. More than 40 years after the band last performed together, their CGI avatars – a perfected youthful version of themselves as they never quite looked – perform a live show daily. To achieve this the band leaders Benny and Björn worked for three years with director Baillie Walsh and the team at George Lucas’s ILM. There’s a supergroup in itself. We may presume the 10-piece live backing band (real flesh and blood) does get the odd day off but it is the sheer tirelessness of the avatars that makes you wonder if this show isn’t better than the real foursome ever could be live. It’s not just the avatars, positioned teasingly a little way back on the stage, but also the large screens delivering impressive close-ups, great lighting and reflectors, while a terrific sound system envelopes all. It would be good if all musical heroes could be preserved thus but, alas, many can’t. You need to be alive to do the initial modeling.

For insight on how Abba Voyage came about, here's Bjorn and Benny talking about it the inception.