ABBA's hall of fame nod

Benny Andersson never expected ABBA to make it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The four piece Swedish band - who are set to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year, along with The Hollies, the Stooges, the Genesis and Jimmy Cliff - will join the prestigious roll of honour at a ceremony in New York, much to the surprise of the 'Waterloo' hitmakers.

Benny said: "I didn't think this would happen, because we were a pop band, not a rock band. Being a foreigner from the North Pole, this feels really good."

Meanwhile, Stooges frontman Iggy Pop, 62, said he was delighted to finally be recognised.

He said: "We've been rejected seven times, and we would have set a record, I think, if it happened again."

The acts will be inducted at a ceremony on March 15.