[Denver]

STEPS are back and ready to cheer up the charts – with the help of ABBA.

The band — CLAIRE RICHARDS, LEE LATCHFORD-EVANS, LISA SCOTT-LEE, IAN “H” WATKINS and FAYE TOZER have teamed up with music legends BENNY ANDERSSON and BJORN ULVAEUS for their first new music in five years.

To announce the biggest music comeback of 2017 and celebrate their 20th anniversary, the chart favourites came in to Bizarre HQ for their first ever guest edit.

Lisa said: “We’ve always had that comparison with Abba so it’s amazing to work with Benny and Bjorn.

“When we heard the special album track they gave to us we said, ‘that’s perfect’.

“It’s a bridge to where we were and it moves on nicely to where we’re taking the new music.”

Claire added: “Benny really liked our take on it. He said it’s almost as good as his version!”

At the height of their fame Steps scored 13 consecutive top five singles, including One For Sorrow, Tragedy, Stomp and Deeper Shade of Blue.

They also sold more than 20million albums, ruling the Nineties and early Noughties.

The Abba track, Story Of A Heart, features on their comeback album Tears On The Dancefloor.

We've always had that comparison with Abba so it's amazing to work with Benny and Bjorn
Lisa Scott-LeeSteps
Their first single from the album, Scared Of The Dark is out this Friday, with a fresh dance routine.

It is a good sign of things to come and has a more mature sound that is bound to go down a storm in nightclubs from here to Ibiza. The band insist their moves and lyrics will remain as family friendly as ever.

There will definitely be “no twerking” in any of their videos or on the 15-date arena tour that they will be announcing today where the VENGABOYS will support.

Steps believe their comeback could not have been planned better.

Faye said: “We’re just what everyone needs right now.

"People are ready for something a little bit more happy, upbeat and pop. What pop used to be.
“I think it’s good timing.”

Lee added: “Everybody seems to be down, negative, depressed, have no money, can’t do this and can’t do that.

“With what’s happened over in America now too, everyone’s just like, ‘Oh my God’.

“But this music comes along and all the fans are like, ‘We need a breath of fresh air’. Hopefully we can bring that.”

Unlike their previous comeback in 2012, the group believe they will be around for the long haul this time. Lisa said: “Things weren’t all in place then.

“We have a great new team around us now and we’re ready to push on.

“We’ve been quietly working away probably for the past 18 months to two years to get everything just right for the new album.”

H added: “It’s been like a military operation.”

Live and kicking . . . Steps' new album Scared Of The Dark is out on Friday
I revealed in January the band were planning a comeback, having also told of the pop superstars’ surprise New Year’s Eve gig at London’s G-A-Y before anyone else.

They’re now looking for-ward to getting back on the road to entertain their loyal fanbase, which has stuck by them for two decades.

H said: “There aren’t many acts that get to celebrate 20-year milestones.

"So to come back and do that is incredible.”

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbi...ck-album-abba/