Sydney - A private concert by ABBA tribute band Bjorn Again for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was entirely believable, the band's Australian co-founder said Saturday.

"We've played private gigs for Rowan Atkinson, we did Russell Crowe's wedding, we've done a show for Bill Gates where we played Money, Money, Money," John Tyrrell told the The Australian newspaper.

The Kremlin has denied reports that the London-based Bjorn Again foursome was flown to Russia to perform for Putin.

Bjorn Again, founded in Melbourne in 1988, five years after Swedish pop legend ABBA broke up, is now a franchise operation with as many as seven tribute bands playing around the world.

According to the reports, Bjorn Again played 15 ABBA hits in the January 22 recital near Lake Valdai. There were reportedly only eight in the audience, including Putin and an unknown woman. The honoured guests were screened behind a net curtain. (dpa)