Benny Andersson: Last News

ABBA have responded to rumours that they are planning to reunite for next year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in their native Sweden.After previous victor Loreen won the competition with her song ‘Tattoo’ earlier this month, rumour spread online that it was all part of a plan to have ABBA reform to mark 50 years of their own Eurovision win as the contest returns to their home country as the 2024 host nation. Now, they have shot down the chances of it happening – even just for one evening.“I don’t want to,” Benny Andersson told the BBC, “and if I don’t want to, the others won’t.

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ABBA legend Björn Ulvaeus has married for a third time at the age of 79 with former Bake Off star Sandi Toksvig officiating the wedding.

ABBA singer Björn Ulvaeus has married his partner Christina Sas in a ceremony officiated by the comedian and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig.Ulvaeus, who has been married twice before, met Sas in Nuremberg, Germany, in 2021 in connection with the release of his band’s last album ‘Voyage’.“Today on the 21st of September 2024, Björn Ulvaeus married Christina Sas from Herning, Denmark,” a post on his Instagram page said on the day of the wedding.“They met in Nürnberg in 2021 in connection with the release of Abba’s last album Voyage and started dating in the spring of 2022.”A post shared by Björn Ulvaeus (@bjornulvaeus)The wedding took place in Copenhagen in the presence of close friends and family.Ulvaeus posted a number of photos from the day, one of which showed the host of BBC show QI, Toksvig, dressed in red robes standing next to Ulvaeus and his wife Sas.Representatives for the singer confirmed to PA (via The Guardian) that Toksvig had officiated the ceremony.ABBA originally comprised two couples – Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog, and Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Fältskog and Ulvaeus, who married in 1971, divorced in 1980, while Andersson and Lyngstad divorced in 1981 – a year before the band split.

ABBA reunited for an appearance at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, where they were given the Royal Vasa Order, a Swedish knighthood.All four members – Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Benny Andersson – were in attendance last Friday (May 31) at the country’s Royal Palace, accepting the honour from King Carl XVI Gustaf for their “very distinguished contributions within Swedish and international music life.”Per The Associated Press, the Royal Vasa Order is one of the most prestigious knighthoods in the country, and it was handed out for the first time in almost 50 years.The knighthoods were awarded during a solemn ceremony at the Royal Palace’s Vita Havet Assembly Rooms. The monarch handed them the order in a red box while a diploma was given to them by Queen Silvia.”The order you get today is Sweden’s thanks for your exceptional efforts,” the monarch said, as reported by The Associated Press.ABBA have not performed live together since 1982, although they have made sporadic public appearances together – including the unveiling of their ABBA Voyage show in 2022.Last Monday (May 27), Ulvaeus and Andersson participated in a Q&A session on a night that celebrated the second anniversary of ABBA Voyage.The two ABBA members entertained the idea of the Voyage live band performing at Glastonbury.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic ABBA fans had not necessarily expected to see the group together again after previous statements that they had no further plans to reunite after recording a 2021 comeback album. But the prospect of being knighted brought all four members back together again Friday in their native Sweden, as they showed up at the royal palace in Stockholm to be honored by the king and queen.

The members of ABBA had a rare reunion Friday to receive one of Sweden’s highest honors at the royal palace in Stockholm.

One of the biggest bands in pop music have reunited, more than 40 years since their last performance.The four members of ABBA gathered together to receive knighthoods in Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf. Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad became Commander of the First Class of the order for "very outstanding efforts in Swedish and international music life".

ABBA have teased the one way they might be able to appear at Glastonbury, as well as discussing their career highlights, heroes and songs they wish they’d written.To celebrate the second anniversary of their ABBA Voyage show last night (May 27), Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson took part in a special Q&A with writer Peter Paphides in front of an arena full of ticket-holders and celebrity fans.At one point, Paphides shared a story told to him by Glasto organiser Emily Eavis.“[She] told me that in the lead-up to last year’s festival, when things were going wrong and she wasn’t sure if it was going to be OK, she would play, [2021 single] ‘I Still Have Faith In You’, and it made it feel like it might just turn out OK.”While the technology of the ‘ABBA-tars’ and the custom-made ABBA Arena is too complicated to take the show to a festival, Ulvaeus and Andersson were open to the idea of the Voyage live band making at appearance at Worthy Farm.“Oh yes! It’s a brilliant idea,” said Ulvaeus.” They’re a great band, why shouldn’t they play?”When Texas‘ Sharleen Spiteri then took the mic to ask the songwriting duo if they’d ever considered getting up on stage to play with the band during a Voyage show, Andersson replied: “Definitely. Maybe if they play Glastonbury and need an extra piano player…”Speaking to NME last year about taking the full ABBA Voyage experience to Glasto, Ulvaeus said: “I don’t think that’s possible, yet.

It's nearly been a whole five decades since ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest with one of their biggest hits of all time.

Speculation is building over whether ABBA will take to the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest later this week.This year marks the 50th anniversary of Sweden having won the contest for the first time back in 1974, when the country was represented by ABBA and the event was hosted by the UK in Brighton. Now, rumours have been circulating that the iconic band could reunite for the contest on Saturday, 11 May – where Olly Alexander will represent the UK with his song, Dizzy, despite dividing audiences during the semi-finals this week.

ABBA has issued a rare message to their fans as they mark the 50th anniversary of their Eurovision Song Contest win.

ABBA fans the world over yesterday celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Swedish supergroup’s Eurovision victory in 1974, and one crowd were treated to a surprise appearance by band member Bjorn Ulvaeus.

ABBA have marked the 50th anniversary of their Eurovision win with ‘Waterloo’ in a new statement today (April 6).50 years ago today, the Swedish icons, made up of Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad, won Eurovision after performing in the final of the competition at the Brighton Dome. In 2005, the track was chosen as the best song in Eurovision’s history as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the contest.In a new statement marking the historic occasion, the band said: “It’s slightly dizzying and deeply humbling to think that millions of you who saw us for the first time in the Eurovision final 1974 have passed our music on not only to one generation, but to several.“We see evidence of that every time one of us visits ABBA Voyage in London and it’s because of this we can celebrate the 50th Anniversary of that event in the knowledge that our songs still resonate around the world.”To further mark the occasion, Andersson has recorded a short piano piece called the ‘Piano Moment’ that will be experienced as if he were at the competition and playing live.

ABBA have announced details of a 50th-anniversary reissue of their iconic album ‘Waterloo’. Find more information below.The reissue of the band’s sophomore album comes to mark 50 years after the now-legendary Swedish band had their international breakthrough in the Eurovision Song Contest.The moment saw the members – Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad – change the world of pop music forever, when they entered the stage at The Dome in Brighton on April 6, 1974, dressed in their shiny glam-rock costumes.Set for release on April 5 via Polar Music International, the ‘Waterloo’ anniversary reissue arrives as a half-speed mastered 45RPM 2LP Vinyl, along with a limited edition box set of the three vinyl singles originally released in 1974.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Few artists have ever fused pop and dance music as fluidly as ABBA, and their influence is writ subtly but large on Dua Lipa’s new single “Training Season” — previewed during her performance at the Grammy Awards earlier this month — the second from her still untitled forthcoming third album. Driving but not as in-your-face as its predecessor “Houdini,” the song struts along on a powerful disco beat, with a melody that swerves into almost Middle-Eastern scales, reminiscent of ABBA’s biggest disco hit, 1978’s “Voulez-Vous.” While the influence there is subtle, it’s unmistakable, and is driven home later in the song with piano flourishes that recalls ABBA keyboardist Benny Andersson’s on many of the group’s hits, most famously “Dancing Queen.” It’s the best kind of tribute: nothing overt, but a sly, fun wink for fans who notice it.

Annika Pham Hot Swedish helmer of Georgian descent Levan Akin is due to kickstart Berlin’s Panorama Feb. 15 with his feature drama “Crossing.” Nine years earlier, he walked the Berlinale red carpet with his youth sci-fi “The Circle,” showcased at Generation. Next to him were his Swedish producers of RMV Film – ABBA’s Benny Andersson and his son Ludvig Andersson.

ABBA reunion ahead of one of the band’s upcoming milestones.The singer was speaking in an interview when she seemed to hint that there may be some potential ABBA announcements on the horizon – particularly with the group celebrating the 50th anniversary of their Eurovision win.Reflecting on her time in the band alongside Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad during a discussion with The Sun (via Daily Mail), it seemed as if something may be in the works to bring their concerts back.“You never know anything about ABBA and when we’re going to…’ Fältskog said, trailing off and quickly adding: ‘Well, I won’t say anything about that. I’d rather be quiet.”The comments also arose after the band were rumoured to be planning to perform at next year’s instalment of Eurovision, when the contest will return to their native country following the win of returning Swedish contestant Loreen earlier this year.The hints dropped by Fältskog also come on the heels of her recent single ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’, her first new solo music in 10 years.The single is taken from her upcoming album ‘A+’, a revisited version of 2013’s record, ‘A’.Set for release on October 13, the singer explained her reasons for revisiting the record in a letter to fans, writing: “I have lots of fond memories from making that album, so I couldn’t help but smile, time flies…”“Suddenly it hit me, what would the album sound like if we had made it today…? I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” she added.

ABBA: The Movie – Fan Event is set to return to cinemas for two nights only on September 17 and 19.Directed by the Swedish director Lasse Hallström and starring Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog, the film goes behind the scenes of the band’s highly successful tour of Australia in 1977. An official description reads: “The film weaves a captivating mockumentary-style subplot into the narrative.

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ABBA have denied rumours that they will reunite for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in their native Sweden, on what would be the 50th anniversary of them winning the contest with Waterloo.