From becoming a recluse to netting £100 MILLION – here’s what ABBA have been up to in the 35 years since their split
The quartet of Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad was one of the most successful pop acts of all time and yesterday announced they're reuniting
ABBA fans were Head Over Heels yesterday at the news the pop group are reuniting for the first time in 35 years.
The Swedish pop band have signed a multi-million pound deal with producer Simon Fuller for a major fan experience scheduled for 2018.
Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad set tongues wagging about a possible reunion back in January, when they posed for their first photo together since 1982 at the opening of a Mamma Mia-themed theatre restaurant in Sweden.
And in June, the Swedish pop legends lined up at a private party to perform for the first time since 1986.
While we're cock-a-hoop they're taking a chance on getting back together, it got us wondering what the famous quartet have been up to since we said Thank You For the Music.
The guys
Following ABBA going on 'an extended break', both Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson collaborated with Lion King lyricist Tim Rice to release Chess, featuring the famous track I Know Him So Well, sang by Barbara Dickson and Elaine Paige.
In May 1986, the musical premiered in London's West End and ran for nearly three years – though its Broadway stint lasted just two months.
The duo continued to work together and penned Swedish musical Kristina från Duvemåla which premiered in 1995 and ran for five years.
The pair also produced two English-language pop albums with Swedish duo Gemini in 1985 and 1987.
Both men were highly involved with the production of the musical Mamma Mia!, including the film version in 2008.
They even made a cameo appearance in the flick - Benny as a piano-playing fisherman in the Dancing Queen scene, and Björn as a Greek god playing a lyre during the closing credits.
Benny released his first solo album Klinga mina klockor (Ring My Bells) in 1987 under his own label, Mono Music.
This featured brand new material inspired by Swedish folk music – he followed it up with a second album called November 1989.
Benny continued to write music for other artists and films before forming his own band in 2001, Benny Anderssons Orkester (BAO), which released three successful albums in 2001, 2004 and 2007.
He released his third album, BAO 3, in October 2007 and spent an incredible 278 weeks between 2004 and 2009 in the Swedish Radio Svensktoppen charts with his song You Are My Man, sang by Helen Sjöholm.
Benny and Björn continue to write new music together while also pursuing solo projects.
Bjorn lives in Sweden with Lena, his wife of 35 years, and is believed to be worth at least £90million.
Benny’s the richest of the group - reportedly worth £100million.
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The girls - Agnetha Fältskog
Since the band abandoned a half-complete album in 1982, Agnetha has often hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Two broken marriages, a horrific road traffic accident in 1983, her mum’s suicide in 1994 and being targeted by stalkers caused her to step away from the limelight to the extent of becoming a recluse.
In June we reported how it was feared the “girl with the golden hair” may be happier at home scoffing muesli than returning to ABBA.
Agnetha pursued a successful solo career following the band’s unofficial split, recording a festive album with her then seven-year-old daughter Linda in 1980.
It went on to become one of the best-selling Swedish Christmas albums of all time.
In 1983 she released her first solo album Wrap Your Arms Around Me, which went platinum in Sweden – partly down to the number one hit The Heat is On.
Agnetha went on to produce two more solo albums, Eyes of a Woman and I Stand Alone before she temporarily ditched her music career and withdrew from life in the spotlight.
She divorced second husband Tomas in 1993.
In 1996 she released her autobiography, As I Am, and a compilation album featuring her solo hits along with some ABBA classics.
Agnetha made a successful comeback in 2004 with a 1960s cover album and released her most recent solo album, A, in 2013.
She admitted she completed singing lessons prior to recording A, as she felt "a bit rusty" in her throat.
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Like her fellow female bandmate, Anni-Frid also pursued a solo career, recording her first album Something’s Going On, which Phil Collins produced.
Her second solo collection Shine was her final studio album release for two years.
In 1992 she was chosen to be chairperson for a Swedish environmental organisation, which eventually led to her decision to start recording again.
She released Deep Breaths (Djupa andetag) towards the end of 1996 which reached number one in her home country.
She married Prince Heinrich Ruzzo Reuss von Plauen in 1992, but he died of lymphoma in 1999 aged just 49 – a year after she tragically lost her daughter Lise-Lotte in a car crash.
Anni-Frid reportedly inherited von Plauen's fortune and is thought to have £75million.
In 2004 she collaborated with former Deep Purple rocker Jon Lord on the track The Sun Will Shine Again and in 2005, Universal released the Frida Box Set, including the three-and-a-half hour documentary Frida – The DVD to mark her 60th birthday.
She continued to live a relatively low profile life in Switzerland with Henry Smith, 5th Viscount Hambleden, occasionally popping up at parties and charity functions.