ABBA star fears group won't live to reunite again

ABBA star Björn Ulvaeus fears he may never reunite with his bandmates publicly again.

The 79-year-old music icon has enjoyed phenomenal global success in his band alongside Benny Andersson, 77, Agnetha Fältskog, 74, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 78.

The group recently reunited in Sweden to receive the Royal Vasa Order from King Carl XVI Gustaf of the Swedish royal family for their contribution to music.

And while the group were thrilled to receive the nod from their king, the band members had a sobering moment of realisation that there are far less days ahead of them than there are behind.

Opening up on the Rosebud podcast, Björn recalled to show host Gyles Brandreth, "We stood there quietly, accepting it out of the king's hand and him saying a few words. It was a very quiet and very elegant ceremony.

"All four of us of course were there. In public we see each other very rarely, and Frida said to me afterwards, 'This might be the last occasion'."

He added, "Very sad, and I thought about that afterwards, but we're not getting any younger."

ABBA released their debut single, People Need Love, in 1972 and went on to release a string of huge hit songs including Dancing Queen, Waterloo and Mamma Mia.

In November 2021, they released their ninth studio album, titled Voyage, which was unleashed an agonising 40 years after their prior record, 1981's The Visitors.

Fans can watch holographic versions of the band perform in London's smash live experience ABBA Voyage, but the group themselves have long ruled out ever performing again, and have insisted they will never release another album.