Introduction
At 78, ABBA’s Benny Andersson Opens Up About the Band’s Enduring Legacy
After decades of speculation, legendary musician Benny Andersson has finally spoken candidly about ABBA’s legacy — and confirmed what longtime fans have suspected all along.
Now 78 years old, Andersson remains as thoughtful and introspective as ever. In a recent interview, he reflected on the incredible journey that he, Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and Björn Ulvaeus have taken since ABBA first rose to global fame in the 1970s. But more importantly, he addressed the question fans have asked for years: Did ABBA ever truly say goodbye?
“We never really said it out loud back then,” Andersson admitted. “There was never a press conference, never a formal farewell. We just… stopped.” His words confirmed what many fans have long believed — that ABBA’s departure in the early 1980s wasn’t a clean break, but rather a quiet fading away.
Despite stepping back from the limelight, ABBA’s influence never disappeared. Their music continued to thrive through greatest hits compilations, the massive success of Mamma Mia! and its sequels, and the groundbreaking 2021 album Voyage, which saw the band reunited in the studio after nearly 40 years.
“People kept listening,” Benny said with a soft smile. “That’s the incredible thing. New generations discovered our songs, and suddenly, it didn’t matter that we hadn’t toured in decades. The music lived on.”
When asked whether he considers ABBA “finished” now, Andersson responded with characteristic honesty. “We’ve said what we needed to say, musically. Voyage was our way of giving something back, a final chapter of sorts. But is ABBA done in spirit? I don’t think so. As long as people are singing along, we’re still alive in some way.”
His comment struck a chord with fans who have long hoped for more, even as they accepted the group’s evolving journey. Unlike many bands that burn out or break apart in bitterness, ABBA quietly stepped aside, leaving behind a catalog of timeless music and a sense of mystery that only deepened their allure.
Today, Andersson is content. He spends most of his time composing, mentoring young artists, and enjoying the quiet moments of life. Still, he’s never far from his piano, and never far from the legacy he helped build.
“I’m proud,” he said simply. “Not just of the success, but of the fact that the music still means something to people. That’s all we ever wanted.”
At 78, Benny Andersson has finally said it out loud — ABBA never truly ended. They just let the music do the talking. And in that sense, they’ve never stopped.