Introduction
At 79, Björn Ulvaeus FINALLY Reveals The Dark Side of ABBA
After decades of global success, sold-out arenas, and millions of records sold, Björn Ulvaeus—one of the founding members of ABBA—has opened up like never before. Now 79 years old, the Swedish icon has revealed the hidden struggles that lay behind the glitter and glamour of ABBA’s rise to fame. In a recent candid interview, Björn admitted that while the world danced to their joyful tunes, the group was quietly battling emotional stress, personal heartbreaks, and intense pressure.
According to Björn, the dazzling world of ABBA was often a facade masking internal tensions. “People saw the sparkles, the costumes, and the smiles,” he shared. “But behind closed doors, we were just four people trying to hold ourselves together.” One of the major sources of tension was the collapse of both marriages within the band—Björn and Agnetha, and Benny and Anni-Frid. While the public adored them as a happy foursome, their personal lives were unraveling in front of the cameras.
Björn confessed that songwriting became a form of therapy. Many of their hits, including The Winner Takes It All, were deeply autobiographical. “It’s a painful song,” he said, “and even though Agnetha sang it, the lyrics were my way of processing our divorce.” Fans often wonder how the group managed to perform together while their relationships were crumbling. Björn admits it was one of the hardest parts of their journey.
The other major challenge was the sheer weight of fame. The group became prisoners of their own success. “We couldn’t go anywhere without being recognized. We were exhausted, constantly on the road, always working. We had everything—but at the same time, we were burning out.” He also revealed the pressures of maintaining the band’s image. “There was always pressure to smile, to pretend everything was perfect, even when it wasn’t.”
Björn also addressed the long-standing rumors of creative differences and emotional distance within the group. “There were moments when it didn’t feel like a band anymore—it felt like a business. We lost that sense of friendship for a while. And that was very painful.”
Despite the dark memories, Björn says he holds no bitterness. In fact, he believes that it was those very struggles that made ABBA’s music so powerful. “The pain, the heartbreak, the confusion—it’s all in the songs. Maybe that’s why people still feel them today.”
Now, in his late seventies, Björn has found peace with the past. “I’ve come to understand that our imperfections made ABBA real. We were never just a fairytale.” His revelation is a reminder that even behind the most beautiful melodies, there can be sorrow—and that honesty, in the end, is what truly connects us all.