ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson arrive in London ahead of making ‘historic’ announcement in which band is expected to announce new music

• The foursome said they would never reform despite their huge worldwide popularity, and reaching more than 400 million album sales over 50 years 
• The singers of Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All and Take a Chance on Me, said they will make an ‘historic’ announcement at 5.45pm UK time 
• The group – comprising Agnetha Fältskog, 71, Björn Ulvaeus, 76, Benny Andersson, 74, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 75 – split in 1982 

ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, 76, and Benny Andersson, 74, were seen arriving in London on Thursday ahead of making a ‘historic’ announcement regarding the band. 

The group – which is also features Agnetha Fältskog, 71, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 75 – are expected to announce new music on Thursday afternoon as part of a ‘sensational comeback’.

The foursome previously said they would never reform despite their huge worldwide popularity, and reaching more than 400 million album sales over 50 years. 

Touched down: ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus (left) and Benny Andersson were seen arriving in London on Thursday ahead of making a ‘historic’ announcement regarding the band

Looking forward to it! The group (Agnetha Faltskog, Benny, Bjorn and Anni-Frid Lyngstad) are expected to announce new music on Thursday afternoon as part of a ‘sensational comeback’

The band, who are as famous for their sparkly outfits as much as their catchy tunes, enjoyed phenomenal success with a string of chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s after winning Eurovision in 1974 with song Waterloo.

The group split in 1982 and have steadfastly resisted all offers to work together as the original line-up again.

However, later on Thursday they are expected to delight fans with news on a fresh new collaboration.

The singers of hits such as Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All and Take a Chance on Me, said they will make an ‘historic’ announcement at 5.45 pm UK time.

Blast from the past: It was previously reported the band are to put on a holographic show of their past hits, with the imagery being imagined above

While details are unknown, the group is expected to announce the release of their first new songs since the 1980s and the launch of a new theatrical show in which they will perform as hologram ‘Abbatars’.

Last week, the band announced on Twitter: ‘Thank you for waiting, the journey is about to begin.’

A website promises an ‘historic livestream’ and Universal Music Group was to hold an event at the ArcelorMittal Orbit observation tower in east London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  

They’re back! ABBA are set to break their 39-year hiatus as they will reportedly release brand new music (Bjorn Ulvaeus, back left, Benny Andersson, back right, Agnetha Faltskog, front left, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad pictured in 1974)

The Sun reported last week that the Dancing Queen hitmakers are gearing up to launch a show called Abba Voyage which will see holograms of their younger selves beamed on stage to perform their songs. 

A source said: ‘ABBA are finally making their comeback and plan to release their first new music in 39 years.’

The Abba Voyage will follow the group’s comeback and the creation of a purpose-built theatre in East London for their hologram show, reportedly set to open next month.

The insider added: ‘Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid will all be there on the opening night. And they will finally unveil their Abba-tars, which are like holograms of themselves.

‘The show will feature the Abba-tars performing and speaking to the audience. It will be like taking a step back in time for those watching.’

Comeback: The group is made up of Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (pictured together in 2016)

ABBA are said to have teamed up with Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller to bring the show to life.

Plans for the comeback have been in place since 2019 but were delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

It comes after reports surfaced last month that the group were set to hold a press conference in Stockholm, leading to a flurry of speculation that a huge announcement could be on the cards. 

The Swedish quartet announced in 2018 they were planning to record new tracks for the first time in 35 years, and it was confirmed last year that they have more songs than originally planned.

Show: According to The Sun, the Dancing Queen hitmakers are gearing up to launch a show called Abba Voyage which will see ‘ABBAtars’ of their younger selves beamed on stage to perform their songs 

Despite the news, ABBA have had to delay the releases, which includes I Still Have Faith In You and Don’t Shut Me Down, as well as their ABBAtar hologram tour.

Band member Bjorn Ulvaeus – who is joined by Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog and Frida Lyndstad in the chart-topping group – told journalist Geoff Lloyd as such.

Speaking on an episode of his podcast Reasons To Be Cheerful, the radio presenter explained: ‘I got to spend an hour with Bjorn Ulveaus from ABBA via Zoom. They’ve recorded five new songs.

‘They should have been out at the end of last year. They’re going to get these holograms out on tour.

Premise: The Abba Voyage will follow the group’s comeback and the creation of a purpose-built theatre in East London for their hologram show, reportedly set to open next month

‘Because of technical difficulties and the pandemic, it’s delayed things. But he promised me that the new ABBA music will be out in 2021.’

In a statement announcing the new songs, ABBA said at the time: ‘The decision to go ahead with the exciting ABBA avatar tour project had an unexpected consequence.

‘We all four felt that, after some 35 years, it could be fun to join forces again and go into the recording studio.’

Bjorn later explained the plans had been delayed until at least 2020 due to the complex technical nature of the show they are creating.

The Waterloo group went their separate ways in 1982 at the height of their career, and during their final years Bjorn divorced bandmate Agnetha whilst Benny and Frida split up, too.

They performed together for the first time in decades in 2016 at a private event, which marked the 50th anniversary of the first meeting between songwriters Bjorn and Benny.

Major announcement: The Swedish quartet announced in 2018 they were planning to record new tracks (pictured 1980)

Source: Read Full Article