Introduction
At 79 years old, Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA has opened up for the first time about the hidden struggles behind the group’s glittering fame. While ABBA appeared joyful and successful on the surface, Björn reveals a much darker reality—marked by pressure, heartbreak, silence, and emotional exhaustion.
After winning Eurovision in 1974, the group faced relentless expectations. Behind the scenes, they endured controlled public images, exhausting schedules, and emotional isolation. Personal relationships suffered—most notably, Björn and Agnetha’s painful divorce and later the breakup of Benny and Frida. The band continued performing love songs despite deep personal pain.
Björn also shares untold stories about mental health struggles, especially Agnetha’s anxiety during tours and his own post-ABBA depression. He describes the loneliness they all experienced, even while being adored worldwide. There was no space for healing—only pressure to keep performing.
Financial betrayal added to the group’s hardships. Poor investments and bad advisors caused massive losses, further straining their trust and emotional well-being. For years, the members barely spoke—not out of anger, but from distance and hurt.
In 2021, the band reunited for the Voyage album, an emotional experience filled with reflection, fear, and healing. Björn describes it as a chance to say goodbye properly and confront decades of buried pain.
He also recalls a time in the 1990s when ABBA’s legacy nearly faded completely—until younger generations rediscovered their music. That unexpected revival gave the group renewed purpose.
In the end, Björn emphasizes that ABBA’s biggest success wasn’t fame or money, but survival. “We weren’t legends—we were human,” he says. And now, after decades of silence, he finally tells the truth.