ABBA’s Benny Andersson FINALLY CONFIRMS The Awful Truth — A Revelation Fans Weren’t Ready For
For decades, Benny Andersson, the musical genius behind ABBA, remained measured and composed in interviews. Rarely one to stir controversy, he chose to let the music speak for itself. But now, more than 40 years after ABBA first said goodbye, Benny has finally confirmed a painful truth that longtime fans have long suspected — and it’s more emotional than explosive.
This isn’t about scandal. It’s about heartbreak, fatigue, and the heavy cost of fame.
“We Were Falling Apart” — The Emotional Toll Behind the Music
In a candid interview with a Swedish radio outlet, Benny opened up about ABBA’s final years in the early 1980s, when the group — despite their shiny image and global hits — was slowly unraveling behind the scenes.
“We weren’t fighting,” Benny said quietly. “But we were falling apart. Emotionally. Creatively. As people.”
ABBA had conquered the world by then — but the cracks were growing deeper. Both Benny and Frida’s marriage and Björn and Agnetha’s relationship had ended in divorce. Though they kept working professionally, Benny admitted that the studio became a place of tension, not joy.
“Some days we didn’t speak much. Just came in, recorded, left. We were tired. And heartbroken.”
Behind the Smiles, There Was Silence
Throughout the early ’80s, fans saw smiling TV appearances and glossy music videos. But Benny confirms much of that was a performance of unity. In reality, the group was barely holding together.
“We were four people who had once loved each other,” he said. “Now we were just trying not to hurt each other more.”
The release of songs like “The Winner Takes It All” and “When All Is Said and Done” gave the public hints at deeper emotional wounds, but few realized how close to real life those lyrics were.
Benny now confirms: yes, those songs were autobiographical, and yes, they were often recorded through tears.
The “Awful Truth”: They Couldn’t Go On
When asked what the “awful truth” really was, Benny didn’t hesitate:
“The truth is: we didn’t stop because we wanted to. We stopped because we couldn’t continue.”
It wasn’t creative burnout or falling sales. It was emotional exhaustion. They loved the music, but the cost of pretending everything was fine had become too high.
“People saw four icons. But we were four people — and we were hurting.”
Why They Stayed Silent for So Long
So why didn’t they share this sooner? Benny says it was out of respect — for each other, and for the fans.
“We didn’t want the story of ABBA to end in bitterness. So we stayed quiet. Let the music carry the legacy instead of the pain.”
Only now, decades later, with time and healing, can he speak honestly.
The Bittersweet Beauty of “Voyage”
When ABBA returned in 2021 with new music and the digital concert “Voyage,” many fans saw it as a miracle — and it was. But Benny now reveals that it was also a kind of emotional closure.
“We didn’t want to rewrite history. We just wanted to finish it with love.”
It wasn’t about reliving the past — it was about honoring it, finally at peace with what was lost and what was gained.
A Painful Truth — But a Human One
The “awful truth” isn’t one of betrayal or scandal. It’s a reminder that behind the glamor of pop music, there are real people carrying real emotional weight.
For Benny Andersson, sharing that now isn’t about regret. It’s about recognition — and finally giving fans a glimpse into the complex, human side of a group whose music brought joy to millions, even as their hearts quietly broke behind the scenes.