The A’s Were Married to the B’s: The Story of ABBA

Life Before ABBA

Before Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad became known to the world as ABBA, each one of them was already a Swedish pop singer. At the age of 18, Benny became a member of the Hep Stars, dubbed “the Swedish Beatles,” during the mid- to late- ‘60s. The group had 20 Top 20 hits and nine chart-toppers.

Björn Ulveus and Agnetha Fältskog 1969

Björn Ulveus and Agnetha Fältskog 1969. Photo By Ibl/Shutterstock

Benny met Björn, also 18, when the Hep Stars were playing at a party with Björn’s band, the Hootenanny Singers. The two men joined musical forces and started writing their own songs together. Eventually, the Hep Stars broke up due to the financial stress of making a movie (that was never released) as well as the typical reason that bands break up: The band members wanted to go their separate ways.