Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
James Brinsford & Zara Woodcock

ABBA seen together in public for first time in 14 years in rare appearance on red carpet

The four members of ABBA have reunited for the first time in 14 years as they appeared on the red carpet at the new ABBA Arena in London’s Olympic Park.

Last year the Swedish band released their first album in 40 years with Voyage and now they are appearing live on stage via their unique ABBA-tars.

Bjorn Ulvaeus 77, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 76, Benny Andersson, 75, and Agnetha Faltskog, 72, have not been seen all together in public since their last live performance together, on Swedish TV, in 1986.

The band split in 1982, with their last public performance coming three years later on a Swedish version of This Is Your Life, which honoured their manager Stig Anderson.

ABBA are back! (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Benny was all about the summer theme as he rocked a super flowery coat to add a dash of colour to his black outfit.

Agnetha and Anni-Frid were going for similar colours in cream-coloured outfits. Agnetha wore a classy dress with a coat to keep warm.

Meanwhile, Anni-Frid sported a fashionable blazer and added sunglasses to complete the outfit.

Bjorn kept it simple in a white shirt and a navy blue suit.

It was as if no time has passed as the entire iconic group looked comfortable as they posed for photos.

ABBA back in the day (Redferns)

Get all the biggest showbiz news straight to your inbox. Sign up for the free Mirror Showbiz newsletter.

Their appearance comes after there was a blooper-free rehearsal for their show - ABBA Voyage - last week.

Through technical wizardry, Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid performed their first London concert in 43 years as “ABBA-tars”, looking just like they did back in the day.

Songs were pre-recorded, the band was live and the audience at the ABBA arena in Stratford, east London, lapped it up.

Local residents were invited to watch the dry run. And one fan summed up the mood perfectly, declaring: “Thank You for the Music.”

ABBA are putting on highly-anticipated concerts (COPYRIGHT UNKNOWN)
Bjorn said it was 'unbelievable' (Europa Press via Getty Images)

A few days ago, the group quietly even attended a show in London's Olympic Park.

“We were sitting away back in the darkness, so nobody saw us,” Bjorn said.

“Benny was there and Frida, we just looked at ourselves and thought, ‘What the hell is this. How did this happen?’”

“It was unbelievable,” Bjorn added. “For the time fans are in the arena, they believe we are real and are on stage. They’re at a concert with ABBA.

“We’re playing tricks with people’s minds and they’re willing to let us.”

ABBA performing via their avatars for ‘ABBA Voyage’ (PR)

He admitted he got emotional seeing his younger self, created with the help of George Lucas’s visual effects company.

“It was a special moment for me and my entire family who are coming over to watch."

Last year the band shocked the world by releasing their Voyage album, which topped the charts in 17 countries.

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.