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Abba Shoots Down Reunion Rumors

The four founding members of Abba—Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Faltskog—appeared at the Swedish premiere of Mama Mia! on Saturday, fueling speculation about their first public performance since 1986. Ulvaeus and Andersson denied any and all reunion rumors in a Sunday Telgraph story, however.

"We would like people to remember us as we were—young, exhuberant and full of ambition," Ulvaeus said. "I remember Robert Plant saying Led Zeppelin were a covers band now because they cover all their own stuff. I think that hit the nail on the head."

When the duo was asked about their input in Mama Mia! (it uses 22 of their songs), Andersson said Abba was closely involved with its film and Broadway versions.

"You don't just give songs away to anyone to do with what they want," he explained. "It would have been a disaster. We had the power of veto which meant we could have stopped it at any time." Abba disbanded in 1982, but never officially announced their breakup.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
07.07.08