Could Abba be ready for a one-off reunion?

(Reuters) - Swedish supergroup Abba may perform again nearly 30 years after they split, the former male members of the band hinted on Friday.

The group, one of the most successful in history, has enjoyed continued fame since breaking up in 1982, thanks to tribute bands mimicking their satin outfits and easy-listening music and lyrics.

They attracted new fans recently with the musical "Mamma Mia!" which was turned into a film.

But they have persistently shunned the chance to regroup, turning down as much as 1 billion dollars to tour again in 2000.

However Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus told The Times newspaper that an intimate one-off performance that could be screened around the world could be a possibility.

"Yeah, why not?" said Andersson, who now owns a farm where he breeds horses.

"I don't know if the girls sing anything any more," he added. "I know Frida was in the studio."

He added later: "It's not a bad idea, actually."

Ulvaeus said: "We could sing 'The Way Old Folks Do,'" in a reference to one of their "Super Trouper" album songs.

Observers have always thought too many barriers existed to the band reforming, including the reclusive lifestyle of the blonde female member Agnetha Faltskog.

Andersson and Ulvaeus have responded negatively in the past too. Two years ago Ulvaeus said: "We will never appear on stage again. There is no motivation to regroup. Money is not a factor and we would like people to remember us as we were -- young, exuberant, full of energy and ambition."

Lyngstad married a German prince and lives in the Swiss Alps. She is thought to be relatively amenable to a reunion, the newspaper said.

Ulvaeus and Andersson are currently promoting their musical "Kristina" which opens in London on April 14.

(Writing by Avril Ormsby; Editing by Steve Addison)

Source: Reuters

This was typical of the hundreds of stories that appeared on news websites, newspapers, even television and radio on 26 and 27 March 2010. The source of the hysteria was an interview with Benny and Björn by Pete Paphides that appeared in The Times (London) on 26 March 2010, headlined Abba to re-form? ‘Yeah, why not?’. The article starts with Benny joking about the inevitable reunion question. Later Paphides suggests "the idea of an intimate, one-off performance for invited guests and families, perhaps with a small orchestra, focusing on some of the more “mature” material from the later albums". Björn jokes that they could rename 'The Way Old Friends Do' as 'The Way Old Folks Do'. Benny replies “Yeah, why not?”, then goes on to say that he doesn't "know if the girls sing anything any more" and "It’s not a bad idea, actually". That's it, all fairly light-hearted and pretty much in jest.

The same day another story appeared in The Times headlined The Way Old Friends Do? Abba offer hope to new generation of fans with reunion hint. This article emphasises Björn and Benny's responses, but not the tone of the original article that made it apparent these were light-hearted passing comments and not a serious suggestion. This appears to be the story that's been picked up by wire services and new agencies and spread around the world.

Within hours The Telegraph (London) posted an article headlined ABBA: 'Reunion is never going to happen', quoting ABBA business associate and spokeswoman Görel Hanser “It’s simply not true. It was a passing comment Benny made, almost as a joke – nothing more than that. ... There is no prospect of ABBA getting back together – it’s never going to happen. I think the fans know that deep down but we’re sorry if we got anyone’s hopes up."

Just two weeks earlier when ABBA was inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York Frida said in her speech "We haven’t been a group, we haven’t performed or sung together for 28 years. We broke up in ’82 and I never think we will reunite again – it’s a bit too late for that." And on 4 March in a BBC interview the following exchange between Benny and Björn took place:

Question: Will you ever share a stage with the girls again, will ABBA reform?
Bjorn: No.
Benny: Why do we have to say no to a question all the time?
Bjorn: If we say yes but don't mean it then there will be headlines tomorrow.

A wonderful blog post titled Mamma Mia!: Abba Reunion Rumors Resurface makes sense of the recurring reunion stories.

Thanks icethesite and ABBA on TV for links and information.

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