agnetha faltskog biography

b. 1950
[swedish singer]

ABBA/Agnetha CDs/Vinyl added with photos and price guide

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20.01.12: biography

Born: April 5th, 1950, Jönköping, Sweden

Since Abba's glory days Agnetha Faltskog has led a reclusive life.

The band split in 1983 and after a string of unsuccessful love affairs, and a second failed marriage, the Swedish blonde bombshell retreated to a tiny island near Stockholm.

She lives there alone and regularly receives psychiatric counselling for a number of phobias including a fear of heights, crowds, flying, driving and open spaces.

But almost two decades away from the music industry and the trappings of fame is apparently enough for the 53-year old singer.

Agnetha is releasing her first album for 17 years - accompanied by a sultry new image. Called My Colouring Book, the CD features 14 covers of her 'favourite and most inspirational' artists and will be released in April on Warner Music.

She will also release a single, If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind, which was originally a hit for Cilla Black in 1969.

The comeback coincides with the 30th anniversary of Abba's victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in April 1974.

Their performance of Waterloo sparked a career which spanned most of the decade.

Abba sold 350 million albums worldwide and, at one point, became Sweden's most succesful export after Volvo.

In the UK alone, they had 23 hits - including eight number ones - between 1974 and 1983.

A Warner spokesman said: 'Agnetha's new CD will be one of our biggest releases this year.

'Last year, she decided she was ready to do an album of covers and we were delighted to release it. It's a big deal for us because she's a megastar - a name that everyone knows.

'She has such a distinctive voice that you know who is singing immediately. It really harks back to the days of Abba and will, hopefully, be a big success.'

Warner released Miss Faltskog's last solo album, Stand Alone, in 1987. It did not do well but her record label blamed lack of promotion.

Money is believed to be one reason behind Agnetha's decision to return to the spotlight.

Although her personal fortune after leaving the band was thought to be £4 million ($7.2 million US dollars), figures recently released in Sweden suggest she made just £30,000 ($54,000 US dollars) in 2002.

Agnetha split from her first husband, Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus in 1981 after having two children, Linda, now 31, and Christian, 25.

Her reclusive behaviour looks like changing with her new album's release.

A record industry source said: 'Agnetha has so far agreed to conduct interviews to promote this CD. An interview with Michael Parkinson has already been confirmed.'

what happened to frida?

agnetha

Aged 56 (2001), Anni-Frid Lyngstad lives in Switzerland. Last recorded an album in 1996 and spends most of her time campaigning for environmental causes. Second husband, a German Count, died two years ago. In 1977, she was united with the father she believed was dead, a former Nazi soldier.

Complete Frida Biography

what happened to bjorn?

agnetha

Aged 58 (2001), Bjorn Ulvaeus lives in Stockholm with second wife Lena and children Anna, 18, and Emma, 22. The family moved to the UK in 1984 but returned eight years later so Ulvaeus could resume working closely with Benny Andersson. They remain best friends.

what happened to benny?

agnetha

Aged 57, Benny Andersson lives with his wife and son on an island near Stockholm. Spends his days working on new music with Ulvaeus - they wrote the musicals Chess (with Sir Tim Rice) and Mamma Mia! - and running his own record label, Mono. Has just opened a small hotel.