Benny Andersson (2017): Abba musicians don't want to see their band associated with »Partygate«
Photo: Daniel Reinhardt / picture alliance / Daniel Reinha
As a musician, you can't choose who listens to your own songs - which is probably one of the reasons why Abba musician Benny Andersson, 75, now felt it necessary to clarify that he did not see his band's name associated with the lockdown parties in London's seat of government want.
The media had previously described an allegedly illegal party in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official residence as an "Abba party" because songs by the Swedish group were allegedly played there at high volume.
'You can't call this an Abba party,' Andersson told the British PA news agency, adding: 'This is a Johnson party which happened to have some Abba music playing.
No Abba party.« Band colleague Björn Ulvaeus was also surprised: »I mean, wow.
Did they only play Abba's music?
Are you kidding?
They must have played something else as well,” said the 76-year-old.
Johnson has been under pressure for weeks because of the alleged rule violations at the seat of government.
The media dubbed the affair »Partygate«.
The police are now investigating twelve of the controversial events.
The Prime Minister has many critics in his own ranks and must fear that there could be a vote of no confidence against him in the coming weeks.
A first investigative report on the "Partygate" affair had accused those responsible at the British seat of government last week of serious misconduct in complying with rules.
According to the report, those responsible failed to adhere to the standards that were demanded not only by the government but by the entire population at the time of the corona lockdown.
bbr/dpa