The Hep Stars are a Swedish rock band formed in Stockholm in 1963. During 1965–1966 the band was the most successful of contemporary 1960s Swedish pop groups performing in the English language. Outside the Nordic countries the band is best known as a launching point for the keyboard player, lead guitar and composer Benny Andersson, who went on to enjoy worldwide success with ABBA.
Hep Stars in 1965. Left to right: Janne Frisk, Benny Andersson, Lennart Hegland, Svenne Hedlund, Christer Pettersson
Hep Stars, 1967. Left to right, Pettersson, Hedlund, Andersson, Frisk, front Hegland
Göran Bror Benny Andersson is a Swedish musician, composer and producer best known as a member of the pop group ABBA and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia! For the 2008 film version of Mamma Mia! and its 2018 sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, he worked also as an executive producer. Since 2001, he has been active with his own band Benny Anderssons orkester.
Andersson in 2012
Andersson (second from left) with the Hep Stars in 1965
Andersson performing in 2006.
Anderson during the opening of ABBA The Museum in 2013