ABBA Guitarist Lasse Wellander Dead at 70

Nicole Wert
·2 min read
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A statement was posted to his Facebook on Sunday, April 9.

Lasse Wellander has died. He was 70.

The long-term guitarist for Swedish pop group ABBA passed away on Friday, April 7, after a short battle with cancer, according to his family and band members. 

“It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our beloved Lasse has fallen asleep,” a statement that was posted to his Facebook page on Sunday, April 9, said. "Lasse recently fell ill in what turned out to be spread cancer and early on Good Friday he passed away, surrounded by his loved ones."

The statement continued: "You were an amazing musician and humble as few, but above all you were a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather. Kind, safe, caring and loving... and so much more, that cannot be described in words. A hub in our lives, and it's unbelievable that we now have to live on without you."

"We love and miss you so much. Lena, Ludvig and Andréas," the statement concluded.

ABBA also made a statement, per CNN, stating, "Lasse was a dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist. The importance of his creative input in the recording studio as well as his rock solid guitar work on stage was immense." 

"We mourn his tragic and premature death and remember the kind words, the sense of humour, the smiling face, and the musical brilliance of the man who played such an integral role in the ABBA story. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten," ABBA said.

The Swedish native began working with ABBA in October 1974 where he recorded the songs "Intermezzo No.1" and "Crazy World" with members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. He became the group's lead guitarist and toured with them in 1975, 1977, 1979, and 1980, according to the band's website. He appeared on several albums with ABBA including the soundtrack for the film Mama Mia! and Mama Mia! Here We Go Again.

Along with ABBA, Wellander played with several bands during the '80s including Low Budget Blues Band, Zkiffz, Little Mike and the Sweet Soul Music Band, and Stockholm All Stars. He released seven of his own studio albums, with two hitting the Top 40 album charts, according to his biography posted on ABBA's website.

In 2005, Wellander received the Albin Hagström Memorial Award from The Royal Swedish Academy of Music, and 13 years later, he was awarded the Swedish Musicians Union's prestigious special prize Studioräven Award for his work as a session musician.