‘He will be greatly missed and never forgotten’: ABBA pay tribute to their longtime guitarist Lasse Wellander after his death from cancer aged 70
- Last week it was announced that the musician had died after a battle with cancer
- The Swedish musician played on some of the pop group’s biggest hits in the ’70s and ’80s and he was also involved in their recent Voyage album
- On Monday, the band released a heartfelt statement lamenting the loss
ABBA has paid tribute to their longtime guitarist Lasse Wellander after he passed away last week at the age of 70.
The Swedish musician played on some of the iconic pop group’s biggest hits in the 1970s and 1980s, and he was also involved in their recent Voyage album, due out in 2021.
In a statement released Monday, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad said Lasse was a “best friend, a fun guy and a great guitarist who will be sorely missed.”
The grieving group wrote, “The importance of his creative input in the recording studio and his rock solid guitar work on stage was immense.
“We mourn his tragic and untimely death and remember the kind words, the sense of humour, the smiling face, the musical genius of the man who played such an integral part in the Abba story. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.”
Farewell: ABBA paid tribute to their longtime guitarist Lasse Wellander after he passed away last week at age 70
Born to perform: In a statement released on Monday, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad gushed that Lasse was a ‘best friend, a fun guy and a great guitarist who will be sorely missed’ (clockwise LR: Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad circa 1970)
A statement from Lasse’s family on Sunday read: ‘It is with indescribable sadness that we must announce that our beloved Lasse has passed away.
“Lasse recently fell ill with what turned out to be cancer that had spread, and died early on Good Friday surrounded by his loved ones.”
It concluded, “We love you and miss you so much.”
Lasse started playing the guitar as a child and joined local bands in Nora, Sweden, where he lived. He started recording with ABBA in October 1974, with their hits Intermezzo No.1 and Crazy World.
The guitarist was featured on 24 of the pop group’s recordings and on all eight of their albums.
He toured with the stars and performed to sold-out houses in 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1980.
He started collaborating with other Swedish artists when ABBA first broke up in 1982.
In 2008, he was hired to work on the Mamma Mia! movie soundtrack, with the movie starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried.
Lasse released his own solo album in 1981 and produced and released a further 11 albums in the following years.
Pop music: The Swedish musician played on some of the biggest hits of the iconic pop groups in the 70s and 80s (front LR: technician Michael Tretow, and ABBA stars Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson during the production of a new ABBA album in 1978 In the background studio musicians Rutger Gunnarsson, Ola Brunkert and Lasse Wellander)
Making music: Lasse is seen on stage with ABBA at the Empire Pool Wembley in London in November 1979
His last album was released in 2006, with the title translated into English as Simple Ticket.
Last year he also released the singles O Come, All Ye Faithfull, Merry-Go-Round and Overdrive.
In 2021 he was involved in the creation of ABBA’s most recent album Voyage.
The released contained 10 new songs from the band, which delighted fans.