Lasse Wellander, ABBA’s regular guitarist, dies at the age of 70 after falling ill with cancer
- The Swedish musician has played on some of the iconic pop group’s biggest hits
- A statement released by Lasse’s family on Sunday read: ‘It is with indescribable sadness that we must announce that our beloved Lasse has passed away’
- Lasse had fallen ill with cancer that was spreading. He died on Good Friday
ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander has passed away at the age of 70.
The Swedish musician played on some of the iconic pop group’s biggest hits in the 1970s and 1980s.
He was also involved in their recent Voyager album, due out in 2021.
A statement released by 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.”
Farewell: ABBA’s longtime guitarist Lasse Wellander has passed away aged 70 after falling ill with cancer, his family has announced
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 – Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – 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 greatest hits of the iconic pop groups in the 1970s and 1980s (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)
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 Voyager.
The released contained 10 new songs from the band, which delighted fans.