ABBA lost its guitarist, Lasse Wellander, last Friday, who died at the age of 70 due to a recently diagnosed cancer. As reported by his own family on his official Facebook profile, he died in his sleep, accompanied by his loved ones. The veteran artist was part of the Swedish pop group since 1974, two years after it was founded. He also participated in the soundtrack of the film Oh mama! and its sequel Mamma Mia! Here we go again; and played for other artists such as Pugh Rogefeldt.
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“It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our dear Lasse has fallen asleep. He recently fell ill with what turned out to be cancer ”, his relatives published on their social networks. “You were an incredible and humble musician like few others, but above all you were a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather. Kind, confident, caring and loving…and so much more than words can describe. The center of our lives, and it’s amazing that we now have to live without you. We love you and miss you very much. Lena, Ludvig and Andréas”, they added.
Lasse began his career at the age of sixteen, as a member of the band Peps & Blues Quality between 1968 and 1970, at which time the group dissolved. Later they would unite again, under the name Nature, with Mats Ronander as singer and harmonica player. Together they played on the tour of Ted Gärdestad, who was the one who introduced him to two of the members of ABBA: the producer Benny Andersson and the composer Bjorn Ulvaeus. His first session with them was in October 1974, in which they recorded the songs Intermezzo No.1 y Crazy World. That same year, the quartet completed by Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog had a Eurovision with the theme Waterloo.
After the aforementioned recording, Lasse became the lead guitarist for the band, with whom he toured in 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1980. He also played on their album Voyagewhich marked the return of ABBA in 2021.
After hearing the news of his death, the group has also shared a statement: “Lasser was a dear friend, a very funny guy and an excellent guitarist. The importance of his creative input in the recording studio, as well as his solid guitar work on stage, was immense. We mourn his tragic and untimely death and remember the kind words, sense of humour, smiling face and musical brilliance of the man who played such a significant role in ABBA’s history. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten.” It is signed by its four vocalists: Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid ‘Frida’ Lyngstad.
Beyond his work with other Swedish artists, in the 1980s he played in the Little Mike and the Sweet Soul Music Band, the Stockholm All Stars, and the Low Budget Blues Band. Similarly, in the 80s and 90s he was part of the live orchestra at Melodifestivalen, the festival with which Sweden chooses its representatives for Eurovision every year. In 2004 he was a guitarist for the Vikings. During his career he also released seven solo albums, mainly instrumental, such as Full hand (1985) y Tweed (1987). Turn your version of the song Anthem del musical Chessachieved great popularity.
In 2005, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music awarded him the Albin Hagström Memorial Prize; and in 2018, the Swedish Musicians Association awarded him the Studioräven honorary award in recognition of his work as a studio musician.