Silke Jasso
It’s a sad day for ABBA fans. The family of ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander has announced the famous musician’s passing at the age of 70. Wellander, who was born in Sweden, lost his battle with cancer on Friday, April 7.
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Posting the news on Wellander’s official Facebook page, his family revealed, “It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our beloved Lasse has fallen asleep. 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.”
“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,” they continued.
Lasse Wellander Dead at 70
“We love and miss you so much,” the tribute, which was written by his family members, Lena, Ludvig and Andréas, ended.
Wellander began playing the guitar began during his childhood in the early 1960s, and he soon became a member of local bands in his hometown of Nora, Sweden. He later went on to record with ABBA in October 1974 for their hits “Intermezzo No.1” and “Crazy World.” He went on to become the main guitarist for the Eurovision-winning band and toured with them from 1975 to 1980, performing on several tours.
At the Atlantis Studio in Stockholm back in 2007, Wellander was part of the recording for the Mamma Mia soundtrack, which starred Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried. The film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical tells the story of a bride-to-be’s quest to find her real father, set to the music of ABBA.
“O Come, All Ye Faithful”
Aside from his music with ABBA, Wellander has released seven solo albums, two of which made it to the Top 40 album charts in the mid-1980s.
Wallander received several accolades for his work as a musician, being awarded the Albin Hagström Memorial Award by The Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 2015. In 2018, the Swedish Musicians Union honored him with the Studioräven Award.
In 2022, Wellander released three new singles: “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Merry-Go-Round,” and “Overdrive.”
Rest in peace.
