ABBA Guitarist, Lasse Wellander Dead at 70

ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander died on April 7 after a battle with cancer. He was 70.

Wellander’s family, Lena, Ludvig, and Andréas shared the news in a Facebook post.

“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,” the post read.

“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,” the continued.

They concluded the post with, “We love and miss you so much.”

Wellander began playing guitar in the ’60s in local bands. According to the ABBA website, Wellander joined the group Blues Quality. Following its split, he joined a backing band Nature. Through that, he met ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson.

In 1974, Wellander started recording with ABBA, consisting of Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and soon became their main guitarist. He toured with the group in 1975, 1977, 1979, and 1980 and continued to play with Benny and Bjorn following the breakup of the band.

According to the website, “He appeared on the Chess concept album, the two Gemini albums,  the 1993 Josefin Nilsson album, Shapes, and on the soundtracks to Mamma Mia! The Movie and its sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Lasse also played on the Agnetha Fältskog albums, Wrap Your Arms Around Me in 1983 and My Colouring Book in 2004.”

In addition, Wellander released seven solo albums, two of which appeared on the Top 40 album charts in the 1980s. He also released three singles, “O Come, All Ye Faithfull,” “Merry-Go-Round” and “Overdrive,” in 2022.

Photo by Gus Stewart/Redferns