
ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander has died aged 70 from metastatic cancer. He played with ABBA in the 1970s and 1980s and collaborated on the Swedish group's latest album, 2021's Voyage.
A statement released by Lasse's family on Sunday said: “It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our beloved Lasse has passed away. Lasse had recently been diagnosed with metastatic cancer and passed away early on Good Friday, surrounded by loved ones. He was a wonderful and humble musician, but most of all he was a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather. Kind, confident, loving and much more, that cannot be described in words. A turning point in our lives, and it's unbelievable that we now have to live without you. We love you and miss you very much."

Who was Lasse Wellander?
Lasse Wellander started playing guitar as a child and participated in bands in the area where he lived in Nora, Sweden. He began recording with ABBA – Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – in October 1974, appearing on their hits Intermezzo No.1 and Crazy World, the Daily Mail reports.
The guitarist took part in 24 of the pop group's recordings and appeared on all eight of their albums. It appeared before sales in 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1980.
He continued to collaborate with other Swedish artists after ABBA first disbanded in 1982. In 2008, he participated in the recording of the soundtrack for the film Mamma Mia, starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried, at Atlantis Studio in Stockholm.
In 1981, Lasse Wellander released his solo album, and in the following years he produced and released 11 more albums. His last album was released in 2006, with the title translated into English as 'Simple Ticket'. He also released the singles O Come, All Ye Faithfull, Merry-Go-Round and Overdrive.