The musician apparently died on Good Friday at the age of 70. He played with Abba, one of the most famous pop bands of all time, and other Swedish groups.
When producing an Abba -Albums: Leave Wellander in the background, third from the left
The longtime Abba guitarist died on Good Friday at the age of 70, as the Swedish newspaper “Göteborgs-Posten” reported on Sunday evening, citing information from the family. The relatives had previously announced on Wellander's Facebook page that the musician died as a result of cancer and fell asleep surrounded by his loved ones. “It is with indescribable sadness that we announce that our beloved Lasse has passed away. Lasse recently fell ill with cancer and died peacefully early on Good Friday surrounded by those closest to him,” they write.
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ABBA forever!
The end of the ABBA break
Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson had not worked together in the studio for almost 40 years. A new album, “Voyage”, was released in 2021 – it was a sensational comeback. From May 2022 they will be on display in an impressive show in London – as digital holograms.
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ABBA forever!
Winner with ABBA at the 1974 Grand Prix
ABBA's success story began with the song “Waterloo” at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Brighton in 1974. Together, the four triggered an “ABBAmania” in the eight years of their band's existence. To date, the band is estimated to have sold more than 380 million records.
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ABBA forever!
ABBA created world hits
A year before their ESC participation, ABBA failed with the song “Ring Ring” in the Swedish preselection. The joy of winning was all the greater with “Waterloo” written by Benny Andersson (on the left in the picture). Numerous other hits followed and continue to be played on the radio to this day, including “Dancing Queen”, “Money, Money, Money”, “Super Trouper” and “The Winner Takes It All”.
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ABBA forever!
ABBA concerts worldwide
In 1977 ABBA went on their first world tour with concerts in Europe and Australia, where they had many fans. In the same year “ABBA – The Movie” also celebrated its world premiere in Australia. The group later performed for a good cause, such as at the 1979 UN General Assembly in New York (photo). The proceeds from the “Chiquitita” performed there go to UNICEF to this day.
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ABBA forever!
ABBA have been on hiatus since 1982
What began so harmoniously in the 1970s – pop music written and performed by couples who were friends – began to crack in the early 80s. Frida and Benny divorced, and in 1982 the whole group split up or – in the words of the band – ABBA went “on hiatus”. A hiatus that's finally over since 2021, to the delight of fans.
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ABBA forever!
Productive despite “pause”
While Agnetha and Frida have now resumed their solo careers that started before ABBA, Benny and Björn continued to work together: they wrote the successful musical “Mamma Mia!”, which was also made into a film.
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ABBA forever!
ABBA Museum in Stockholm
Not many bands have their own place honoring them. ABBA yes. In 2013, in the presence of Frida and her two male bandmates, “ABBA – The Museum” opened in Stockholm with an interactive exhibition. The 3D holograms, which are to go on tour in 2022 as “ABBAtare”, can already be viewed there.
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ABBA forever!
The wax band members
ABBA are also available as three-dimensional wax figures in the Stockholm Museum. It also houses many of the eye-catching band costumes. The exhibition is also interactive because at some stations you can dance and sing along to the music of the band. Occasionally Frida, Björn, Benny or Agnetha should even call the “Ring-Ring” telephone and speak to the visitors.
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ABBA forever!
The “ABBAtars” are coming
In the fall of 2020 it transpired that the ABBA members were meeting in London for filming. It is now clear: It was about their tour, where not the group itself, but holograms of their former selves are on stage. A new technique makes it possible for the “ABBAtare” to perform at different locations at the same time.
Wellander worked with Abba from 1974
Wellander was the lead guitarist on all albums from October 1974. After splitting up with Abba, he continued to work with Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
Lasse Wellander was born in 1952 and began his professional career as a musician at the age of 16 in the band Peps & Blues Quality. Later he played with artists like Pugh Rogefeldt and Ted Gärdestad. According to the relatives, he was an outstanding musician, but above all “a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather and so much more that cannot be put into words”.
The hype surrounding ABBA – Kultur.21
Wellander has played on numerous tours with Abba
The four core members of the Swedish pop band Abba – these are Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni- Fried Lyngstad. On Wellander's death, they told British news agency PA: “We remember the kind words, sense of humour, smiling face and musical brilliance of the man who played such an important role in Abba's story. He will will be greatly missed and will never be forgotten.”
Wellander accompanied the four musicians on several albums and tours from the 1970s onwards. He also worked on the soundtracks of the “Mamma Mia” films.
so/hin (Göteborgs-Posten, dpa)