SiriusXM is saddened to listen to of the passing of Lasse Wellander, solo artist, award-winning session musician, and longtime ABBA guitarist. He died on April 7, 2023, after a brief battle with most cancers.
“It’s with indescribable unhappiness that we’ve to announce that our beloved Lasse has fallen asleep. Lasse not too long ago fell sick in what turned out to be unfold most cancers and early on Good Friday he handed away, surrounded by his family members,” his household shared on his Fb web page.
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“Lasse was an expensive pal, a enjoyable man and an excellent guitarist,” ABBA wrote in a Fb put up. “The significance of his artistic enter within the recording studio in addition to his rock stable guitar work on stage was immense. We mourn his tragic and untimely demise and bear in mind the sort phrases, the sense of humour, the smiling face, the musical brilliance of the person who performed such an integral position within the ABBA story. He can be deeply missed and by no means forgotten.”
Born in 1952 in Sweden, Lasse grew up within the village of Skrekarhyttan and commenced enjoying guitar at a younger age, impressed by The Beatles. He went on to change into one of the vital celebrated guitarists in Sweden’s historical past. His profession spanned over 5 many years as one of the vital continuously used Swedish session musicians. Lasse additionally launched seven of his personal studio albums.
His first ABBA session was in 1974, recording “Intermezzo No.1” and “Loopy World.” Lasse’s work will be heard on plenty of ABBA’s albums, together with the Mamma Mia! movies’ soundtracks and the band’s 2021 launch, Voyage. He toured with ABBA in 1975, 1977, 1979, and 1980.
All through his profession, he acquired quite a few accolades for his contributions to music, together with the Albin Hagström Memorial Award from The Royal Swedish Academy of Music and the Swedish Musicians Union’s Studioräven Award.
Lasse’s legacy will reside on via his timeless music and the numerous musicians he impressed over time.