Longtime ABBA guitarist dies

Longtime ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander, 70, has died after a short battle with cancer, his family has announced.

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The Swedish pop group paid tribute to their “dear friend, a funny guy and a great guitar player”.

“It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our beloved Lasse has passed away. He got sick recently and it turned out to be common cancer. He died in the early hours of Good Friday surrounded by his loved ones,” read a post on his Facebook page.

“You were an incredible and humble musician like few, but most of all you were a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather.”

“Lasse was a dear friend, a funny guy and a great guitar player,” ABBA said in a statement to CNN on Monday. “The importance of his creative input in the recording studio and his solid guitar work on stage was immense. We mourn and remember his tragic and untimely death. […] He played such an important role in ABBA history. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten.

Born in 1952, Wellander made his first collaboration with ABBA in October 1974. He later became lead guitarist on the band’s albums and toured with them for several years in 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1980.

CNN reports that he remained with the group even after they broke up in 1982.

He has collaborated with many musical groups.