Lasse Wellander FILE PHOTO: Lasse Wellander, ABBA's touring guitarist performs on stage at the Wembley Arena, London, England, on November 5th, 1979. Wellander died on April 7 at the age of 70. (Gus Stewart/Gus Stewart)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The guitarist for Swedish pop group ABBA has died.
Wellander’s family announced the musician’s death on Facebook, saying he died on Friday after a battle with cancer.
Wellander joined ABBA — which was made up of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog — in the mid-’70s and played on several of the group’s most well-known songs, including “Voulez Vous,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” Sky News reported.
When ABBA broke up, Wellander continued working with Andersson and Ulvaeus, CNN reported.
He also worked on the soundtrack for the film version of the Broadway musical “Mamma Mia!” and “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.”
ABBA released a statement on Wellander’s death, calling him a “dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist,” according to CNN.
“We mourn his tragic and premature death and remember the kind words, the sense of humour, the smiling face, the musical brilliance of the man who played such an integral role in the ABBA story. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten,” ABBA said.
Wellander also played with several bands throughout the ‘80s, including Low Budget Blues Band, Zkiffz, Little Mike and The Sweet Soul Music Band and Stockholm All Stars, CNN reported.
The guitarist also embarked on a solo career, releasing several studio albums, according to his official biography.
ABBA through the years 3rd April 1974: Swedish pop stars (clockwise, from bottom left), Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA at Brighton. (Photo by Steve Wood/Express/Getty Images) (Steve Wood/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years 6th April 1974: Swedish pop stars (from left), Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Faltskog of ABBA playing live on stage. (Photo by Reg Burkett/Express/Getty Images) (Reg Burkett/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years Swedish pop group ABBA win the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest at the Dome in Brighton, with their song 'Waterloo', UK, 6th April 1974. From left to right, the band are Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years circa 1974: Swedish pop group Abba arriving at London Airport. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years Swedish pop group Abba promote their single 'Waterloo' in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1974. (L-R) Björn Ulvaeus (Bjorn Ulvaeus), Agnetha Fältskog (Agnetha Faltskog), Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Keystone/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years Swedish songwriter and musician Björn Ulvaeus and Norwegian-Swedish singer, songwriter, and environmentalist Anni-Frid Lyngstad of pop group ABBA performs on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, 15th February 1977. (Photo by Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Frank Tewkesbury/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years Singers Agnetha Fältskog (left) and Anni-Frid Lyngstad performing with Swedish pop group Abba on their third, and final, tour, 1979. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Matt Green/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years Singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad and pianist Benny Andersson performing with Swedish pop group Abba on their third, and final, tour, 1979. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Matt Green/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years Swedish singer Agnetha Fältskog in concert with the pop group ABBA, 1979. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Matt Green/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years LONDON - APRIL 6: Freda Lyngstad of ABBA arrives at the fifth anniversary performance of "Mamma Mia!," a musical based on ABBA's hits at the Prince of Wales Theatre on April 6, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by David Westing/Getty Images) (David Westing/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years LAS VEGAS - FEBRUARY 13: Former ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad attends the premiere of "Mama Mia!" February 13, 2003 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images) (Scott Harrison/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years NEW YORK - JULY 16: Executive Producer/ABBA founding member Bjorn Ulvaeus (R) and his wife Lena Kallersjo attends the American premiere of "Mamma Mia!" at the Ziegfeld Theatre on July 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
ABBA through the years LONDON - JANUARY 26: Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Bjorn Ulvaeus of Abba arrive at the ABBAWORLD Exhibition World Premiere at Earls Court on January 26, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images) (Samir Hussein/Getty Images)