Lasse Wellander joined Abba in the 1970s, playing electric guitar on songs including Voulez Vous and Take A Chance On Me, and touring with the band.

Abba members have paid tribute to their longtime guitarist Lasse Wellander following his death at the age of 70.

Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad said in a statement, “Lasse was a devoted friend, a witty individual, and an exceptional guitarist.

“His creative input in the recording studio and his rock-solid guitar work on stage were of immense importance.”

“We mourn his tragic and premature death and remember his kind words, sense of humor, smiling face, and musical brilliance. He was an integral part of the Abba story.” He will be missed terribly and never forgotten.”

According to his family, Wellander passed away on Friday “surrounded by his loved ones” after the spread of his illness.

They added, translated from Swedish, “You were an incredible musician and as modest as they come. But above all you were a lovely husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather.

“Kind, secure, compassionate, and loving… and so much more that cannot be put into words.

“You were the centre of our lives, and it’s unfathomable that we must now continue on without you.”

He joined the band in 1975 and played guitar on several Abba songs, including Voulez Vous, Take A Chance On Me, and Knowing Me, Knowing You.

Wellander performed on Abba’s 2021 comeback album Voyage and helped compose Mamma Mia’s cinematic soundtrack.

The musician’s last solo album was 2006’s Simple Ticket.

He has also received a number of accolades, including the Royal Swedish Academy of Music’s Albin Hagstrom Memorial Award in 2005 and the Swedish Musicians’ Union’s special prize in 2018.