Michael B Tretow, ABBA Sound Engineer, Dies at 80

Updated:

Published:

Michael B Tretow, ABBA Sound Engineer, Dies at 80
Photo: Tobias Röstlund/TT

Michael B Tretow, among other things celebrated as ABBA's sound engineer, is dead, confirms the family to Aftonbladet. "You meant more to us four in ABBA than anyone else", says Benny Andersson in a comment to the newspaper.

Michael B Tretow was a legend in Music Sweden, as a sound engineer to, among others, Abba and Ted Gärdestad. He was also a composer, musician, and artist. He became 80 years old.

Son Rasmus Tretow and his wife Malin Hertzman confirm the death for Aftonbladet. Even Görel Hanser, Abba's manager, confirms for the newspaper that she has been reached by the information.

"Can't be overstated"

Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson comment on Tretow's passing away.

”You meant more to us four in ABBA than anyone else. I hope and believe that you felt it throughout all the years that have passed since we worked (and continuously laughed) in the studio. Our music lives on, it seems, and you are the one who made it timeless”, says Benny Andersson in a comment, according to Aftonbladet.

”His significance for ABBA cannot be overestimated. He was a warm, generous person and a good friend. Thanks, Micke, for all the laughs!”, says Björn Ulvaeus to the newspaper.

All Albums

Even Anni-Frid Lyngstad comments on the message:

"For us, you are forever a part of the ABBA sound and you will never be forgotten!”, she says to Aftonbladet.

Even guitarist Janne Schaffer comments on his friend's passing away.

He personified the Swedish music miracle, he says to Ekot.

In the 1960s, Tretow was a sound engineer at Metronome Studio and in the 1970s, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson let him become Abba's sound engineer. He worked with all of Abba's albums – except for "Voyage" from 2021 – and is considered to have created the classic Abba sound.

Tretow was also a sound engineer on the "Chess" record and released songs like "Hubba hubba zoot zoot" and "The Incredible Machine".

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

EBU to Vote on Israel's Eurovision Participation Next Year

EBU to Vote on Israel's Eurovision Participation Next Year

Ticketmaster to Improve Ticket Price Transparency After Oasis Tour Complaints

Ticketmaster to Improve Ticket Price Transparency After Oasis Tour Complaints

Hans-Jacob Nilsson Wins Translation of the Year for Middlemarch

Hans-Jacob Nilsson Wins Translation of the Year for Middlemarch

Veronica Maggio's New Album "Sciura" to Be Released in Two Parts

Veronica Maggio's New Album "Sciura" to Be Released in Two Parts

Forza Horizon 6 Set in Japan Announced for PC and Xbox Next Year

Forza Horizon 6 Set in Japan Announced for PC and Xbox Next Year

Spotify Implements Measures to Combat AI-Generated Music

Spotify Implements Measures to Combat AI-Generated Music

Ebba Svensson Awarded Åke Andrén Art Scholarship

Ebba Svensson Awarded Åke Andrén Art Scholarship

Storm Halts Robinson TV Show Filming in the Philippines

Storm Halts Robinson TV Show Filming in the Philippines

Liberals Propose National Library for Banned Books at Royal Library

Liberals Propose National Library for Banned Books at Royal Library

Gothenburg Book Fair Opens Amid Gaza Controversy

Gothenburg Book Fair Opens Amid Gaza Controversy

British Folk and Jazz Musician Danny Thompson Dies at 86

British Folk and Jazz Musician Danny Thompson Dies at 86

Jessica Chastain Criticizes Apple TV+ for Delaying 'The Savant' Series

Jessica Chastain Criticizes Apple TV+ for Delaying 'The Savant' Series

News Agencies Urge Israel to Allow Journalists into Gaza

News Agencies Urge Israel to Allow Journalists into Gaza

Ukrainian Playwright Oksana Hrytsenko Explores War Collaborators

Ukrainian Playwright Oksana Hrytsenko Explores War Collaborators

Malin Åkerman on TV Hit The Hunting Wives: A Surreal Success

Malin Åkerman on TV Hit The Hunting Wives: A Surreal Success

Meet this year's Autumn Couples of Married at First Sight

Meet this year's Autumn Couples of Married at First Sight

Joakim Berg Wins Musikförläggarnas Honorary Award

Joakim Berg Wins Musikförläggarnas Honorary Award

Jimmy Kimmel Live Sees Triple Audience Increase on Return

Jimmy Kimmel Live Sees Triple Audience Increase on Return

Rihanna and Asap Rocky Welcome Third Child, a Daughter

Rihanna and Asap Rocky Welcome Third Child, a Daughter

Riksdag and Museum to Share Space with Mobile Exhibits Solution

Riksdag and Museum to Share Space with Mobile Exhibits Solution