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".
