ABBA band members have paid tribute as a vital member of their success has sadly passed away.
Michael B. Tretow, the acclaimed sound engineer who played a crucial role in creating ABBA’s iconic sound, has died at the age of 80.
His wife and son confirmed the news to Swedish outlet Aftonbladet, and the band’s longtime manager Görel Hanser later verified it. While no official cause of death has been announced, tributes from those closest to him referenced a recent illness.
Tretow wasn’t just ABBA’s sound wizard—he was often considered the group’s unofficial fifth member.
Selected by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson in the 1970s, he engineered every ABBA album except their 2021 comeback Voyage, and also co-owned the group’s record label, Polar Music.
“You meant more to us four in ABBA than anyone else,” Benny Andersson told Aftonbladet in a moving statement. “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. You were a fantastic inspirer and joy-maker, and the finest sound engineer the world has ever seen,” he added, signing off with a personal inside joke: “I miss you. And I’ve saved all your coconuts!”
Björn Ulvaeus echoed that emotion, saying Tretow’s impact on ABBA “cannot be overestimated.” He remembered him as “a warm, generous person and a good friend” and thanked him for “all the laughs” they shared over the years.
Anni-Frid Lyngstad praised Tretow’s creative energy and calming studio presence. “No one fit the bill as well as you,” she said, adding: “For us, you are forever part of the ABBA sound and you will never be forgotten.”
Agnetha Fältskog shared a heartfelt reflection about their final moments together: “So glad I got to spend some time with you a few weeks ago… You were so sick, but your laughter and humor were still there.
“So many memories are preserved, your encouraging words during the recordings meant so much. We are sad now, a talented and unique person has left us. Sleep well Micke, you are in our hearts forever.”
Over the decades, fans had come to affectionately label Tretow the “fifth member of ABBA” for his role in sculpting their signature harmonies and clean, rich pop sound.
Following news of his death, tributes flooded social media. One user on X summed it up simply: “Without his brilliance, the Abba sound wouldn’t be what we know and love.”
Tretow is survived by his wife and son.