ABBA have reunited in heartbreak as they joined forces to issue a tribute to one of the stars behind their music following the death of Michael B Tretow
ABBA have been left in mourning following the death of their sound engineer. The family of Michael B Tretow have confirmed he has passed away at the age of 80.
He was a giant in Swedish music and the sound engineer for ABBA as well as being a musician himself. All four members of the Eurovision legends have now issued rare statements, paying tribute to Michael.
Benny Andersson said: “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. You were a fantastic inspirer and joy-maker. And the finest sound engineer the world has ever seen. I miss you. And I’ve saved all your coconuts!”
Meanwhile, Bjorn Ulvaeus went on to add: “His significance for ABBA cannot be overestimated. He was a warm, generous person and a good friend. Thanks, Micke, for all the laughs!” In a statement issued to Aftonbladet, Anni-Frid Lyngstad said: “You were the security in our little studio bubble with your never-ending creativity, warmth and joy, and no one fit the bill as well as you! For us, you are forever part of the ABBA sound and you will never be forgotten!”
Agnetha Fältskog paid tribute, saying: “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.”
According to an article about his production style on the Mixdown website, ABBA tracks produced by Tretow included Ring-Ring, Waterloo, and Super Trouper, among many others. Something that was common through all those songs is the tom heavy drum mixing.
So as not to overpower the light and quaint vocal lines, Michael would only mic the toms and bass drums, believing that the cymbals overpower the rest of the arrangement. He also would capture the grand piano with three mics – C414 condensers – which was unusual at the time, and Michael became one of the first engineers to do so. The piano lines throughout ABBA’s music are some of the most iconic and the layering of these three lines giving a flare to songs like Mamma Mia, S.O.S, and Ring Ring.
The Swedish Herald which reported his death late on Tuesday night highlighted how when 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 then worked with all of Abba’s albums – except for “Voyage” from 2021 – and is considered to have created the classic Abba sound. His death is likely to mean the four Abba members are reunited again, although this time for very sad reasons, if they all attend his funeral.
They are rarely photographed together, although did all pose together in 2022 at the launch of their Abba voyage concert experience. Fans have also taken to social media to share their condolences, with one writing: “Oh no that is so sad, my sincere condolences to his family and friends, gosh he was so important in the creative world of Abba. Sad sad news.”
“So sad… He truly was the 5th Member of ABBA,” commented a second. A third went on to write: “Aww so sad… I really liked him when viewing ABBA videos, etc May God bless his family and friends.”
Michael is survived by his son Rasmus Tretow and his wife Malin Hertzman.
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