Renowned Sound Engineer Michael B. Tretow Dies at 80: Tributes Pour in from ABBA Members and Fans
The music industry is in mourning following the death of Michael B. Tretow, the acclaimed sound engineer behind the iconic Swedish band ABBA. Tretow, who was 80 years old, passed away recently, with his son Rasmus Tretow and wife Malin Hertzman confirming the news to Swedish publication Aftonbladet, as reported by the Express.
Görel Hanser, ABBA’s manager, also confirmed the news. Although no cause of death has been released, it is understood that Tretow had been ill. As the news spread, members of ABBA paid tribute to the sound engineer, who played an instrumental role in shaping the band’s signature sound and was also a co-owner of the band’s record label and publishing company alongside the group and Stig Anderson.
Benny Andersson, a member of ABBA, told the Express that Tretow "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!"
Björn Ulvaeus, another member of the band, also paid a heartfelt tribute, saying, "His significance for ABBA cannot be overestimated. He was a warm, generous person and a good friend. Thanks, Micke, for all the laughs!" The Express reported that Anni-Frid Lyngstad remembered Tretow as "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, the fourth member of ABBA, shared her own memories of Tretow, 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." These tributes, as reported by the Express, demonstrate the significant impact Tretow had on the band and the music industry.
Fans of ABBA also took to social media to pay their respects to Tretow. One fan wrote on Facebook, "So sad…He Truly was the 5th Member of ABBA," while another commented, "Sad news. He was crucial in developing the Abba sound!" The Express reported that other fans shared their condolences, with one stating, "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."
Tretow began his career in the music industry in 1967, working at Metronome Studios in Stockholm. He later moved to GLN (Glenmark) studios for two years before joining ABBA’s Polar Studios in 1978. As reported by the Express, Tretow played a vital role in creating the distinctive "ABBA sound" and worked on all of the band’s albums, except their most recent release, Voyage, in 2021. Even after ABBA disbanded in the early 1980s, Tretow continued to work with Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson on various projects, including the Chess album, which featured the hit single I Know Him So Well.
Throughout his career, Tretow’s contributions to ABBA’s music were invaluable, and his legacy will live on through the band’s timeless hits. As the Express reported, Tretow’s passing has left a void in the music industry, but his impact on ABBA’s music and the countless fans around the world will never be forgotten.
