Görel Hanser, the long-time manager and cherished friend of iconic Swedish pop group ABBA, has died at the age of 76. She spent decades at the heart of ABBA's world, guiding the group's affairs and becoming a trusted friend to all four members.
Band's Statement
While no official cause of death has been disclosed, the band released a joint statement across their social media platforms expressing their grief. The statement read: 'It is with deepest sorrow we announce the passing of Görel Hanser. We have lost our most loved friend and closest colleague. The loss is immeasurable. We ask that you respect our privacy in this time of grief.' The message also bore the signatures of all four band members: Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Frida Lyngstad.
Early Career
Born on June 21, 1949, near Skövde in Sweden, Hanser began what would become a lifelong career in the music industry in September 1969 after she joined Stig Anderson's publishing company Sweden Music and his record label Polar Music. During ABBA's meteoric rise, she became central to the group's story by managing the group's relationships with the several different record labels releasing their music around the globe.
Role and Friendship
As well as serving as their personal manager, she handled the press and accompanied them on tours and promotional trips across the world. In the process, she grew close to Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid, becoming not just their manager but a genuine friend. That affection was returned in one of the rarest treasures in all of ABBA lore. In 1979, the group, together with Stig Anderson, wrote and recorded Sång Till Görel as a gift for her 30th birthday, which was a humorous, loving ode to how everyone in the office needed Görel.
