R.I.P.

Filed under: Music Minute > R.I.P.

This weekend, Ola Brunkert, a former drummer for ABBA - the Swedish pop band from a few decades ago - was found dead. On Sunday evening, Brunkert was discovered by a neighbor in the garden of his home in Spain with cuts on his neck.

On Monday, police confirmed that an autopsy showed the death to be an accident.

Apparently Brunkert had hit his head against a glass door in his dining room. The impact shattered the glass, which caused him to cut his neck. Brunkert was able to wrap a towel around his neck, but when he left the house to get help, he collapsed in his garden.

Brunkert and a fellow bass player, were the only two musicians to appear on all the ABBA albums.

Benny Anderson, one of the original four members of ABBA, told the Swedish daily Expressen that he was sad to hear of the news of Brunkert's death.

Bjorn Ulvaeus, another of ABBA's original band members, said "I remember him as a good friend when we worked together in the mid-1970s. He was a very creative musician who contributed a lot when we toured together and worked in the studio."

No news on how Brunkert managed to hit his head against that glass sliding door in the first place, but our thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends.

We can hear the drums for you Ola!

    Posted: Mar 17, 2008 at 12:10 pm / Email this  »

    40 comments to “R.I.P.”

    1. kate says – reply to this


      1

      aw :[

    2. dm says – reply to this


      2

      what horrible news, rip

    3. Wow says – reply to this


      3

      Wow talk about a freak accident. Why didn't he just dial Spain's version of 911?

    4. katya says – reply to this


      4

      sad.

    5. SAM says – reply to this


      5

      FIRST FIRST FIRST.

    6. ding dong says – reply to this


      6

      what a loss. tremendous drummer. peace man…

    7. Oh noes! says – reply to this


      7

      WATERLOO!

    8. beck says – reply to this


      8

      1st!

    9. sarah little says – reply to this


      9

      so sad! loved that band!

    10. =] says – reply to this


      10

      so sad =[ your in my prayers!

    11. gijendoll says – reply to this


      11

      http://parisbff.com/people/gijendoll

    12. neosaturn says – reply to this


      12

      aw.. all I can say is:

      WELL THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC

      Rest in peace.

    13. Kylee says – reply to this


      13

      Can you say "murder"?

    14. Mama Mia! says – reply to this


      14

      My life is an ABBA song!

    15. buhbye! says – reply to this


      15

      I think I need to listen to ABBA now or see the musical Mamma Mia!

    16. Caroline says – reply to this


      16

      so sad!! Sweden have 3 big music band exports, ABBA, Roxette and Ace of base.
      Love them all!

      R.I.P.

    17. snotter says – reply to this


      17

      …Another drummer lost to a "bizzare gardening accident".

    18. x says – reply to this


      18

      omg thats terrible!:( what a sad way to die

    19. caroaber says – reply to this


      19

      What a shocking accident. It's terrible that he wasn't able to summon help. Must have severed an artery. I love ABBA's music, and I send my condolences to his friends and family. Those glass doors can be deceptive.

    20. Milla says – reply to this


      20

      "#3 - Wow says – reply to this

      Wow talk about a freak accident. Why didn't he just dial Spain's version of 911? "

      Spain..? Spain?!!! SWEDEN FFS.

      Anways, poor Ola :( I wonder what the girls of the band thinks abou tthis.

      RIP
      // a swede

    21. emelie says – reply to this


      21

      R.I.P.
      Thank you for the music Ola!

    22. Nancy says – reply to this


      22

      RIP

    23. R.I.P says – reply to this


      23

      R.I.P

    24. themilliondollarprofle says – reply to this


      24

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    25. lenka says – reply to this


      25

      Re: Milla

      Since he lived in Spain it makes more sense to call the Spanish 911…

      also a Swede

    26. missblue says – reply to this


      26

      oh no :(

    27. Obama bin Laden says – reply to this


      27

      ABBA = Greatest Band Ever!!

    28. Gaycause says – reply to this


      28

      Was he married to Brad Pitt?

    29. Missing the 70's says – reply to this


      29

      Poor Ola. He will be so missed. I used to just that bus they road around in and "I Think I Love You" was a great great song.

    30. Veronica says – reply to this


      30

      Re: Milla – If you read the post you'd seen he died in Spain, where he lived. "FFS" *rolls eyes*

      RIP Ola, I say thank you for the music.

      /also swede.

    31. jimmyjazz says – reply to this


      31

      SAD! ON A LIGHTER NOTE…."MAMA MIA" IS COMING OUT SOON….LOVE THOSE SPANDEX BOYS

    32. Hannah says – reply to this


      32

      AAAAAAAW perez I love you for posting these sweet and caring and kinda non-star-quality posts. that's really nice and human of you.
      and rest in peace ola.

    33. Jon says – reply to this


      33

      PEREZ HILTON'S GREAT MOMENTS IN 'PROFREADING' PART 365:
      "This weekend, Ola Brunkert, a former drummer for ABBA…"
      "Brunkert and a fellow bass player, were the only two musicians to appear on all the ABBA albums."
      Is he a fucking drummer or a bass player?
      Journalism is dead.
      love, Perez Hilton

    34. Carro says – reply to this


      34

      Re: Hannah

      I totally agree with you!

    35. vickthechick says – reply to this


      35

      [Tribute to the Tune of ABBA hit "FERNANDO"]
      Do not pity me Fernando
      For many years I played with ABBA
      Drumming for the band,
      I was richly paid Fernando!
      I had bright success and sparkling fun
      with drumsticks in my hand!

      And I’m not ashamed to say that ABBA pop sound
      was the greatest in the land!

      There was something in the air that night
      My glass door was not bright Fernando
      A bird like tragedy
      Is what happened to me Fernando
      Like a wren stuck in a church
      I could not leave
      Without walking into glass that night
      It’s unfair and unright
      Fernando…

    36. Yak says – reply to this


      36

      The drummer always dies. Just watch This Is Spinal Tap.

    37. BrittenFabulous says – reply to this


      37

      Tragic.

    38. jenbunny says – reply to this


      38

      uh, wow. i guess he must have come around the corner thinking it was open and just walked right through the fucker like in a movie. poor bastard, great tunes.

    39. Sim says – reply to this


      39

      I love ABBA!

    40. carro says – reply to this


      40

      Re: Milla – milla, if you read the whole story u will see that he lived in spain.