"I worked with Stikkan and Polar for 25 years. He was huge, he gave me self confidence and he was generous. My big memory of Stikkan will simply be all the things he taught me during the years."
"I have mostly childhood memories of Stikkan. I was with during ABBA's tours in Australia and USA and then we also shared a place in the country for a while. Stikkan lived with the music 100%, he was like a motor getting everything done."
"He was a very energetic and goal conscious man. Sure, ABBA had good songs, but Stikkan meant very much for them, amongst other things the launch abroad. He has meant very much for Swedish music. My thoughts goes to his wife and children."
"Stikkan has done almost all the schlager lyrics that people know of. Like mine 'Greven Av Luxemburg'. And it was also he who made ABBA to ABBA. He dies much too young."
"I remember a meeting with him at a "Chess" concert. I had to do a very quick replacement of Barbara Dickson. Afterwards Stikkan said that that was the most intelligent he had seen. I will never forget that."
"I got to follow him from the start and I have been really impressed by Stikkan's devotion to his work. And I admire his glow, knowledge and kindness. Stikkan was comfortable to deal with, I met him personally many times."
"I met Stikkan for the first time in the early 50's. He sent me a song called 'Tivedshambo' and I helped him to release it on a record. I remember Stikkan as an honest man, a little square, but honest."
"I am very sad today. Stikkan meant very much to me. He was the one who discovered me. Stikkan was very professional and very good."
"Stikkan was a tough boss who always knew what he wanted. He fought hard to give pop and schlager a better reputation. It really honours him."
"To Ted and me Stikkan was like the father of music. Without him we wouldn't have been anything. When we were at Polar we were all like one big family... I don't know what to say more, I'm shocked after hearing the news"
"My god, I was at his home a couple of days ago! What should I say...? To me and my career Stikkan has meant very much. His songs are still those that people are for most and he was the biggest in the business of his time."
"When Stikkan has now suddenly left our society a gap is created after a wonderful person, who was one of the pioneers when it came to marketing over the wide world. He had a huge heart - a humanist- in the words most positive way. We should all be thankful for the Polar Music Prize. To me, as a receiver of the price and as an old friend and admirer of Stikkan, this is a day of sorrow. But we will all remember him for his contributions to a brighter music society."
"What has happened is deeply tragic. Stikkan Anderson meant very much for be both as a person and as a mentor. Today I feel for his wife Gudrun and the children."
"My wife is very sad and shocked. Anni-Frid needs time to work this through"
Görel Hanser became Stikkan's secretary - that changed her life.
Stikkan Anderson changed Görel Hanser's life. 28 years ago she became his secretary. It ended with her being vice president in his record company and a millionaire.
- Everything I know have I learned from him, she says.
Görel Hanser met Stikkan Anderson the first time in 1969. She had applied to a job after reading an ad in Dagens Nyheter: "Music publisher seeks secretary with good English skills."
That became the start of an exciting career. Her plan was to study at the university and then become a teacher, but she wanted to get some work experience first. Stikkan soon realised how effective she was.
- He let me "come through" in the job like bosses rarely do. Together with him I came to learn everything, he was very generous, Görel says today.
Polar Music grew rapidly with ABBA:s enormous success in the 70's, and Görel got more and bigger responsibility. She became the one Stikkan and the members of ABBA revolved around. She kept track of recording sessions, interviews, timetables and ticket sales.
Finally she became vice president of Polar Music. In the middle of the 80's she started her own company and now she works with Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson with their project "Kristina Från Duvemåla".
Yesterday Stikkan Anderson passed away very suddenly in his home on Östermalm in Stockholm.
When the ambulance personal and the daughter Marie arrived to the scene it was already over.
- It came as a shock, but it was nice that dad got to die at home, Marie Ledin says to Aftonbladet.
Marie Ledin says that she talked one the phone with her father as late as yesterday morning, and that he at that time showed no sign at all of illness, everything was as usual.
He was also to meet with a friend yesterday at noon.
- Ten to twelve a friend called form dad's apartment and said I had to come there immediately, Marie tells.
- Although I was there very quickly I didn't get the chance to speak to him...
The ambulance personnel who could only confirm that Stikkan had passed away, told Marie that it was probably a serious heart attack.
- It feels so strange, because dad had never had any problems with his heart. He had a little hard time walking but he was in perfect health otherwise.
- But even if it is a terrible shock for one when one is so totally unprepared I think that it was good for him that it all happened so fast.
- And I am thankful he dies at home...
Stikkan Anderson was the school teacher who appeared in the folkparks, sometimes as a singer. He was a very talented songwriter who became Stikkan with the entire country when he not only discovered, but also made sure ABBA became a world name in the business. With ABBA Stikkan created an empire and became one of the most potent persons in the Swedish music life.
- He was a legend to many and he actually was to me to, I have always admired my dad because he was so extremely good, whatever he did.
Marie and her brothers grew up in the beautiful house Ekarne on Djurgården in Stockholm. Celebrities from all over went on a pilgrimage there.
- It was always full of people at home when I was small, many happy parties, says Marie.
But about a year ago, Stikkan and his wife Gudrun decided the house of 750 square metres was to big for only the two of them, so they sold the dreamhouse and moved to an etageapartment in Östermalm.
Marie became daddy's companion in the music business already when she was 20 and she says herself she was daddy's little girl.
- He has supported me all through my life, even when I started my own record company he was the one who gave me advice.
Stikkan's wife (formally they're divorced, but they still lived together) was on a trip abroad.
- She is on her way home now and she is, of course, very shocked.
Yesterday Marie gathered the family around her to grieve and remember. And to take care of all the details that has to be done when a close one passes away.
- In these situations it's fantastically good to have brothers.
Stikkan became 66 years old. He left behind, except the daughter, 40, and her husband Tomas, the wife Gudrun the sons Anders, 31, and Lasse, 39, and five grandchildren.
He will be buried in a family grave on Djurgården in Stockholm, when is not yet decided.
- I am extremely proud that he was my father, says Marie.
- It is a tragedy, the music industry has lost a good person a leading force.
The ex-Beatle Paul McCartney was the first to receive Stikkan Anderson Polar Music Prize. In 1992 he got the award and a million kronor for his work within the popular music.
Stikkan Anderson's death caused very attention in England. The ex-ABBA manager has been written about in long necrologies in respected papers, amongst others Times and Telegraph.
Expressen spoke with Paul McCartney's spokesperson, Jeff Baker, yesterday who said the pop star had received the news with great sorrow. In a statement to Expressen Paul McCartney says:
- Stikkan Anderson was a source of inspiration to many. He was a strong force within the music industry.
The ex-Beatle couldn't come himself to Sweden to receive the Polar Music Prize, which Stikkan created by donating 42 million kronor.
But it's still obvious that Paul McCartney is very proud of the award.
- I was extremely honoured by receiving the Polar Music Prize, and I'm sure the "winners" after me have also experienced what an honour it is to be awarded this way.
Paul McCartney appreciates that the Polar Music Prize lives even after Stikkan Anderson's death.
- It is fitting that this wonderful prize is continued to be handed out. Not only to honour them who works with music, it will also be a way to honour the memory of Stikkan Anderson, McCartney says, and adds:
- In these days of sorrow and missing my thoughts goes first to his family.
Stikkan Anderson will be buried Friday 10th October in S:t Jacobs church in Stockholm.
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