ABBA drummer dies; neck cut by glass

MADRID, Spain - A former drummer for the Swedish pop band ABBA was found dead Sunday night with cuts to his neck in the garden of his house on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Police said yesterday that an autopsy showed that his death had been accidental.

A neighbor found the body of Ola Brunkert at his house in a coastal area outside the eastern town of Arta, a Civil Guard spokesman said.

He said an autopsy had been conducted that confirmed initial investigations. "It was an accident," he said.

The spokesman said Brunkert hit his head against a glass door in his dining room, shattering the glass and cutting himself in the neck. He managed to wrap a towel around his neck and left the house to seek help, but collapsed in the garden.

Brunkert had lived on the island for about 20 years. His wife, Inger, died less than a year ago, an Arta municipal official said.

ABBA band member Benny Anderson told the Swedish daily Expressen that he was sad to hear of the drummer's death. "It is tragic," he said.

According to ABBA's official Web site, Brunkert and bass player Rutger Gunnarsson were the only musicians to appear on all ABBA albums.

Brunkert, 62, played with ABBA on the group's first single, "People Need Love," and toured with the band in 1977, 1979 and 1980.

The group has not performed together since 1982, but continues to sell nearly 3 million records a year. *