Tim Bergling, aka Avicii. Photo: Sean Eriksson

The taxing life of fame takes Swedish DJ Avicii at 28

He introduced a new sound that crossed dance music with southern roots country and had the world dancing to a new beat. Avicii was known the world over for his ability to bring people together. Today, we learned that the 28-year-old musician, producer and EDM DJ has died.

Avicii’s publicist announced that the artist was found dead in Muscat Oman, on Friday, April 20, Billboard magazine confirmed.

Thousands of people would gather to hear to him play at festivals and concert halls around the world. He had a talent for uniting people from different parts of the world and getting his fans to participate in large-scale interactive projects through his music.

He had a string of hits almost from the beginning of his career right up to last year with the song “Lonely Together” with British pop singer Rita Ora.

But Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, wasn’t in the music business for long. He started producing when he was only 16. He became known overnight with the progressive house hit “Le7els” (Levels) in 2011, followed by the dance-country, swing song “Wake Me Up” by Avicii ft. Aloe Blacc, which he unveiled at Ultra Music Festival Miami in 2013, and the second US single release “Hey Brother“.

He reached number 3 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs by 2012 and after only three years of performing he was number 2 on the Forbes Most Powerful Artists Under 30 list.

After the first album True came out the New York Times proclaimed Avicii “an artist carrying today — and tomorrow — on his shoulders.”

Bergling had played over 800 shows by 2015 and was suffering from stress, anxiety and physical illness.

He became one of the world’s highest grossing live music artists within a relatively short period of time, then suddenly shocked his fans with the news that he was going to quit doing live shows just 10 days after Ultra Miami. He stopped touring for eight months and came back to the stage at Ultra Miami in March 2016.

“I was having the time of my life,” Bergling can be heard saying in a film trailer. But, “It got to a point where it was just kind of too much.” Avicii: True Stories is a documentary about his life, written and directed by Levan Tsikurishvili (2017).

In the film’s trailer it says, “Exclusive to cinemas, Avicii’s last ever concert, Ushuaia-Ibiza August 2016.” The film looks at the rise of his career as an electronic music artist, his hiatus due to poor health and return to performing.

Avicii: True Stories – Official Trailer

“With Le7els everything just kind of took off,” he can be heard saying in the film.

Bergling admitted to partying excessively and did not look like he had recovered from his illness after his break, according to Billboard.

The magazine said, “Avicii’s health issues were known to the public for several years prior to his death. He suffered from acute pancreatitis, in part due to excessive drinking. In 2014, he canceled numerous shows in order to recover after having his gallbladder and appendix removed.”

In the film, we see footage of him indulging in a glass of wine on stage and from a large wine bottle, images of him sleeping on a couch, on a train while sitting up, staring into space, and as a patient working from his hospital bed.

Despite the fact that he frequently appeared in front of thousands of people, in the trailer he said he didn’t really like being the centre of attention. When someone pointed out to him that he was the centre of attention, he said, “That’s the thing. That’s what makes it so weird.”


What the fans said


jamiebuck-29341 on IMDB:

“As a big fan of Avicii, I didn’t know what he was going through
…Having loved and idolized Tim for nearly 8 years and seeing him live, i really didn’t know what he was going through. Shows what he had to go through with growing into a huge icon and the downsides of touring 24/7. This film has really made me understand why Tim has retired from live shows as doing over 850 shows in the space of 9 years is incredible. I highly recommend this film to any avicii fan or any music fans as it really does show what was happening behind the scenes of his personal life. I even took my mum (whom is at the age of 50, and doesn’t mind tims music) she enjoyed it. I really do hope this comes out on DVD, this needs to be seen and is a lesson in life in my opinion.”


therealericaann on Instagram: 
Feeling my way through the darkness, guided by a beatin heart ????????


Mon Mon on YouTube: 
You lived a life we all will remember. R.I.P Avicii ❤


Eddyilgranata on YouTube:

“Dear Avicii,

I Could be the One who Love you more
I know all about you, I could call you Hey Brother !
I’m Addicted to You , to your Music
You Make Me feel Happy and Free with your Songs
Always while I’m listening (to) you I’m Feeling Good
Every single Song reached an ever higher Level
But Now your Soul Fade into Darkness
Without You the EDM would never have been like this
The Days and The Nights will never be the same
Wake me up with your songs isn’t possible now
You can’t Lay Me Down in this way
I can only wait this sadly event pass, hoping For a Better Day
Now We All stay Lonley Together with your death
And we Waiting For Love , the Love you gave us with your Music.

Bye Tim, We Love You.”

by Cherryl Bird – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Twitter @ladycbird | Instagram @cherrylbird


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