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SWEDISH SUPERSTAR AVICII, one of the world’s most successful DJs who died a week ago aged 28, “wanted peace” and “could not go on any longer”, his family said in an open letter today.
The musician, whose real name was Tim Bergling, was found dead on 20 April in Muscat, the capital of the Gulf sultanate Oman, where he had been on holiday with friends.
“He really struggled with thoughts about meaning, life, happiness,” his family wrote in the letter, seen by AFP.
“He could not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace,” they added.
A spokeswoman for the artist declined to confirm whether he had died by suicide.
A police source in Oman said his death was not considered to be suspicious, adding that the circumstances would remain confidential at the request of the family.
He had made no secret of his health problems, including pancreatitis, triggered in part by excessive drinking linked to his party lifestyle.
“Tim was not made for the business machine he found himself in; he was a sensitive guy who loved his fans but shunned the spotlight,” his family said.
Avicii’s retirement
In 2016, Avicii stunned fans by announcing his retirement when he was just 26, saying that he wanted to leave the high-flying electronic music lifestyle.
“When he stopped touring, he wanted to find a balance in life to be happy and be able to do what he loved most – music,” his family said.
His biggest hits included Wake Me Up, which went to number one across Europe in 2013 and featured the soul singer Aloe Blacc.
Avicii – who for years was one of the world’s most lucrative electronic musicians – in 2016 made number 12 on the list of top-paid DJs of Forbes magazine, which said he earned $14.5 million (€11.9 million) in the previous year.
“Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions,” his family said.
Avicii was among the first DJs to break through into the mainstream as electronic dance music grew over the past decade from nightclubs to Top 40 radio.
“An over-achieving perfectionist who travelled and worked hard at a pace that led to extreme stress,” his family said.
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Mental health is no joke.. If anyone’s feeling low or having thoughts of sucidide please please don’t be afraid to talk to someone, your not alone.. And if you suspect someone is servery depressed don’t be afraid to ask the question “have you ever felt sucididal?” sometimes that could save their life.
@Acedeuce: and don’t ask how I managed to spell suicidal as “sucididal”
@Acedeuce: I hope enough people read that. Daily edge is not news, it’s a gossip news website but this article contains facts about a young man presumably that took his own life. If anyone has nothing better to than comment negatively spend your time elsewhere. RIP and respects to his family and friends and fans and followers and everyone that knew you. A life too young lost due to stigma of mental health struggles again. Xxx
@Acedeuce: unbelievable how common it is these days. People suffering it should realise there in the same boat as man, many others
@Acedeuce: Great post. I hope people listen.
@Acedeuce: I’ve had friends who were very bad for a long time and they got help and got better. Depression is NOT hopeless and can be dealt with.
@Leisha: there’s help out there!!! Just talk or pick up the nearest phone!!!
@Leisha: I still to this day have friends that think suicide is selfish. Thankfully I was brought up to not have this viewpoint!!!!!!
What will Coláiste Lurgan do now
@Dara O’Brien: I don’t know really. Convert other artists songs into Irish maybe???
@An Observer2: is that what they were at? I thought they were just having a reunion of a late late toy show performance whilst humming gibberish and trying to be cool.
Learn something new every day I guess
@Dara O’Brien: they’ll find something else to bandwagon off
It is an inherently Godless and nihilistic industry so I can understand how he struggled to find meaning in such a life.
@Kieran Fallon:
Not sure what God has to do with it. There are many people who live happily with no God in their lives.
Depression is the culprit here. He was a very successful entertainer, loved by many and had the financial security to do what he wanted in life yet depression overshadowed it all
@Kieran Fallon: godlessness is the better option for all
@Tweety McTweeter: statistically speaking atheists are at a far greater risk of depression. These are just facts.
@Kieran Fallon: Well Kieran, I’d rather a depressing reality than a blissful lie anyday.
Not that being godless is depressing, by any means (in fact the idea of no afterlife gives everything on earth more meaning) – but even if it were, it’s not really the point, is it?
@Quentin Moriarty: ignorance is bliss
@Y U no spell good?: Hitler, Stalin and Mao were all atheists and responsible for the genocide of millions.
@Kieran Fallon: Technically true in studies… but these were only carried out in countries with majority religiousity (USA and UK), and one of the root causes is the isolation of, usually young, ex-believers caused by group religions who harass, ostracise and disown the individuals, leading to increased anxiety and stress. Maybe it is difficult to throw off superstition, but it is well worth it once you have supporting society around you, and you realise the massive value of the one life you have. So, y’know, “christians”, maybe go easy on the torment and we can make society fairer and keep young people alive.
@Dermot Lane: “Religious affiliation is associated with less suicidal behavior in depressed inpatients. After other factors were controlled, it was found that greater moral objections to suicide and lower aggression level in religiously affiliated subjects may function as protective factors against suicide attempts.”
https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.12.2303
@Kieran Fallon: Maybe if god existed he could have made his presence known and avoided this tragic loss of life? But no, I guess he’ll just continue to be a figment of your fairly banal imagination.
@Kieran Fallon: which proves there’s a study that for everything, different studies contradict each other all the time
@Kieran Fallon: im an atheist convert from a Catholic. As a Catholic I tried to commit suicide numerous times. As an atheist of 6 years not once. I still struggle with mental health issues but I have nothing to die for & everything to live for.
@Kieran Fallon: God puts meaning into my life, just saying xx
@Kieran Fallon: I think overall religion is responsible for more deaths than them 3 put together.
@Kieran Fallon: there’s no evidence Hitler was an atheist
@Kieran Fallon: making up bs to suit your narrative? I guess it’s not surprising coming from someone that believes a bearded guy lives in the clouds.
@Noj Nikrub: Read anything by Christopher Hitchens and be ignorant no more .
28 year old having to deal with pancreatitis and his inner demons , RIP
@Elvis King: not exactly 28 years now ..
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: Why?
@Elvis King: because I’m sure when he was a baby and up to a certain age he was happy without any illness or demons..
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: oh scrap that .. I misread your comment.
Sadly there is nothing new about a music star dying in their late 20s as a result of an illness brought on by excessive drinking and partying. Yes he made millions and lived the lavish life style for a few years, but what is it worth to him and his loved one now.
@Stipe Miocic: Good Luck against Cormier!
@The Dude: Thanks man :)
Rip .. watched his documentary last night .. he came across as a very genuine gentle soul constantly seeking happiness which I think he never found. A very talented artistic who is a huge loss to the world .
@the druid: the documentary is called Avicii: True Stories realeased on Netflix in 2017. Just checked – isn’t on Netflix anymore :-( might find it on YouTube.
@the druid: Avicii true stories it’s online
Probably had tinnitus too, which wouldn’t have helped things at all.
@Eugene: What?
@Bingobango: I fell asleep once, well woke up anyhow, beside the speakers in the rave tent at Glastonbury. Not my best ever move
Wow what a.loss of life
So sad.
Apparently he was trying to expose paedophilia in the music industry through his own music and was killed. Alternative theory
@Zossima: apparently you can say apparently before anything and it still means nothing. Apparently.
@Zossima: have you heard his music? Daftest comment of the day
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