Artist News Labels & Publishers

Music industry pays tribute to Avicii

By | Published on Monday 23 April 2018

Avicii

Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii, has died, aged 28. The producer and DJ, who retired from performing live two years ago, had been treated for a number of health issues in recent years. He had been on holiday with friends at the Muscat Hills Resort in Oman when he died. The cause of his death is yet to be determined, although police have reportedly ruled out any foul play.

His death was announced in a short statement by a PR representative on Friday evening, which stated: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii. He was found dead in Muscat, Oman, this Friday afternoon local time, 20 Apr. The family is devastated and we ask everyone to please respect their need for privacy in this difficult time. No further statements will be given”.

One of the biggest and most influential artists of the EDM boom, Avicii had solo number ones around with world, as well as collaborating with a variety of big name acts, including Coldplay and Madonna.

He retired from live performance in 2016 due to health concerns, in part caused by excessive drinking. In an interview with Rolling Stone last year, he said: “None of us today can fucking handle our emotions – most of us are running around being reactive. That’s why I had to stop touring, because I couldn’t read my emotions the right way”.

At the time of his death he was working on new music. In an interview with Variety this weekend, Geffen Records President Neil Jacobson said: “We were working on it and it was his best music in years, honestly. And I know because I [A&R’d] all of his albums. He was so inspired. He was so psyched. We had done a month of grinder sessions. We had to actually put end times on the sessions because Tim would just work for sixteen hours straight, which was his nature. You had to pull him out. Like, ‘Tim, come on. Go to bed. Get some rest’ … It’s just a tragedy. We have this incredible, magical music”.

As for what will now happen to that music, he said: “I have no idea. I’m going to sit down and talk to the family once everybody has a chance to take a breath. I’ve never actually had this happen with an artist I’ve worked with before and this closely. So, I don’t know. We’ll try to get some advice from the family and everybody’s going to put their heads together and try and do what we think Tim would want us to do”.

Bergling’s publisher Sony/ATV also put out a statement on Friday, saying: “We are mourning the incredibly sad loss of an exceptionally creative talent who we have been honoured and proud to represent as one of our songwriters for a number of years. Our thoughts are with his family at this time”.

Meanwhile, Bergling’s longtime manager and close confidant Ash Pournouri published a lengthy statement on Instagram. “We made undeniable history together, you an I”, he wrote. “Never for anything but creativity and to move the world. And we did move it. More than once. And you’re moving it still after you’re gone. But none of it was, or ever will be, worth your life ending too soon”.

Read our Avicii obituary here



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