On March 29, 2016, Avicii stunned fans worldwide by announcing via a heartfelt Facebook letter that he’d be stepping away from live performances by the end of the year. It was a bombshell moment for the EDM world, captured in one tweet by DJ Marshmello: “No matter what anyone says, Avicii will always be a legend in our world. He is one of the few who opened countless doors for the next generation.”
At just 26, Avicii - real name Tim Bergling - was a household name with a meteoric rise over the past five years. He’d become one of the few DJs to command over $200,000 for each one-to-two-hour set, starting with his breakthrough track "Levels" in 2011.
In his farewell message, he wrote of needing more time for “the person behind the artist.” But in later interviews, he admitted a harsher reality: his body could no longer withstand the all-night parties and frenetic lifestyle.
Avicii’s health battles began in January 2012, when he was hospitalized in New York with severe pancreatitis. He spent 11 days in the hospital and was advised to curb his drinking. The following year in Australia, he was hospitalized again and told he needed to remove his gallbladder. Avicii pushed through, though, focusing on finishing his album True, which shook up EDM in 2013.
Avicii's health was always a cause for concern.
Then came another health scare. In March 2014, he collapsed before his set at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami. The diagnosis was brutal: recurring pancreatitis, a burst appendix, and failing liver. This time, he agreed to the gallbladder surgery. But within weeks, he was back on a packed schedule.
Looking back, Avicii admitted, “I took a month off, but it wasn’t really a break. I was in the studio 12 hours a day and back on tour right after.” He added, “In this industry, it’s really hard to say ‘no’… you just want to play everything, everywhere.”
In the summer of 2014, a visibly exhausted Avicii continued his tour and high-profile appearances, including in Las Vegas. Deals with Coca-Cola and Ralph Lauren boosted his earnings to over $24 million that year. But his own health continued to suffer, despite his promises to “slow things down.”
Avicii in a photoshoot for Ralph Lauren.
Though Avicii wasn’t personally overseeing all his business ventures, his hectic life took its toll. During his peak years, he struggled with intense abdominal pain, largely due to his heavy drinking, as many noticed the connection to issues with his pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. EDM’s late nights and alcohol-fueled after-parties became inseparable from his life, especially as a self-professed introvert who drank to cope with stage anxiety.
Avicii was always more comfortable behind the scenes, preferring quiet spaces over the energy of the crowd. By 2016, he said to Billboard, “For me, this is something I have to do for my health… it wasn’t the shows or the music, it was always the other things around it that felt unnatural.”
In December 2014, he ended a relationship with model Racquel Bettencourt, and soon after, his channel went quiet. It wasn’t until May 2015 that it revived with his new song “Feeling Good”—a track and video that showcased Avicii finding solace in nature, far from the world of EDM. Here, he was simply Tim: climbing mountains, relaxing on beaches, and spending time with loved ones. It was a glimpse of the life he wanted all along.
Yet, he continued creating music, releasing the album Stories and even more hits. The workaholic producer recorded over 70 tracks, keeping his fans satisfied while he wrestled with his introverted nature and intense anxiety. Despite his celebrity, he was still the same shy bookworm who once answered fans’ questions on Quora and responded to their texts.
In March 2016, Avicii announced that he’d end his non-stop touring life, planning his final show for Ibiza in August. Although he hinted at occasional future performances, it was clear he’d chosen a different path. The music would go on, but the life of Tim Bergling needed room to breathe - something he’d already conveyed through “Feeling Good.”
Dung Le
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