How did Avicii die?
DJ and music producer’s website turned into a digital memorial ahead of his birthday
Fans of the late Swedish DJ Avicii have been leaving online tributes to the star after his family turned his official website into a digital remembrance board, ahead of what would have been his birthday this Saturday.
They invited people to share their memories of the 28-year-old, real name Tim Bergling, who died on 20 April in Oman.
“Tim created music that brought people together with timeless memories from all over the world,” the website reads. “We created this space so you could share your memories with us and let the world know what Avicii meant to you. His music and your memories are forever.”
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Some fans have shared photographs of the DJ and music producer, while others have posted images of their own tattoos inspired by him, including a lyric from his song The Nights: “One day you’ll leave this world behind, so live a life you will remember.”
How did Avicii die?
He was found dead in the Omani capital of Muscat, in a farmhouse said to be owned by a relative of the country’s sultan.
Following two postmortems, police said there was “no criminal suspicion” in his death, reports CNN.
The DJ had previously spoken about his mental health struggles, and in a statement after his death, his family alluded to suicide: “Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions. An overachieving perfectionist who travelled and worked hard at a pace that led to extreme stress.
“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. He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace.”
What was he doing when he died?
Avicii was believed to be on holiday at the time. According to Rolling Stone magazine, he had worked with songwriter-producer Joe Janiak for several weeks at his LA home studio before leaving for Oman to visit royal friends. A day before he travelled, Avicii apparently told Janiak that he would see him again when back from his trip.
Janiak says that Avicii “seemed pumped”, adding: “You could tell he had spent a long time figuring out the puzzle, and he was trying to take charge of his life... That’s the shocking thing. He didn’t seem like a guy at the end of his days.”
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