Tim Bergling, better known by his stage name Avicii, was confirmed dead Friday afternoon by his publicist.
Tim Bergling, better known by his stage name Avicii, has been found dead at age 28, his publicist confirmed.
The Swedish-born DJ and producer behind the hit song "Levels" died Friday afternoon in Muscat, Oman, publicist Diana Baron said in a statement.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii,” Baron said. “The family is devastated and we ask everyone to please respect their need for privacy in this difficult time."
His death comes just days after his nomination for a Billboard Music Award for top Dance/Electronic Album for his EP “Avicii (01).” Also nominated for the title were The Chainsmokers, Calvin Harris, Kygo and ODESZA.
Bergling, who explained his stage moniker Avicii has Buddhist roots, rose to fame for his music in the last 10 years, and quickly hit the top of the international charts with his 2011 hit, "Levels," for which he earned his first Grammy nomination.
He quickly proved himself as a pioneer of electronic dance music (EDM) with his next Grammy nominated smash, "Sunshine," a 2012 collaboration with David Guetta. In the next several months, Bergling released hit after hit, including “Wake Me Up,” a song that reached the masses due to its country influences.
“That song became a huge hit and was a perfect example of who Avicii was as a musician and as a producer,” FuseTV Music Journalist Jeff Benjamin told InsideEdition.com. “Avicii didn’t take genres as something to hold him back, rather as something to play in and explore."
Bergling made history when he became the first DJ to play sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in 2012, and played on the main stages of renowned music festivals around the world like the Ultra Music Festival in Miami and Lollapalooza in Chicago.
The beloved DJ also became the subject of a line in fellow musician Mike Posner’s, "I Took a Pill in Ibiza."
During a final performance in Ibiza in 2016, Bergling announced his retirement from touring, citing issues with his health. He suffered from acute pancreatitis, partially due to his heavy drinking, and needed his gallbladder and appendix removed in 2014.
A letter to his fans following his announcement read: "I just feel happy. I feel free at this point […] This was obviously the hardest decision of my life so far. But so far it has paid off tremendously in terms of well-being for me. I'm happier than I have been in a very very long time. Stress-free more than I have been in a very long time.”
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