Avicii Dead at 28

The superstar DJ was found dead in Oman today
Avicii posing
Tim Bergling aka Avicii, May 2014 (Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images for CBS Radio Inc.)

Swedish DJ and producer Avicii has died. He was 28. His publicist, Diana Baron, confirmed the news to Billboard in a statement that has also since been provided to Pitchfork. “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii,” it reads. “He was found dead in Muscat, Oman this Friday afternoon local time, April 20th. 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.” A cause of death has not been announced.

Bergling first came to prominence in the EDM scene in 2011, most notably with his hit song “Levels.” The Etta James-sampling progressive house anthem became a ubiquitous track as EDM exploded around the world. Avicii quickly became a mainstay on the festival circuit. He issued his debut album True in 2013, which featured the song “Wake Me Up!” featuring Aloe Blacc. The follow-up, Stories, was released in 2015.

In 2016, Avicii announced his retirement from live performance due to health issues. He suffered from several ailments, including “acute pancreatitis, in part due to excessive drinking,” according to the Associated Press. Not long after the announcement, he canceled a string of Las Vegas residency dates. The health concerns had forced him to pull out of tour dates in previous years as well.

Even after retirement, Avicii continued to release music. Last year saw him put out Avīci (01), an EP featuring contributions from AlunaGeorge, Cashmere Cat, and more. In a statement posted to his website in 2017, Avicii wrote, “Last year, I quit performing live, and many of you thought that was it. But the end of live never meant the end of Avicii or my music. Instead, I went back to the place where it all made sense – the studio. The next stage will be all about my love of making music to you guys. It is the beginning of something new. Hope you´ll enjoy it as much as I do.”