Avicii to quit touring, announces final shows

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – One of the world’s top DJs, Avicii, says he will quit touring at the age of 26, having told fans “the music industry will never be the same again.”

In a lengthy message posted on his website Tuesday, the Swedish house DJ announced he would hang up his headphones after his 2016 tour.

While he will continue to make music, he has decided “this 2016 run will be my last tour and last shows,” the message said.

“Two weeks ago, I took the time to drive across the U.S. with my friends and team, to just look and see and think about things in a new way. It really helped me realize that I needed to make the change that I’d been struggling with for a while,” he wrote.

Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, achieved global acclaim at 21 with his debut album True, becoming one of the biggest stars on the global club circuit.  

But his best known song is “Wake Me Up”, which won the 2014 Billboard Music Award for Top Radio Song and Top Dance/Electronic Song.

In recent days he re-tweeted an image posted by his manager Ash Pournouri claiming that “the music industry will never be the same again”, containing the date of Tuesday’s announcement.

“I’ve become an adult while growing as an artist, I’ve come to know myself better and realise that there’s so much I want to do with my life. I have strong interests in different areas but there’s so little time to explore,” his statement said. 

Avicii has a history of illness which has previously forced him to cancel several shows and tours. 

“One part of me can never say never, I could be back … but I won’t be right back,” he wrote. 

He even posted his personal mobile phone number alongside his statement to allow fans to “text me re all this”. 

Avicii did not respond to AFP’s text for comment. – Rappler.com