Avicii’s Family Launches Suicide-Prevention Foundation in His Memory – Variety

Authored by variety.com and submitted by BunyipPouch

Nearly a year after his passing on April 20, 2018, the family of dance music artist Tim “Avicii” Bergling are launching a foundation in his memory. The multiplatinum-selling artist and DJ died in Oman of an apparent suicide.

The Tim Bergling Foundation “will initially focus on supporting people and organizations working in the field of mental illness and suicide prevention,” the brief announcement reads, noting that it will also be active in climate change, development assistance, nature conservation and endangered species.

“Tim wanted to make a difference,” the statement concludes. “Starting a foundation in his name is our way to honor his memory and continue to act in his spirit.”

One of the most popular and successful electronic dance-music artists of all time — he scored a No. 4 hit on the Billboard 200 in 2013 with “Wake Me Up” and regularly appeared in the Top 5 of Forbes’ “Highest-Paid DJs” lists — Bergling retired from live performing in 2016 at the peak of his success, citing health reasons. He had suffered from health problems for several years, including acute pancreatitis, in part due to excessive drinking; he had his gallbladder and appendix removed in 2014. While he said he’d quit drinking after the surgery, some friends, including musical collaborator Nile Rodgers, said they’d seen him intoxicated afterward, and criticizing himself for it.

TooShiftyForYou on March 26th, 2019 at 17:10 UTC »

Avicii is a tragic tale of a musician who was so talented that he got more attention than he ever wanted or could handle.

"Creating music is what makes me happy and I have gotten to know so many great people in my days of touring, seen so many amazing places and created endless of good memories. The decision I made (to retire from touring) might seem odd to some but everyone is different and for me this was the right one."

Sketchin69 on March 26th, 2019 at 16:55 UTC »

Serious question. Was Avicii mentally ill before he was famous? Or did fame have a profound negative effect on his mental wellbeing?

WhatTheFuckKanye on March 26th, 2019 at 16:24 UTC »

"Tim wanted to make a difference - that we start the foundation in Tim's name is a way of honoring his memory and acting in his spirit".

Initially, the foundation will focus on supporting people and organizations that work on prevention of mental illness and suicide. The foundation will also work within climate, aid operations, endangered nature and endangered species.

The fellows are allowed to be both Swedish and international and the foundation will be eternal.

https://www.svt.se/kultur/familjen-startar-stiftelse-till-minne-av-avicii