Avicii’s father says his son’s love of performing became a ‘burden’ before his suicide last year 

More than 18 months after the tragic suicide of DJ sensation Avicii, his father Klas Bergling has spoken out about the musician’s meteoric rise to stardom and how the break-neck speed of his success played a part in his death.

Speaking with CBS’ Anthony Mason as part of This Morning’s mental health special, the bereaved father paid tribute to his ‘brave’ son who was found dead in his hotel room in Muscat, Oman, on April 20, 2018, aged just 28.

Five-years earlier, Avicii – real name Tim Bergling – became a global superstar almost overnight when his song ‘Wake Me Up’ went to number one in 22 countries days after its release.

It meant that Avicii was suddenly touring all over the world – playing as many as 250 shows a year.

And while his father insists Tim loved what he did, Klas believes the love of his work also became a burden that, combined with the trappings of fame, was too much for his son to bear.

More than 18 months after the tragic suicide of DJ sensation Avicii (left), his father Klas Bergling (right) has spoken out about the musician’s meteoric rise to stardom and how the break-neck speed of his success played a part in his death

 Avicii was found dead in his hotel room in Muscat, Oman, on April 20, 2018, aged just 28

‘He was so happy because he went into a career that he has dreamed of. He was a very determined guy and went all in – all the time,’ Klas reflected.

‘Yes, I think [he loved it]. Of course, after a couple of years, love of the work can also be a burden.’

Klas revealed that Tim, who he described as ‘shy’ growing up, first began struggling with anxiety as a teenager.

‘When you have a child that’s not feeling well, you try everything to get the situation right again. And you try to understand what’s going on,’ Klas said. ‘So, we went to a psychiatrist. I think he was 14 or 15, yeah. And he sort of calmed Tim down.’

But the torment of his anxiety would never truly subside. It was condition that took more and more of a grip on Avicii and he later spiraled into depression and addiction while his career continued to prosper.

‘We talked about a lot of deep things,’ Klas said. ‘I had experience [anxiety] myself as young man. If you have experienced it yourself, you know that there are ways to get more balanced life.’

Heading his father’s advice, Tim retired from touring in 2016 and shifted his focus towards making music in the studio.

Klas said the changes in his son were remarkable. He was healthier, seemed happier, and started exercising.

‘Things really turned into a very, very good direction,’ Klas remembered.

Klas revealed that Tim (pictured with mother Anki Liden in 2000), who he described as ‘shy’ growing up, first began struggling with anxiety as a teenager

Heading his father’s advice, Tim (right) retired from touring in 2016 and shifted his focus toward making music in the studio. Klas said the changes in his son were remarkable. He was healthier, seemed happier, and started exercising. ‘Things really turned into a very, very good direction,’ Klas remembered

But less than two years later, Tim was found dead in his hotel room during a vacation in Oman.

Police said there was no ‘criminal suspicion’ or evidence of foul play in his death. A report by TMZ would later reveal the musician’s cause of death was suicide, as a result of self-inflicted injuries from a broken wine bottle.

The family released a statement shortly after his death, which read in part, ‘Tim was not made for the business machine he found himself in; he was a sensitive guy who loved his fans but shunned the spotlight.’

In an interview at the time, Bergling said that he thought his son was ‘happy’ leading up to his death, he said never seemed too far away from being ‘unhappy.’

‘If you are very happy or extremely happy, it’s not so far to be unhappy … small things can make you sad or move your balance and I think this is what happened.’ 

Klas revisited this idea with CBS, but said still: ‘The suicide came as a shock to all of us. And we thought that he was really in a better way before.’

Shortly before his death, Tim spoke about his anxiety, depression and addiction in a documentary, saying, ‘Everyone knows that I’ve been anxious and everything, and that I’ve been trying.’

Klas lauded his son’s ability to talk about his struggles, calling him ‘brave’ for doing so.

In an interview at the time, Bergling (pictured with Tim) said that he thought his son was ‘happy’ leading up to his death, he said never seemed too far away from being ‘unhappy.’ ‘If you are very happy or extremely happy, it’s not so far to be unhappy … small things can make you sad or move your balance and I think this is what happened.’

‘He was so happy because he went into a career that he has dreamed of. He was a very determined guy and went all in – all the time,’ Klas reflected. ‘Yes, I think [he loved it]. Of course, after a couple of years, love of the work can also be a burden’

But Klas says he only recently found the strength of his own to talk about his son’s suicide – or use the word suicide generally – for pronouncing it is also ‘admitting that you’re part of this destiny, so to say.’

‘It’s been ups and downs,’ Klas said of the last 18 months. ‘It’s a life before. And now it’s a life after. That’s the best way you can express it.’

Earlier this summer, Tim’s parents posthumously released Avicii’s third studio album, ‘Tim’, using unreleased music he’d been working on before his death.

All the proceeds of the album sales were going to the Tim Bergling Foundation, which Klas founded, to advocate for the recognition of suicide as a global health emergency, and to remove the stigma of mental illness.

‘[We’re] trying to get the stigma away from talking about mental illness and suicide,’ Klas explained. ‘We hope we can be a voice through Tim. Because Tim has so many millions of fans.

‘You have to talk about it,’ Klas urged. ‘And you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.’

Klas said he hopes to preserve his son’s legacy, and ensure he’s remembered as a ‘good person, as a good producer’ and as someone who had ‘a good heart’.

Klas said he hopes to preserve his son’s legacy, and ensure he’s remembered as a ‘good person, as a good producer’ and as someone who had ‘a good heart’