Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, was found dead from an apparent suicide on April 20 of last year. He was just 28 years old.
Today, his family pay tribute to his memory with the Tim Bergling Foundation, which "will initially focus on supporting people and organizations working in the field of mental illness and suicide prevention," according to a communicated.
"Tim wanted to make a difference," the statement said. "Creating a foundation in his name is our way of honoring his memory and continuing to act in his mind."
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Avicii through his career
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DJ Avicii works at Marquee on June 17, 2010 in New York. (Photo by Johnny Nunez / WireImage)
Melbourne, Australia – December 01: In this photo remittance provided by (RED), Avicii poses behind the scenes for DANCE (RED), saving lives during Stereosonic 2012 at Melbourne Showgrounds on December 1, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kane Hibberd / (RED) via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: DJ Avicii performs at mPowering Action, a global mobile youth movement launched at Grammy Week, with performances by Timbaland and Avicii at LA Live's Conga Room on February 8, 2013 in Los Angeles Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt / Getty Images for Tribal Brands)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 01: Avicii performs at the MLB Fan Cave on October 1, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Mike Pont / WireImage)
Los Angeles, Calif. – December 20: Tim Bergling attends a basketball game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center on December 20, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez / Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – MARCH 27: General views outside the Avicii hotel where Avicii was to occur but was canceled at the last minute and reportedly taken to the hospital at SLS South Beach on March 27, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Olivia Salazar / Getty Images)
Irvine, Calif. – May 31: Avicii performs at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on May 31, 2014 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 17: Tim Bergling, aka Avicii, performs at Buku Music + Art 2012 at Mardi Gras World on March 17, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Skip Bolen / WireImage)
MIAMI, FL – MARCH 27: Tim Bergling aka DJ Avicii behind the scenes of the Ultra Music Festival at Bayfront Park Amphitheater on March 27, 2015 in Miami, Florida. (Photo of Sergi Alexander / FilmMagic)
IRVINE, CA – MAY 31: Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii, attends the 22nd annual KROQ Weenie Roast meeting on May 31, 2014 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen / Getty Images for CBS Radio Inc.)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 13: DJ Avicii poses with TJX Rewards Platinum MasterCard cardholders at the Westwood One Backstage MasterCard show on February 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk / Getty Images for MasterCard)
The Swedish DJ, remixer, record producer and singer Tim Bergling, better known by his stage name "Avicii", performs at the Sziget Music Festival on Hajogyar Island in Budapest on August 14, 2015. This cultural event takes place on an island in the center of the Danube, in the heart of Budapest. AFP PHOTO / ATTILA KISBENEDEK (photo credit should match ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP / Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 6: Avicii attends the FM Capital Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium on June 6, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang / WireImage)
Irvine, Calif. – May 31: Avicii performs at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on May 31, 2014 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 01: DJ Avicii behind the scenes of the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2014 which was held at The Shrine Auditorium on May 1, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. The iHeartRadio Music Awards are broadcast live on NBC. (Photo by Jason Merritt / Getty Images for Clear Channel)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 24: Performer Avicii accepts the award for best electronic dance music artist on stage at the 2013 American Music Awards at the Nokia Theater LA Live on November 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California . (Photo by Lester Cohen / WireImage)
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The death of Avicii, famous for his success as "Wake Me Up", has shaken the world of music.
He went into history by becoming the first sold-out DJ at Radio City Music Hall in New York in 2012, and he has performed on major stages of world-renowned music festivals, such as the Ultra Music Festival in Miami and Lollapalooza. in Chicago.
At a last performance in Ibiza in 2016, Avicii announced that he was retiring from the tour, evoking health issues. He was suffering from acute pancreatitis, in part because of his heavy consumption of alcohol, and needed to remove his gallbladder and appendix in 2014.
In a letter to his fans following the announcement of his retirement, he read: "I feel happy, I feel free now. […] It was obviously the most difficult decision of my life so far. But until now, the well-being for me has been extremely profitable. I am happier than I have been for a very, very long time. Without stress more than I have been for a very long time. "
National Lifeline Suicide Prevention provides confidential support to people in distress 24/7. People can call the emergency number 1-800-273-8255 or chat online at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
