Avicii retires from live performances

Swedish DJ and producer Avicii has announced he will take a break from the music business after he finishes touring this year (16).

Avicii, real name is Tim Bergling, 26, revealed the news in a long statement on his official website, following a series of cryptic tweets last week.

Posting on Saturday (26Mar16) he hinted that he was set to make a public statement, writing: "The music industry will never be the same again."

In the deeply personal message the artist confirmed that his 2016 live shows will be his last and he has no plans to make more music in the near future."I could be back... but I won't be right back," he admitted.

Thanking those who have helped him on the road to building his career the star acknowledged that his path to fame hasn't always been easy and he now yearned to explore "the life of a real person behind the artist."

The decision was made after Avicii took time to drive across the country with friends recently, giving him the time to reflect upon how far he has come.

In the statement he said he recognised that he had been "struggling" with the need to make a change for some time.

"My path has been filled with success but it hasn’t come without its bumps," the star said. "I’ve become an adult while growing as an artist, I’ve come to know myself better and realize 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 them."

This isn't the first time the Swede has taken a break from performing. In 2015 he rescheduled gigs in Las Vegas and Japan to new dates in 2016, as part of a larger tour initiative, citing the: "opportunity to focus on myself and spend time trying to grow up in a way I never got the chance to".

Best known for hits including Levels, Wake Me Up and Hey Brother, Avicii's forthcoming dates include summer appearances at English electronic music festival Creamfields (27Aug16), and a concert scheduled for Belfast's Boucher Playing Fields (26Aug16).