Avicii has announced his retirement from touring after the 2016 campaign. In a lengthy, emotional letter to his fans, the Stories DJ thanked many of the individuals who have helped him along the way including friends, family, bookers, agents fellow DJs and fans, while also outlining why he feels the need to step away from the live arena.
"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," he wrote. "It really helped me realize that I needed to make the change that I'd been struggling with for a while."
Avicii has been plagued by health issues over the past few years, forcing him off of the road multiple times and canceled several big shows like TomorrowWorld in 2014.
"I know I am blessed to be able to travel all around the world and perform, but I have too little left for the life of a real person behind the artist."
This won't be the end of Avicii though. He will continue to release new music as he promised last year with a follow-up to Stories somewhere in the pipeline, which could have been previewed during his Ultra Music Festival set two weekends ago. "I will however never let go of music - I will continue to speak to my fans through it, but I've decided this 2016 run will be my last tour and last shows."
There is still plenty of time for fans to see Avicii in 2016. His tour schedule is still pretty sparse at the moment, but he is slated to perform at Electric Daisy Carnival UK in Milton Keys in July, Belfast's Boucher Playing Fields on Aug. 26 and his final scheduled gig at the moment is at Creamfields on Aug. 27. Hopefully he fills that up with some more gigs throughout the world for one last hurrah.
Avicii ends the letter with a final, hopeful thought for his fans.
"One part of me can never say never, I could be back ...but I won't be right back."
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