Klas Bergling praised "every amazing tribute you have given Tim and his music" in a speech at an awards ceremony in Sweden last night (August 15)

The father of the late DJ Avicii made his first public appearance last night (August 15) since the death of his son to accept an award on his behalf at a Swedish awards ceremony.

Avicii – real name Tim Bergling – was found dead from an apparent suicide in his hotel room in Oman on April 20. The family of the Stockholm-born DJ released a statement six days after his death which included the passage: “He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace.”

Avicii was honoured at the Swedish Rockbjörnen ceremony in Stockholm last night, with his song ‘Without You’ winning the fan-voted award for Song of the Year.

Accepting the award on Avicii’s behalf, his father Klas Bergling made a short speech thanking fans for honouring his son.

“I am happy to have been given the opportunity to be here tonight to say thank you for this amazing award that you have rewarded Tim and Sandro [Cavazza, Avicii’s collaborator], and to every one of you who has voted for ‘Without You,’ an amazing song,” Bergling said [via Aftonbladet].

“But also, and perhaps foremost, to say thank you for all and every amazing tribute you have given Tim and his music. From all his fans and others, from churches, schools, festivals and so many more.

“It’s been almost incomprehensible and it has warmed our hearts, all of the family, during this hard time – so again, a big thank you to everyone.”

Earlier this month, it was reported that a posthumous Avicii single – which features Chris Martin – could be set for release in the very near future.
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