Avicii retires from live performance in emotional letter to fans

During a recent coast-to-coast drive across the U.S. EDM superstar Avicii realized that the time had come to make a major change in his life.

"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 in a long note to fans. "It really helped me realize that I needed to make the change that I'd been struggling with for a while."

The Swedish star, born Tim Bergling, struggled with health issues over the past few years, canceling a series of shows in 2014 after suffering from the lingering effects of having his gall bladder and appendix removed.

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In a Reddit AMA in October, Avicii said it was "highly likely" he'd release a follow-up to his 2015 album, Stories, this year. In his letter to fans he noted that while he will retire from the road, he will continue to make music.

See photos of Avicii throughout his career:

"My choices and career have never been driven by material things, although I'm grateful for all the opportunities and comforts my success has availed me," he said, thanking the fans, family, peers, partners and longtime manger Arash "Ash" Pournouri for their support over the years. "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.

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"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. Let's make them go out with a bang!"

He's not hanging up his rig just yet, though. Avicii is slated to perform at the UK leg of the Electric Daisy Festival in Milton Keynes in July, Belfast's Boucher Playing Fields on August 26 and, as of now, his final scheduled gig at the Creamfields festival on August 27.

But don't toss out all your kandi bracelets just yet, because he also ended with a note of hope...; maybe. "One part of me can never say never," he wrote. "I could be back...; but I won't be right back."

Click here to read the full text of Avicii's note.