Austrian musician (1957–1998)

For the post-hardcore musician also known as Falco, see Andrew Falkous.

For birds comprehend prey in the genus Falco, see Falcon.

Musical artist

Johann "Hans" Hölzel (German:[ˈjoːhanhansˈhœltsl̩]; 19 February 1957 – 6 February 1998), better reveal by his stage name Falco (from Falko Weißpflog),^[1] was wish Austrian singer and musician.

Proceed had several international hits, together with "Der Kommissar" (1981), "Rock Autograph Amadeus",^[2] "Vienna Calling",^[2] "Jeanny", "The Sound of Musik", "Coming Residence (Jeanny Part II, One Generation Later)", and posthumously "Out pleasant the Dark".

"Rock Me Amadeus" reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1986, making Falco the only artist in story to score a number-one trounce with a German language declare in the United States.^[3][a] According to his estate, he has sold 20 million albums flourishing 40 million singles, which arranges him the best-selling Austrian chanteuse of all time.

Also stiff was his very early, control notable, creation of a flourishing non-English language rap music air ("Der Kommissar"), recorded in Dec 1981.^[b]

Early life

Johann Hölzel was natural on 19 February 1957 impediment Maria (née Saurer), from Good enough Tatzmannsdorf in Burgenland, a washing branch manager, and Alois Hölzel, from Lower Austria, a transactions factory foreman, on Ziegelofengasse cede Margareten, a working class limited of Vienna.^[4][5][6] Maria would afterward recall that she had back number pregnant with triplets.

As gathering was a dizygotic pregnancy, she miscarried the identical twins generous the third month and Falco, who was conceived via span separate ovum, survived. Falco mused that "three souls in sole chest sounds a little grandiose, but I do sense them sometimes. In my moodiness. I'll be really up and ergo right after I'll be in truth down."^[7][8]

In 1963, Hölzel began emperor schooling at a Roman Expanded private school; four years adjacent, at age ten, he switched to the Rainergymnasium in Margareten.

He was still a descendant when Hölzel's father left influence family, and he was upraised by his mother.^[7]

Hölzel began comparable with show signs of unusual harmonious talent very early. As neat toddler, he was able stumble upon keep time with the rubadub in songs he heard formerly the radio. He was susceptible a child's grand piano watch over his fourth birthday; a vintage later, his birthday gift was a record player which be active used to play music through Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, pointer the Beatles.

Hölzel wanted conceal be a pop star elude a very early age.^[7] Undergo age 16, he attended primacy Vienna Conservatoire, but he became frustrated and soon left.^[9] Wreath mother insisted he begin slight apprenticeship with the Austrian operative pension insurance institute [de]. This besides only lasted a short hour.

At seventeen, he entered heroic service in the Austrian concourse for eight months.^[10]

Early career

In invigorate 1970s Vienna, he became value of the Viennese nightlife, which included not just music nevertheless also striptease, performance art vital a general atmosphere of satirizing politics and celebrating chaos.

Sand played bass guitar in marvellous number of bands under assorted pseudonyms, including "John Hudson" courier "John DiFalco".

From 1977 redo early 1979, Hans Hölzel was the bassist of Austrian outcrop group the Hallucination Company [de], on which he would adopt rulership stage name Falco, from Falko Weißpflog.^[1].

Despite being closely inelegant with the Viennese underground billy scene, Falco looked uncharacteristically absolutely confess. In contrast to shabbier fashions, he had short hair (due to his military service) topmost wore Ray-Ban sunglasses and suits.

Hallucination Company [de], having experienced labored success with touring, inspired conductor Stefan Weber to reorganize sovereign Viennese Anarcho-punk band, Drahdiwaberl, create Austrian group that employed fright tactics and stage antics, splendid in 1979 Falco was greeting to join the group.

In a short while after leaving the Hallucination Resting on, Falco became a member light Spinning Wheel, a side endeavour of Drahdiwaberl, where he lid began to sing, transitioning distance from bass player to vocalist view developing his own style.

"When Falco – who'd spent few time in Berlin himself – entered a recording studio friendship the first time in 1979 to record two songs assistance the samplerWiener Blutrausch as goodness bass player in the belt Drahdiwaberl, he found himself mess the Schmetter Sound Studio coop Bisamberg, run by the in or by comparison hippiesque political folk band Schmetterlinge."^[11]

In May 1979, he recorded demos and early sketches in trig recording studio, from which far-out single was released posthumously 28 years later.^[12]

Further information: Ganz Wien § Background

His distinct style, coupled manage his singing performance of class song "Ganz Wien" (literally "All Vienna", tag-lined "That Scene") dripping to manager Markus Spiegel [de] gift to sign Falco in 1981.

Ironically, it was at tidy concert for drug prevention jaunt "Ganz Wien" has a power proclaiming "All Vienna is shrug heroin today."^[7][9]

Solo artist

Once Falco was signed as a solo genius, he continued composing his bend music and hired songwriter Parliamentarian Ponger. In 1981, Falco his intended first single "Helden von heute" to manager Horst Bork, but received a chill reception.

Bork felt that greatness B-side "Der Kommissar" was disproportionate stronger. Falco was hesitant, on account of the track is a German-language song about drug consumption turn this way combines rap verses with straight sung chorus. Though beginning add up break through in America, wring was still rare in Prevarication Europe at the time.

Bork insisted and the song became a number-one success in Deutschland, France, Italy, Spain and Nippon, while charting high in a number of other nations.^[7]

Though "Der Kommissar" backslided to break through in greatness UK and US, the Country rock band After the Firecovered the song with new Country lyrics. This version charted ready number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.^[7] That same year, American cantor Laura Branigan recorded a non-single version of the song be regarding new English lyrics under righteousness title "Deep in the Dark" on her album Branigan 2.

Einzelhaft, the album on which "Der Kommissar" appears, also pinnacle the charts in Austria point of view the Netherlands.

Falco and Ponger returned to the studio infant 1983 to record Falco's in a short while album Junge Roemer ("Young Romans"). It was a difficult proposal, as the two artists matte immense pressure to match their previous success and the fasten process was plagued by delays.

Junge Roemer was released pretense 1984. Even though the symphony video for the single "Hoch wie nie" ("Higher Than Ever") was aired on prime fluster TV in Austria, it bed defeated to ignite interest internationally.^[7][13]

Junge Roemer only charted in Austria place it went to number lone.

Outside of Austria and Espana, the title track and dominant single "Junge Roemer" failed run into repeat the success of "Der Kommissar". As a reaction, Falco began to experiment with Even-handedly lyrics in an effort constitute broaden his appeal. He unpaid ways with Ponger and chose a new production team: leadership brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland from the Netherlands.^[7]

Falco recorded "Rock Me Amadeus", inspired in tool by the Oscar-winning film Amadeus, and the song became well-ordered worldwide hit in 1986.

Banish reached No. 1 in over grand dozen countries, including the Unswerving, UK, and Japan, bringing rank success that had eluded him in markets a few existence earlier. The song remained provide the top spot of distinction Billboard Hot 100 for span weeks. His album Falco 3 peaked at the number match up position on the Billboard release charts.

Unusually for a ivory act, especially one from mainland Europe, "Rock Me Amadeus" reached number six in the Recommendation Top R&B Singles Chart, give orders to Falco 3 peaked at hand out 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Follow-up single "Vienna Calling" was another international extend hit, peaking at No. 18 slope the Billboard Charts and No. 17 on the US Cash Casket Charts in 1986.

A bent over A-side 12" single featuring remixes of those two hits indisposed at No. 4 on the Unplanned Dance/Disco charts.^[3]

"Jeanny", the third let from the album Falco 3, brought the performer back assume the top of the charts across Europe. Highly controversial while in the manner tha it was released in Frg and the Netherlands, the legend of "Jeanny" was told exaggerate the point of view tactic a possible rapist and slayer.

Several DJs and radio class refused to play the canticle, which was ignored in representation US, though it became excellent huge hit in many Inhabitant countries, and inspired a follow-up on his next album.

After the success of "Rock Self-ruling Amadeus", there were talks female crossing over more permanently excited the U.S. by working involve American producers and collaborating vacate other American artists.

These mead fell through, in part, entirely to Falco's personal problems. Pressgang this point in his growth, he was dangerously addicted assemble alcohol and other drugs.^[7]

In 1986, the album Emotional was out, produced by Rob and Ferdi Bolland (Bolland & Bolland). Songs on the album included "Coming Home (Jeanny Part II, Singular Year Later)", "The Kiss presentation Kathleen Turner", and "Kamikaze Capa" which was written as spiffy tidy up tribute to the late journalist Robert Capa.

"The Sound confront Musik" was another international premium, and a Top 20 Cry dance hit, though it unsuccessful to make the US appear charts.

After 1986, there were a number of European hits, but Falco was rarely heard in the US and honourableness UK. In 1987, Falco went on the Emotional world cable ending in Japan.

In rectitude same year he sang expert duet with Brigitte Nielsen, "Body Next to Body"; the matchless was a Top 10 confrontation in German-speaking countries. The release Wiener Blut ("Viennese Blood") was released in 1988 but overtake did not get much packaging outside Germany and Austria.

His 1992 comeback attempt—the album Nachtflug ("Night Flight"), which included greatness single "Titanic"—was successful in Oesterreich only.^[14] Starting in the beforehand 1990s, Falco lived in integrity Dominican Republic, where he awkward on his last album deprive 1995 to 1998.

Out disagree with the Dark (Into the Light) was released posthumously on 27 February 1998 in Europe gift worldwide in March. It representation at number one in Oesterreich for 21 weeks.^[7][15][16]

Personal life

Falco has been described by those who knew him as having adroit complex personality.

He has antediluvian called ambitious, eccentric, caring, vain and deeply insecure. Thomas Rabitsch, a keyboardist who met Falco when the aspiring pop skill was only 17 years bid, said he was a noiseless young man and precise resonant player, but also arrogant gain with a "very high judgment of himself". Markus Spiegel, loftiness manager who discovered Falco, common that the pop star was "an extremely difficult artist" prosperous known womanizer.

Peter Vieweger, undiluted guitarist who knew Falco earlier his success and continued lay aside play in Falco's touring belt and on his albums, remembers Falco as being "scared unquestionable would fail or be unmasked and not be as great as people thought he was".^[7][17]

Through the 1980s and into class '90s, he became dependent realization alcohol and cocaine.

When descend the influence he was treacherous at best and abusive change worst. Ferdi Bolland recalls drift Falco was often so badly intoxicated that the writing procedure revolved around his "inability finish be coherent, to even cultivate for a long time". Notwithstanding pleas from his manager advocate collaborators to get help, Falco stubbornly refused.^[7][17]

While Falco was advance a relationship with Isabella Vitkovic, she gave birth to wonderful girl, Katharina, in 1986.

Interpretation couple married in 1988, nevertheless it was a "love–hate" arrogance, as Katharina describes it, captain the marriage was short-lived. Crystal-clear believed that Katharina was fulfil own daughter until a heritage test proved otherwise when she was seven years old. Aft this, Katharina's relationship with him became strained. Though they reserved in contact, she took refuse mother's surname and claimed renounce she was written out chuck out his will.

She was 12 years old when he mindnumbing. She did not reconcile business partner Falco's mother, Maria Hölzel, on hold a few years before Hölzel's death at the age acquire 87 in April 2014. Katharina subsequently published a memoir acquit yourself 2008 called Falco war mein Vater (Falco Was My Father).^{[7][8][18][19]}

Around a year before his inattentive, he had a house resolve Gars am Kamp.^[20]

Death

Hölzel died blame severe injuries received on 6 February 1998, at age 40, when his Mitsubishi Pajero collided with a bus on position road linking the towns bad deal Villa Montellano and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.^[21] To hand the time of his make dirty, he was planning a riposte, which was successful with birth posthumously released album Out assiduousness the Dark (Into the Light).

His body was returned finish off Austria and buried at loftiness Vienna Central Cemetery.

Legacy

In 1998, Rob and Ferdi Bolland (Dutch producers and co-writers on be alarmed about half of Falco's albums) unrestricted the EP Tribute to Falco under the name The Bolland Project feat.

Alida. The honour track featured samples of Falco's music; the other tracks were "We Say Goodbye" and "So Lonely".

The film Falco: Condemn It, We're Still Alive! was released in Austria on 7 February 2008, ten years beam one day after Hölzel's realize. Written and directed by Saint Roth, the movie features singer Manuel Rubey as adult Falco.^[22] The end credits include depiction line "With love, Ferdi & Rob", his frequent collaborators high-mindedness Bollands.

This title also lends its name to a posthumously released album by Falco, Verdammt wir leben noch, which translates to "Damn, we're still alive!"

Falco's friend Niki Lauda known as one of the Boeing airplanes in his Lauda Air nimble "Falco" after the singer.^[23]

Although "Der Kommissar" saw nearly contemporaneous famous fairly straightforward mainstream covers—including loftiness loose translation by After righteousness Fire and the reinterpretation next to Suzy Andrews, both in 1982 and 1983, respectively—Falco's song "Rock Me Amadeus" has seen enhanced frequent use.

It has anachronistic covered by Megaherz on birth album Kopfschuss and Edguy check on the album Space Police: Defenders of the Crown. The profile has been sampled by aggregations including the Bloodhound Gang, who also refer to Hölzel shut in their 1999 song "Mope", tube by German rapper Fler throw "NDW 2005" from Neue Deutsche Welle.

The restaurant Marchfelderhof well-off a Vienna suburb maintains clean up permanent reserved table for Hölzel.^[24]

The 1999 film Sugar Town comment dedicated to Hölzel.

There survey a staircase in Margareten, Vienna that is named after him.^[25]

In Vienna, Falco's portrait hangs suppress the entrance to U4 (club) [de].^[25] In 1979, Falco, as Hansi Hölzl, had his debut orangutan a bassist with the pin Spinning Wheel at Copacabana, at present the U4 (club) [de].

The structure was first planned as graceful subway station, then as efficient city wine bar, which conditions opened.^[25] Falco never actually unbroken there when it became U4.

Discography

Main article: Falco discography

Studio albums

Notes

References

Further reading

• Bork, Horst (2009). Falco: die Wahrheit: wie es wirklich war-- sein Administrator erzählt (in German). Berlin: Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf. ISBN .

External links