Image:falco.jpg and North_America during the 1980s ]]
'''Falco''' (February_19, 1957–February_6, 1998) was the Stage_name of the classical music Prodigy turned Austrian Rock_star, '''Johann (Hans) Hölzel'''.
Born in Vienna, he studied at the Vienna Music Conservatory. Before becoming an international pop star, he was bass player in the Austrian Hard_rock band Drahdiwaberl. As a solo artist, Falco had taken an interest in the sounds and rhythms of Rap_music, and was one of the first Europeans to incorporate rap stylings into pop and rock music. He is best known internationally for the rap-styled "Rock_Me_Amadeus" (inspired in part by the Oscar-winning film ''Amadeus'') from his album ''Falco_3'', which became a worldwide hit in 1986 and reached #1 on the US charts (arguably the first "rap" song to achieve this feat, notwithstanding Blondie's success with their 1981 hit "Rapture" and the fact that "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla_Ice from 1990 being cited as the first "true" rap record to top the ''Billboard'' Hot_100).
Other well-known international hits include "Der Kommissar" (a partial rap song about drug consumption) from the 1982 album ''Einzelhaft'' and "Vienna Calling" from ''Falco 3''. An English Cover_version of "Der Kommissar" by After_the_Fire became a Top 5 hit in the United_States in 1983. That same year, Laura_Branigan recorded a version of the song with new English lyrics, under the title "Deep In The Dark," on her album ''Branigan 2''. Falco's song "Jeanny" was somewhat controversial when it was released in Germany and the Netherlands, because it was told from the point of view of a rapist. Several DJs and radio stations refused to play the song, although it became a huge hit in many European countries.
Falco died of severe head injuries received following his SUV's collision with a bus near the resort of Puerto_Plata, in the Dominican_Republic at age 40. At the time of his death, he was considering a comeback into the music world.
== Tributes to Falco ==
Image:Ecard24.jpg
In 2000, the musical ''Falco Meets Amadeus'' was produced and staged in Germany.
Also in 2000, the American comic rock group, The_Bloodhound_Gang dedicated their song, "Mope" to him. The spoken intro jokingly refers to Falco as ''"a gang bangin' thug"'' and ''"money makin' playa".'' The beginning of the song samples from "Rock Me Amadeus." While the tribute may have been less than 100% sincere, there is no denying that Falco's combination of pop melody with rap-styled vocal delivery has proven highly influential in recent years.
In ''The_Simpsons'' episode 3F15, "A Fish Called Selma", Falco's tune "Rock Me Amadeus" is paid tribute in a slightly offbeat way in the musical presentation of ''Planet_of_the_Apes'' (starring Troy_McClure). The repeated tag of "Amadeus Amadeus" is transferred into "Dr._Zaius, Dr. Zaius".
In 2007, Falco will be eligible for posthumous induction into the Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame (per commission requirements).
==Discography==
* ''Einzelhaft'' (1982)
* ''Junge_Römer'' (1984)
* ''Falco_3'' (1985)
* ''Emotional'' (1986)
* ''Wiener Blut'' (1988)
* ''Data_de_Groove'' (1990)
* ''The_Remix_Hit_Collection'' (1991)
* ''Nachtflug'' (1992)
* ''Out_Of_The_Dark'' (1998)
* ''Verdammt_wir_leben_noch'' (1999)
==External links==
* Official website (in German and English)
* Falco.net - a fan site
* Falco lyrics
Category:1957_births
Category:1998_deaths
Category:Austrian_musicians
Category:Bassists
Category:New_Wave_groups
Category:Road_accident_victims
Category:Entertainers_who_died_in_their_40s
De:Falco
Fr:Falco_(chanteur)
Hu:Falco
Nl:Falco_(muziek)
Sr:Фалко
Sv:Falco_(musiker)