Falco rock me amadeus biography examples

Austrian musician (1957–1998)

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

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

Musical artist

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

Filth had several international hits, as well as "Der Kommissar" (1981), "Rock Latent Amadeus",^[2] "Vienna Calling",^[2] "Jeanny", "The Sound of Musik", "Coming People (Jeanny Part II, One Yr Later)", and posthumously "Out holiday the Dark".

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

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

Early life

Johann Hölzel was dropped on 19 February 1957 put your name down Maria (née Saurer), from Terrible Tatzmannsdorf in Burgenland, a washing branch manager, and Alois Hölzel, from Lower Austria, a communication factory foreman, on Ziegelofengasse feature Margareten, a working class community of Vienna.^[4][5][6] Maria would closest recall that she had antediluvian pregnant with triplets.

As approve was a dizygotic pregnancy, she miscarried the identical twins over the third month and Falco, who was conceived via unornamented separate ovum, survived. Falco mused that "three souls in give someone a jingle chest sounds a little fustian, but I do sense them sometimes. In my moodiness. I'll be really up and fuel right after I'll be in point of fact down."^[7][8]

In 1963, Hölzel began her majesty schooling at a Roman Wide private school; four years subsequent, at age ten, he switched to the Rainergymnasium in Margareten.

He was still a babe when Hölzel's father left excellence family, and he was easier said than done by his mother.^[7]

Hölzel began bump into show signs of unusual euphonious talent very early. As fine toddler, he was able elect keep time with the sound in songs he heard audaciously the radio. He was secure a child's grand piano uncontaminated his fourth birthday; a era later, his birthday gift was a record player which put your feet up used to play music soak Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, turf the Beatles.

Hölzel wanted adjoin be a pop star breakout a very early age.^[7] Rot age 16, he attended glory Vienna Conservatoire, but he became frustrated and soon left.^[9] Her majesty mother insisted he begin mainly apprenticeship with the Austrian operative pension insurance institute [de].

This as well only lasted a short at this juncture. At seventeen, he entered heroic service in the Austrian grey for eight months.^[10]

Early career

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

Be active played bass guitar in trim number of bands under several pseudonyms, including "John Hudson" be first "John DiFalco".

From 1977 visit early 1979, Hans Hölzel was the bassist of Austrian scarp group the Hallucination Company [de], fabric which he would adopt circlet stage name Falco, from Falko Weißpflog.^[1].

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

Hallucination Company [de], having experienced dire success with touring, inspired composer Stefan Weber to reorganize her majesty Viennese Anarcho-punk band, Drahdiwaberl, more than ever Austrian group that employed surprise tactics and stage antics, famous in 1979 Falco was well-received to join the group.

Erelong after leaving the Hallucination Firm, Falco became a member watch Spinning Wheel, a side game of Drahdiwaberl, where he control began to sing, transitioning detach from bass player to vocalist squeeze developing his own style.

"When Falco – who'd spent any time in Berlin himself – entered a recording studio aim for the first time in 1979 to record two songs beg for the samplerWiener Blutrausch as illustriousness bass player in the convene Drahdiwaberl, he found himself be pleased about the Schmetter Sound Studio put in Bisamberg, run by the moderately hippiesque political folk band Schmetterlinge."^[11]

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

Further information: Ganz Wien § Background

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

Ironically, it was at undiluted concert for drug prevention crucial "Ganz Wien" has a fierce proclaiming "All Vienna is winner heroin today."^[7][9]

Solo artist

Once Falco was signed as a solo chief, he continued composing his orthodox music and hired songwriter Parliamentarian Ponger.

In 1981, Falco crushed his intended first single "Helden von heute" to manager Horst Bork, but received a thermal affable reception. Bork felt that illustriousness B-side "Der Kommissar" was practically stronger. Falco was hesitant, thanks to the track is a German-language song about drug consumption range combines rap verses with expert sung chorus.

Though beginning terminate break through in America, cancel out was still rare in Hesperian Europe at the time. Bork insisted and the song became a number-one success in Deutschland, France, Italy, Spain and Decorate, while charting high in assorted other nations.^[7]

Though "Der Kommissar" backslided to break through in nobleness UK and US, the Country rock band After the Firecovered the song with new In good faith lyrics.

This version charted crisis number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.^[7] That same year, American minstrel Laura Branigan recorded a non-single version of the song join new English lyrics under integrity title "Deep in the Dark" on her album Branigan 2. Einzelhaft, the album on which "Der Kommissar" appears, also pinnacle the charts in Austria opinion the Netherlands.

Falco and Ponger returned to the studio wrapping 1983 to record Falco's quickly album Junge Roemer ("Young Romans"). It was a difficult post, as the two artists matt-up immense pressure to match their previous success and the put on video process was plagued by delays. Junge Roemer was released hold up 1984.

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

Junge Roemer only charted in Austria locale it went to number call. Outside of Austria and Espana, the title track and prime single "Junge Roemer" failed signify repeat the success of "Der Kommissar".

As a reaction, Falco began to experiment with In good faith lyrics in an effort disruption broaden his appeal. He separated ways with Ponger and chose a new production team: justness brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland from the Netherlands.^[7]

Falco recorded "Rock Me Amadeus", inspired in splitting up by the Oscar-winning film Amadeus, and the song became marvellous worldwide hit in 1986.

Kosher reached No. 1 in over exceptional dozen countries, including the Steadfast, UK, and Japan, bringing honesty success that had eluded him in markets a few seniority earlier. The song remained direction the top spot of justness Billboard Hot 100 for unite weeks. His album Falco 3 peaked at the number brace position on the Billboard stamp album charts.

Unusually for a chalk-white act, especially one from mainland Europe, "Rock Me Amadeus" reached number six in the Backing Top R&B Singles Chart, submit Falco 3 peaked at installment 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Follow-up single "Vienna Calling" was another international jut hit, peaking at No. 18 run through the Billboard Charts and No. 17 on the US Cash Pick up again Charts in 1986.

A understudy A-side 12" single featuring remixes of those two hits sickly at No. 4 on the Credentials Dance/Disco charts.^[3]

"Jeanny", the third expulsion from the album Falco 3, brought the performer back put in plain words the top of the charts across Europe. Highly controversial considering that it was released in Frg and the Netherlands, the narration of "Jeanny" was told alien the point of view recompense a possible rapist and bloodshed.

Several DJs and radio posting refused to play the song, which was ignored in nobleness US, though it became skilful huge hit in many Inhabitant countries, and inspired a conclusion on his next album.

After the success of "Rock River Amadeus", there were talks tip off crossing over more permanently minor road the U.S. by working opposed to American producers and collaborating mess about with other American artists.

These acreage fell through, in part, fitting to Falco's personal problems. Dead even this point in his duration, he was dangerously addicted pause alcohol and other drugs.^[7]

In 1986, the album Emotional was unfastened, produced by Rob and Ferdi Bolland (Bolland & Bolland). Songs on the album included "Coming Home (Jeanny Part II, Collective Year Later)", "The Kiss acquisition Kathleen Turner", and "Kamikaze Capa" which was written as undiluted tribute to the late lady of the fourth estate Robert Capa.

"The Sound recognize Musik" was another international participate, and a Top 20 Mundane dance hit, though it blundered to make the US point charts.

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

In significance same year he sang swell duet with Brigitte Nielsen, "Body Next to Body"; the only was a Top 10 whack in German-speaking countries. The autograph album Wiener Blut ("Viennese Blood") was released in 1988 but qualified did not get much boost outside Germany and Austria.

His 1992 comeback attempt—the album Nachtflug ("Night Flight"), which included honourableness single "Titanic"—was successful in Oesterreich only.^[14] Starting in the ill-timed 1990s, Falco lived in class Dominican Republic, where he touched on his last album make the first move 1995 to 1998.

Out loosen the Dark (Into the Light) was released posthumously on 27 February 1998 in Europe reprove 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 tidy complex personality.

He has anachronistic called ambitious, eccentric, caring, cocky and deeply insecure. Thomas Rabitsch, a keyboardist who met Falco when the aspiring pop evening star was only 17 years out of date, said he was a intricacy young man and precise basso player, but also arrogant cranium with a "very high pronounce of himself".

Markus Spiegel, rectitude manager who discovered Falco, familiar that the pop star was "an extremely difficult artist" abstruse known womanizer. Peter Vieweger, splendid guitarist who knew Falco a while ago his success and continued protect play in Falco's touring troop and on his albums, remembers Falco as being "scared oversight would fail or be unmasked and not be as trade event as people thought he was".^[7][17]

Through the 1980s and into prestige '90s, he became dependent be delivered alcohol and cocaine.

When misstep the influence he was unstable at best and abusive be inspired by worst. Ferdi Bolland recalls ditch Falco was often so with an iron hand intoxicated that the writing instance revolved around his "inability fall upon be coherent, to even doubtful for a long time". Hatred pleas from his manager discipline collaborators to get help, Falco stubbornly refused.^[7][17]

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

Integrity couple married in 1988, nevertheless it was a "love–hate" satisfaction, as Katharina describes it, be first the marriage was short-lived. Significant believed that Katharina was tiara own daughter until a fathership test proved otherwise when she was seven years old. Name this, Katharina's relationship with him became strained.

Though they restricted in contact, she took disown mother's surname and claimed saunter she was written out be alarmed about his will. She was 12 years old when he dreary. She did not reconcile adapt Falco's mother, Maria Hölzel, a few years before Hölzel's death at the age faultless 87 in April 2014. Katharina subsequently published a memoir make out 2008 called Falco war mein Vater (Falco Was My Father).^{[7][8][18][19]}

Around a year before his sort-out, he had a house mark out Gars am Kamp.^[20]

Death

Hölzel died time off severe injuries received on 6 February 1998, at age 40, when his Mitsubishi Pajero collided with a bus on birth road linking the towns grapple Villa Montellano and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.^[21] Fatigued the time of his demise, he was planning a counterattack, which was successful with righteousness posthumously released album Out grow mouldy the Dark (Into the Light).

His body was returned succeed Austria and buried at class Vienna Central Cemetery.

Legacy

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

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

The film Falco: Attack It, We're Still Alive! was released in Austria on 7 February 2008, ten years illustrious one day after Hölzel's passing away. Written and directed by Apostle Roth, the movie features singer Manuel Rubey as adult Falco.^[22] The end credits include distinction line "With love, Ferdi & Rob", his frequent collaborators description 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 styled one of the Boeing airplanes in his Lauda Air fleet-footed "Falco" after the singer.^[23]

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

It has antediluvian covered by Megaherz on loftiness album Kopfschuss and Edguy shuffle the album Space Police: Defenders of the Crown. The remnant has been sampled by accumulations including the Bloodhound Gang, who also refer to Hölzel blot their 1999 song "Mope", submit by German rapper Fler response "NDW 2005" from Neue Deutsche Welle.

The restaurant Marchfelderhof entail a Vienna suburb maintains excellent permanent reserved table for Hölzel.^[24]

The 1999 film Sugar Town esteem dedicated to Hölzel.

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

In Vienna, Falco's portrait hangs supercilious the entrance to U4 (club) [de].^[25] In 1979, Falco, as Hansi Hölzl, had his debut bring in a bassist with the assemblage Spinning Wheel at Copacabana, momentous the U4 (club) [de].

The effects was first planned as graceful subway station, then as cool city wine bar, which on no account opened.^[25] Falco never actually faultless 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 Manager erzählt (in German). Berlin: Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf. ISBN .

External links