Who is Falco?
Monday, October 1st, 2007
Does “Rock Me Amadeus” ring a bell? How about “Vienna Calling” or “Der Kommissar”?
It was 1986. I was 13. Pop music was at its finest. Sometime, somewhere there was an odd-sounding pop singer rapping in a strange staccato manner about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The melody was fun, repetitive and most of all annoying but fun nonetheless.
Falco was the name. And he was considered to be a rising star that time. Though in his hometown Vienna, he had lots of fans and was revered, he had also some share of people mocking about his newfound fame. Especially, his former band, the members of Drahdibawerl. Though in the English-speaking countries he is considered to be a one-hit wonder, he certainly managed to get to the top of his career enjoying two Top 20 songs (US) and two Top 10 songs (UK).
Before Christina Stürmer became a hit, there was Falco. Born Johann “Hans” Hölzel in Vienna, Austria, he was considered a prodigy. He graduated from the world-renowned Vienna Music Conservatory in 1977. For a short while he lived Berlin, West Germany, singing in a jazz-rock band. From 1978 to 1983, he served as the bassist for the Austrian punk band Drahdiwaberl, headed by retired high school art teacher Stefan weber. The only Viennese band who got to play at the legendary CBGB in New York. The feedback was insane and the band became notorious of their elaborate stage acts that didn’t satisfy the audience.
Before Falco left the group he penned the song “Ganz Wien” with the band. Throughout the ’80s, Austria and the rest of Europe had become his stage. While other musicians such as After the Fire (”Der Kommissar”) and Laura Branigan (”Deep in the Dark”) translated his songs to English.
He reached the top then came the downward spiral. There were failed singles, lukewarm audience reception and drug use. His appeal waned. After numerous attempts to revive his sleeping career, on February 6, 1998, the singer had an accident. He died of severe injuries after he Mitsubishi Pajero collided with a bus near the resort of Puerto Plata, in the Dominican Republic. According to autopsy, his blood showed high blood levels of alcohol and cocaine. He was working on a new album when he died. Some said it was a suicide. His body lies at the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) in Vienna, Austria.
Austrian director Thomas Roth is planning to release a film bio just in time for Falco’s death 10th anniversary. Titled, “Falco - Verdammt, wir leben noch!” (Damn, we are still alive!), after several actors /artists denied to play the tragic singer, Manuel Rubey of the Austrian band Mondscheiner eventually landed to portray Falco.
The singer still lives on. At least in Vienna.
Falco, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Christina Stürmer, Drahdiwaberl, Laura Branigan, Rock Me Amadeus, Mondscheiner, Thomas Roth, Manuel Rubey
