'amadeus' Singer Falco Dies In Wreck Staff And Wire Reports
Monday, February 9 1998
Published on AllBusiness.com
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Falco, an international technopop star of the 1980s best known for his "Rock Me Amadeus" song and video, has died in a traffic accident. He was 40.
The Austrian-born singer and songwriter, whose original name was Johann Holzel, suffered a severe head injury when his sport utility vehicle collided with a bus as he was pulling onto a highway Friday evening near the resort of Puerto Plata. He died at a Puerta Plata hospital.
There were no other injuries in the crash. Police detained the bus driver, but no charges have been filed.
Police said Holzel was vacationing at the resort, one of the most popular tourism destinations in this Caribbean country, especially among Europeans.
Falco took his name after an East German ski jumper. He played in the punk band Drahdiwaberl in the late 1970s before beginning a solo career.
His first album, "Einzelhaft," was released by A&M in 1982. The German rap song "Der Kommissar" quickly became a club hit in the United States, but the chart-topping version was a cover by the band After the Fire.
In 1986, he released "Falco 3" on Sire. Its "Rock Me Amadeus" soared to No. 1, fueled by heavy MTV rotation of Falco's video.
Subsequent releases failed to follow up on that song's worldwide success. "The Remix Hit Collection" was released in 1992.
The Austrian-born singer and songwriter, whose original name was Johann Holzel, suffered a severe head injury when his sport utility vehicle collided with a bus as he was pulling onto a highway Friday evening near the resort of Puerto Plata. He died at a Puerta Plata hospital.
There were no other injuries in the crash. Police detained the bus driver, but no charges have been filed.
Police said Holzel was vacationing at the resort, one of the most popular tourism destinations in this Caribbean country, especially among Europeans.
Falco took his name after an East German ski jumper. He played in the punk band Drahdiwaberl in the late 1970s before beginning a solo career.
His first album, "Einzelhaft," was released by A&M in 1982. The German rap song "Der Kommissar" quickly became a club hit in the United States, but the chart-topping version was a cover by the band After the Fire.
In 1986, he released "Falco 3" on Sire. Its "Rock Me Amadeus" soared to No. 1, fueled by heavy MTV rotation of Falco's video.
Subsequent releases failed to follow up on that song's worldwide success. "The Remix Hit Collection" was released in 1992.
