FalcoFalco was the stage name of Johann Hölzel (1957–1998), a pioneering Austrian solo artist and singer rather than a band. He achieved massive international superstardom by masterfully blending New Wave pop with early hip-hop elements, establishing himself as Europe’s first successful rap artist.

He made chart history with his infectious 1985 smash hit “Rock Me Amadeus,” which remains the only German-language song to ever top the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Falco scored numerous other global hits, including the controversial synth-pop thriller “Jeanny” and the club anthem “Der Kommissar,” cementing his legacy as a brilliant, eccentric pop icon.