> Austrian pop star Falco, who achieved monumental fame in Europe with "Jeanny" and hit #1 in the United States with an English remix of "Rock Me Amadeus", recently passed away in a car accident in the Dominican Republic at the age of 40.
> Oasis is considering the release of a compilation album - whose contents will be determined by fans - towards the end of 1998.
Rather than being a true compilation of all their B-sides, this effort will include only twelve songs. Fans can choose among 31 tracks (excluding live and demo versions of songs already appearing on albums) to decide the actual track listing by emailing their list to oasis@oasisinet.com with name, email address, and a subject header of "Compilation LP" before April 30, 1998.
For further information on this and other Oasis news, go to http://www.oasisinet.com .
> Guitarist Chris DeGarmo has left Queensryche to pursue other projects. The band's new album is reportedly at least half finished; no word on whether they'll try to make do with 1 guitarist instead of 2, but they're reportedly looking for a replacement.
> Mercury Records has tentatively set June, 1998, for the American release of a greatest hits packages of the Rainmakers. A 'best of' disc was issued six years ago for the band in Norway.
> Rhino Home Video will be releasing documentaries on the making of Paul Simon's Graceland and Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life featuring outtakes, demos, live performances and some previously unreleased footage. These videos will be avilable on March 17, 1998.
> James Iha will be appearing on America Online at 9pm EST on February 26 for an online chat; keyword VIRGIN.
> The founder of Nitzer Ebb, Bon Harris, has been enlisted by Billy Corgan to add an electronic edge to the new Smashing Pumpkins album. According to Harris, "This is a very different record for Smashing Pumpkins, with probably 50% of it being electronic-oriented. Billy gives me free reign with what Im doing. He gives me the songs, I go work on them, bring them back, and it works."
Harris is also working on material for his new project, Maven. Flood and Billy Corgan are expected to be involved with Maven in some capacity.
