DJ Ötzi

Few Austrians have made as much of a stir in the pop music world as DJ Otzi, otherwise known as Gerry Friedle. The bleached blond from Tyrol became a sensation in late 2001 by turning classic party songs into dance tracks, winning loads of fans and selling millions of singles in the process. But his work has also earned him plenty of scorn from the media, especially in the U.K., with some journalists labeling his music overtly disposable. His first single was a massive hit throughout Central Europe in 2000. The following year, he pushed Madonna from the number one spot in the German singles charts. ~ David Peter Wesolowski