POP MUSIC : Missing No Longer

Big-voiced Maria McKee looked like a superstar in the making when she surfaced with the country-influenced L.A. band Lone Justice in the mid-’80s. Even after disappointing sales for the band’s 1986 debut album, as well as for a 1987 follow-up and her solo debut, 1989’s melancholy “Maria McKee,” she still seemed to have big potential.

Instead, she pulled a disappearing act. Her absence brought about rumors that she’d been dropped by her label, Geffen Records, and that she was battling some personal problems. The rumors also placed her in various romantic links, including one with guitarist Ally McErlane of the Scottish group Texas. She did resurface recently doing background vocals on Texas’ 1991 album “Mothers Heaven.”

But now word comes from Geffen--which has not dropped her--that the singer is doing well and living in Dublin, which has been a paradise to her since Lone Justice played there as U2’s opening act in 1986. And take heart, fans: She’s in the early stages of work on a second solo album, which is tentatively due to be released sometime this year.