Klaus Nomi - 1981
Klaus Nomi was born Klaus Sperber in Bavaria, Germany in 1944. In the late 60's, he started singing in a gay discothèque in Berlin before moving to New York in 1972. Nomi became very involved in the New York art scene. He sang in a four night event called "New Wave Vaudeville" where he dressed in a spacesuit with a clear plastic cape. His performance was so well received that he was invited to play at clubs all over the city. David Bowie heard about the phenomenal performer and hired Nomi and friend Joey Arias in 1979 to sing backup in an appearance on Saturday Night Live.
Nomi's spacy outfits
Although Nomi never enjoyed mainstream success, he was an important part of the punk-rock, avant-garde, visual art scene in the East Village in the early 80's. Nomi wore his signature black and white plastic tuxedo with spandex pants most of the time, but sometimes he donned a Shakespearean ensemble complete with Elizabethan collar. It's not hard to see how he has influenced fashion. Designers such as Gareth Pugh have adopted some of his ideas.
Nomi in 1981 Gareth Pugh - Spring 2007
Klaus Nomi Gareth Pugh - Spring 2009
Klaus Nomi Gareth Pugh - Spring 2009
In August 1983, Nomi died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York as a result of an illness complicated by AIDS. Apparently, his ashes were spread all over the city. If you're interested in learning more about this talented and outrageous human being, check out Andrew Horn's 2004 documentary titled "The Nomi Song."
UPDATE: Madeline was kind enough to share a post from her blog. What a great story! Thanks Madeline.
UPDATE: Madeline was kind enough to share a post from her blog. What a great story! Thanks Madeline.
Fascinating. I've never heard of him. That would have been a time I'd have loved to live in NY (late 70s - before AIDS).
ReplyDeleteOh, that's what all that pollution is -- Nomi's ashes!
ReplyDeleteHe was unique, no doubt about it. I've gotten to see Arias perform live a couple of times.
Where would we be today without MTV programming. God bless it!
ReplyDeleteYou can read my story about Klaus Nomi here...
ReplyDeletehttp://madelinex.blogspot.com/2008/09/klaus-nomi-riding-new-wav.html
So theatrical! Could be a good look to reprise for a Halloween party...
ReplyDeletethanks for the story... never heard of him before but will wiki him now.
ReplyDeleteI've recently started a blog and would love it if you dropped by/exchanged links with me. :)
http://diyainherstilettos.blogspot.com/