“I think it is nice to be a little magical. Today we need this. But nowadays we can think that this magic has been killed and I am trying to make it survive as long as possible.”
- Name: Klaus Nomi (Klaus Sperber)
- Born: January 24, 1944
- Died: August 6, 1983
- From: Bavaria, Germany
- Pronouns: He/him
- Contribution/Impact: Nomi is known for his wide singing range and otherworldly persona. He would put on bizarre theatrical performances, wear heavy make up, costumes, and stylized hair. In Germany, he would sing opera at the Berlin gay discoteque Kleist Casino. He would take pop hits and re-work them into his theatrical productions, such as Lou Chrisitie’s ‘Lightning Strikes.’
- Occupation: Singer, Musician
- Known For: “Total Eclipse” (1981), “Nomi Song” (1982), “Lightning Strikes” (1982)
- Awards: A documentary about his life called the Nomi Song won a Teddy award for Best Documentary Film.
- Interesting Facts: He was a backup singer for David Bowie in 1979 on Saturday night live. He adapted his notorious plastic suit from David that night.
Klaus Nomi was a German operatic and theatrical singer performer, who was known for his performances and adaptions of popular songs. He moved to New York in 1972, and got involved with the East Village art scene. This area was a development scene for Punk rock, as well as avant-garde and visual arts. He was part of the Avant-garde performances there, and was known for his plastic suit he wore in his performances. He died of Aids in 1983 at the age of 39, and was one of the first celebrity artists to do so.
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