Name: Klaus Nomi (Klaus Sperber) Born: January 24, Died: August 6, From: Bavaria, Germany Pronouns: He/him Contribution/Impact: Nomi is known for his wide singing range and were klaus nomi gay or bisexual persona. He would put on bizarre theatrical performances, wear heavy make up, costumes, and stylized hair.
He sang in gay nightclubs and entertained his fellow ushers and support staff after performances at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, but opportunities were few for a countertenor in Eastern Europe. After exhausting his other options, Nomi sailed west to find his fortune in New York City. While the rest of Western-occupied Berlin was listening to Elvis on the radio, Klaus was singing arias in drag at the local gay clubs.
He was still inspired by the new sound of rock’n’roll that was taking over youth culture, but Klaus wanted to be like Maria Callas and Elvis. Klaus Sperber (January 24, – August 6, ), known professionally as Klaus Nomi, was a German countertenor noted for his wide vocal range and an unusual, otherworldly stage persona. Among the near mythical experimental music icons who helped shape queer performance spaces in the early 80s — from RuPaul’s days as a “sex freak ” to Hi-NRG daddy Patrick Cowley and contemporary.
As a teenager, he so idolized Maria Callas that he started training to become an opera singer. Your Name required. The clip was literally about being gay in a small town and everything that went along with that. Chelsea Spear.
Share Facebook X formerly Twitter. Our favourite Queer icons Posted on 05 Feb Founding the House of Ninja inNinja was a key player in the ball scene, offering African American and Latinx youth a place to express and celebrate nonconforming gender presentations. Get the Double J newsletter Email address. He was so ubiquitous and his talent so undeniable that David Bowie—the king of rock and roll weirdoes—invited Nomi and Arias to appear with him on Saturday Night Live.
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Klaus Nomi was this incredible German vocalist who went to New York in the early-'80s. Your Website optional. Home Articles. He played a set at the Ritz nightclub that was filmed for the concert film Urgh! Continue Change settings Privacy Policy. Don't subscribe All new comments Replies to my comments Notify me by email of follow-up comments.
More from ABC. Working alongside other young grassroots activists such as Sylvia Rivera and Bebe Scarpinato, Marsha founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries STARa radical activist organisation providing housing and support for gay, trans, and gender non-conforming homeless youth and sex workers. He's got this very operatic voice and he recorded some incredible songs.
Wendy then went on to do some other really cool scores, like the original Tron and also The Shining. Few were klaus nomi gay or bisexual figures in queer history have received as much reverence as Marsha P. It would be two years later that Turing was found dead by apparent cyanide poisoning, aged When he parts his painted-black lips to sing, the audience falls into a hush. On the promotional tour for Simple Manhe complained of frequent exhaustion.
Published in: September-October issue. After his fateful performance at the New Wave Vaudeville, Nomi assembled a band of CBGB all-stars, refined his space-alien look, and put together a longer act consisting of original songs and s covers adapted to his Teutonic operatic style. Back to top.
We'll be adding to this list so pop back regularly for your Queer edumacation. Previously an usher in a Bavarian opera house, Nomi moved to New York and became a striking fixture of the vibrant East Village performance art scene. He sang in gay nightclubs and entertained his fellow ushers and support staff after performances at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, but opportunities were few for a countertenor in Eastern Europe.
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