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Klaus Nomi

Posted over 4 years ago
I watched the Klaus Nomi documentary _Nomi Song_ this weekend. A fellow mogger (can't remember who) a while back recommended it and I watched it. I knew a few songs by him but by and large I didn't know anything about him. I was surprised at how much of this took place in New York in the mid to late 70's. I'm a big junkie for documentaries from or about this period. Whether it's about art, breakdancing, hip-hop, no wave, punk, disco, Puerto Rican music, graffiti, or whatever I love seeing how amazingly creative New York was during this time period. I felt that this Nomi documentary filled in a few holes in this ever building story for me. It was slow at first but I really got into it. I'm obsessed now. I want all of his albums. There's something strangely hypnotizing about him. I feel like a gushing fan when I watch his videos. There is something about him that I clicked with. Klaus was a German countertenor that moved from Immenstadt, Germany to New York in the mid 70's. His music is New Wave to the core. He died of Aids in 1983. It was a tragic loss and I have to wonder what would've happened if he had lived longer. He was such an amazingly strange but lovely character. There's a lot on his "wiki entry":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_Nomi if you want to know more. I do recommend the documentary. I found it fascinating. Here's some videos from YouTube. There are a ton of them out there.
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Comments (19)

  1. Lizziegreeneyes
    Lizziegreeneyes says Daahhooooood - I am so having Edward Scissorhands flashbacks ;) I dig him quite a lot though !!!
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  2. fistula spume
    fistula spume says I see what you mean Lizzie. Glad you liked it. Klaus was truly an alien among humans.
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  3. Lady Miss Ian
    Lady Miss Ian says Holy Shite, Fisty. I just re-watched the Nomi Song this weekend, too! I was going to post some Nomi stuff. Maybe Klaus energy was streaming down from the full moon or something. This is just freaky. I loved Klaus. The first time I saw a picture of him in a news story about Fiorucci, I was like "These are my people." Suffice it to say there were not many or any people like Klaus in my Midwest burgh. Seeing him and Joey on SNL with Bowie was another transcendent moment. It punched a hole in the grey, looming 80s and gave me hope for an interesting decade to come. He was truly a daring and unique artist.
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  4. Lizziegreeneyes
    Lizziegreeneyes says Aliens are way cool - especially in music :) (and film)
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  5. I am
    I am says Klaus Nomi had a guest shot in the final episode of The Venture Brothers animated series. Which is too stinkin' funny. Get it if you can. His legacy lives on and on and on and on ........
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  6. fistula spume
    fistula spume says I saw that I am. That was quite heelarious. I loved that his power was his sonic scream.
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  7. fistula spume
    fistula spume says Oh I missed your comment Lady Miss Ian. I think there must've been something in the air this weekend. That movie was so good. I loved the info about Fiorucci. I liked it all really. The special features were very fun. I loved the slide show of the East Village the most. Great stuff. Too bad he wasn't given a chance in the US. I was also surprised to see how young Man Parrish looks. Nice to see him in the movie.
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  8. I am
    I am says Yeah. And Iggy Pop and his "RAW POWER".
    Permalink posted 07/01/2007
  9. gympumpkin
    gympumpkin says Wow, I completely forgot about Klaus Nomi! Not that I was overly familiar with him to begin with, but I read something about him a few years ago and saw some videos and thought he was great. Then he completely slipped from my brain. Seeing those videos reminded me of this video Tim found last year: I think it's just the outfit, as they are quite different. Look at how young Martin Sheen was!
    Permalink posted 07/02/2007
  10. fistula spume
    fistula spume says I know. Sheen such a baby back then. They had this video on the documentary. Apparently aside from the after show party Bowie never contacted Klaus after this. His group seemed bummed about this as they thought they had made the big time. Good stuff, though. One of my favorite Bowie songs.
    Permalink posted 07/02/2007
  11. The Serenity Vortex
    The Serenity Vortex says Er..........I need to think about this one for a while dude lol! It's gets a vote from me just for being odd. Please forgive that understatement. Like I said, I need to think..........
    Permalink posted 07/02/2007
  12. fistula spume
    fistula spume says It's truly odd. I'd say remarkable. Weird like this you almost need a Rosetta Stone that broke it down in another kind of weird and English to understand. I love it. I don't know what it is about it. I haven't heard an album but I've had about 5 of his songs stuck in my head for the last 3 days. He's like if Grace Jones were a German guy that was transplanted from Mars to mess with our concept of pop idealism.
    Permalink posted 07/02/2007
  13. The Serenity Vortex
    The Serenity Vortex says I think he's here just to mess with us.......... ;) Your comparison is about as close as we are going to get without some kind of psychotropic intervention Fistula. Thanks for helping me out lol!
    Permalink posted 07/02/2007
  14. fistula spume
    fistula spume says No problem TBF. So much I could say to that but I'll leave it at "no problem". I'm just a simple man. ;)
    Permalink posted 07/02/2007
  15. nicki
    nicki says Aah, yes, strangely enough - this was another one of the artists that my old boss put on our "music on hold" system. No wonder we really weren't a hit with the clients.
    Permalink posted 07/05/2007
  16. fistula spume
    fistula spume says How funny. I can see how the clients wouldn't like this. Especially if they were on hold. The public demands nondescript music with frequent "we'll be right with you" messages.
    Permalink posted 07/05/2007
  17. nicki
    nicki says Especially if the anchor client was Playboy. Hello!
    Permalink posted 07/05/2007
  18. tangerman
    tangerman says

    I was also "hypnotized" by him recently! :-)

    There is something really special about him.

    Listen to Valentine`s Day (my latest post) :-) and the synth track Supersonic Electronic

    on You Tube.

    Permalink posted 12/06/2008
  19. madeline x
    madeline x says

    You can read my story about Klaus Nomi here...

    http://madelinex.blogspot.com/2008/09/klaus-nomi-riding-new-wav.html

    Also -video of Klaus at Fiorucci!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-pMwDzK8uw

    All the best,

    Madeline

    Permalink posted 01/09/2010

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