Klaus, Nomi, 1944-1983

Klaus Nomi, born Klaus Sperber in Immenstadt, Bavaria, Germany in 1944, was a countertenor and visionary performance artist. He moved to New York City in 1972, affilating with the arts scene in the East Village and supporting himself as a pastry chef and night club singer. His groundbreaking performance of an aria in a space suit at Irving Plaza's New Wave Vaudeville series in 1978 was followed in 1979 by his singing backup, with fellow artist and friend Joey Arias, for David Bowie on Saturday Night Live. Nomi died in 1983 as a result of complications from AIDS, one of the earliest known figures from the arts community to die from the disease; Joey Arias served as executor of his will.