KLAUS NOMI

Like a shooting star, he exploded into the world then fell from the

heavens after a glittering, all-too-brief career. Now largely forgotten,

Nomi remains rock music's queerest exponent, who outshone the many acts

following in his wake.

(Rupert Smith)

 

Klaus was a face - elfin and painted as a Kabuki robot. He was a style -

a medieval interpretation of the 21st century via Berlin 1929. He was a

voice, almost inhuman in range, from operatic soprano to Prussian

general. He was a master performer - a master of theatrical gesture.

Above all he was a visionary. He said the future is based on the needs

of the artist, deciding how to live and living that way every minute.

Klaus, the man from the future, lived that way in the present, and held

out his hand saying, "Come with me. You can do it too."

His vision was naive, quaint, almost foolish, but forceful in its purity

and innocence. Even at his most wildly ridiculous ("Lightning Strikes")

or quaveringly sublime (Purcell's "Death") there was an acknowledgment

of impending apocalypse that lent it conviction. For Klaus, apocalypse

was a metaphor for purification, and as the oddball optimist surrounded

by cynical detachment and resignation, he dared to believe in a better

world.

(Kristian Hoffman)

 

LET THE GLORIOUS

NEWS BE SPREAD!

The NOMI Song

A NEW DOCUMENTARY

by ANDREW HORN

KLICK THE KLAUS

2GO2 THE SITE:

 

NOMI released two records for RCA,

the self-titled debut, and SIMPLE MAN.

Both are in print, as well as a collection.