Recall: Knowing You, Knowing Nomi

We've been infatuated with cult performer Klaus Nomi after seeing Andrew Horn's documentary The Nomi Song. Nomi's operatic, new wave music and alien-in-a-tuxedo drag made him an art star who went on to sing backup for Bowie on SNL and tour Europe before his fame dwindled. As a sad footnote, he was also one of the first artists to die of AIDS in the early eighties.

East Village performance art doyenne and current L.A. Woman Ann Magnuson, who was a friend of Nomi's, reports on her blog that a production company was developing a biopic of singer, with Alan Cumming in the title role, and had approached Douglas Carter Beane to rewrite the first draft of the script:

"Say WHAT? Alan Cumming as Klaus Nomi? Now I think Cumming was brilliant in CABARET and maybe that 'emcee' character is Nomi-adjacent but........I dunno. Well, maybe.
Then Beane dropped the real bombshell. "And in the notes they handed me" Beane said, "There were explicit directions to write 'An Ann Magnuson character' and "A Joey Arias character'. I had to hold onto my chair. Oh. My. God. This is what happens when you live long enough -- you end up as a character in someone else's version of your life. "

The rest of Ann's musings on the subject are worth a read. A complicated creature, Nomi wasn't an angel but he certainly had the voice of one.

Here's the video for his incomparable version of "Lightning Strikes." As much as we love La Cumming, we have to agree that we don't see him in the role. Klaus Nomi was a role created by Klaus Nomi, anyone else would be a second-rate understudy.





Alan Cumming as Klaus Nomi? [Papermag Blogs]


Klaus Nomi ;Nomi Song ;Lightning Strikes ;Ann Magnuson

Wiretap: Bongwater

We thought it was time to revisit one of our favorite performers: actress, musician, and dowtown doyenne Ann Magnuson, who along with Mark Kramer made up the band Bongwater. With our penchant for pop culture icons and mind-altering drugs, it was inevitable Ann led us to the "Psychedelic Sewing Room." Enjoy the trip.





Ann Magnuson ;Bongwater ;Psychedelic Sewing Room

411: If You Can't Go to Burning Man, Bring Burning Man to You

We've never been to Burning Man, but a few of our operatives have and boy, it sure seems like a crazy, drug-fueled orgy swell little gathering. We'd totally go, but then we'd have to leave the house and well, interact with people. Luckily, our favorite L.A. Woman Ann Magnuson has a list of ways to enjoy the Burning Man experience in the comfort and safety of your own home. Here are a few:

Pay an escort of your affectional preference subset to not bathe for five days, cover themselves in glitter, dust, and sunscreen, wear a skanky neon wig, dance close naked, then say they have a lover back home at the end of the night.

Only use the toilet in a house that is at least 3 blocks away. Drain all the water from the toilet. Only flush it every 3 days. Hide all the toilet paper.

Don't sleep for 5 days. Take a wide variety of hallucinogenic/emotion altering drugs. Pick a fight with your boyfriend/girlfriend.

Before eating any food, drop it in a sandbox and lick a battery.

Have a 3 a.m. soul baring conversation with a drag nun in platforms, a crocodile and Bugs Bunny. Be unable to tell if you're hallucinating. Lust after Bugs Bunny.

For the full list of ways to simulate the singular Burning Man experience, go here:

In Lieu of Burning Man [Papermag Blogs]

Burning Man ;Festivals ;Ann Magnuson

The Directory: A Few of Our Favorites

OperatorNYC's been thinking about the Scissor Sisters since their sold-out gig last night. As they're a favorite band here at The Operator, we decided it would be a good time to revisit some of our other favorites, the entertainers and innovators that are always on speed dial -- never far from our thoughts.

Ann Magnuson -- A virtual den mother of the performance art scene, Ms. Magnuson has conquered all media without losing her unique voice. From her downtown New York days to her work in television and movies and her music career, she's remained an inspiration.

Kiki and Herb -- The awe inspiring, sheer fucking genius of this punk cabaret duo will rip you apart. "People die, ladies and gentlemen, that's all you need to know." Long live Kiki and Herb. FYI, they're playing two "secret" shows at Joe's Pub on May 2nd and 3rd. Call for tickets.

Mike Albo -- Writer/monologist/yoga enthusiast. His book The Underminer hit so close to home it was eery. You can see him naked if you buy the latest issue of Butt Magazine.

Jonathan Ames -- Never afraid to fly his tranny-chasing, sexually dysfunctional, balding, neurotic freak flag for our amusement. And he looks dapper in seersucker.

Laura Linney -- We've loved her since her embodiment of Mary Anne singleton in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. Her honest work in The Squid and the Whale only made us love her more.

Michael Cunningham -- We heard a (unconfirmed) story about his tenure at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He was told his novel The Hours was shite and that he'd never be a novelist. Jokes on them. Cunnigham continues to crystallize the human experience in new and insightful ways; the beauty of his words is unparalleled. You've made us weep openly, which is really embarrassing when you're riding the subway.

Amy Sedaris -- Sister of David, a true chamelon and freak. We eagerly await the big screen adaptation of cult hit Strangers with Candy -- all of us boozers, users and losers.

David Cross -- standing up and telling it like it is. Accept no imitations.

These are just a few of the many, many talented people who've inspired us here at The Operator. We'll feature more in the months to come.