Joey Arias facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joey Arias
At the 2009 HOWL! Festival in the East Village
Born	Fayetteville, North Carolina
Nationality	American
Other names	Joseph Arias, Joe Arias
Known for	performance artist, cabaret singer, recording artist

Joey Arias, also known as Joseph Arias or Joe Arias, is an American artist from New York City. He is famous for his work as a performance artist, a cabaret singer, and a performer who often dresses in exaggerated feminine clothing. He is also a writer, comedian, and film actor.

Who is Joey Arias?

Joey Arias was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. When he was six years old, his family moved to Los Angeles. He grew up with a love for performing and creating art.

Early Life and Start in Music

After finishing high school, Joey Arias sang with a rock band called Purlie. They even released a song in 1973. Later, he joined an improvisational comedy group called the Groundlings.

In 1976, Joey and his best friend, Kim Hastreiter, moved to New York City. Kim later helped start Paper magazine.

From Store Windows to Stage Lights

Joey Arias found a job at a designer clothing store called Fiorucci. He and other staff members, like Vincent Gallo, would perform in the store windows. They danced and modeled clothes for people passing by.

While working there, he became friends with musician Klaus Nomi. Joey sang backup for Klaus and helped design his stage sets and costumes. On December 15, 1979, Klaus Nomi and Joey Arias appeared on Saturday Night Live. They performed with David Bowie for three songs. Joey also performed with Ann Magnuson in a band called Strange Party. They recorded music and played in different nightclubs.

After Klaus Nomi passed away, Joey Arias helped manage his friend's affairs. Every year, a tribute to Klaus is held in Berlin. A documentary film about Klaus, called The Nomi Song, was released in 2004.

Cabaret and Billie Holiday Tributes

Joey Arias became a part of the growing performance art scene in New York City during the 1980s. He often performed at Club 57 and other places downtown. During this time, he also started his career in cabaret. He would sing and act like the famous singer Billie Holiday.

In the early 1990s, Joey Arias performed songs by Billie Holiday in a show called Strange Fruit. This show ran for more than a year at the Astor Place Theatre in New York City. It received good reviews from critics.

During the 1990s, Joey also performed weekly shows at Bar d'O. This was a small lounge in New York City's West Village. Other performers often joined him there. These shows have inspired yearly reunion performances. A documentary film about these evenings was made in 2011.

Las Vegas and New York Shows

In 2003, Joey Arias moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. He starred in Cirque du Soleil's show Zumanity at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino. He also helped write two of the songs for the show.

After six years, Joey returned to New York. He starred in Arias with a Twist, a show he created with puppeteer Basil Twist. The show received a great review from the New York Times. Arias with a Twist has toured to Los Angeles and Paris. A film about the show also premiered in 2010.

A new version of the show, Arias with a Twist: Deluxe, returned to New York in 2011. Joey Arias also performed concerts in New York, including a show at Town Hall in 2010.

Recent Performances and Legacy

Joey Arias continues to perform in places like Joe's Pub and Feinstein's/54 Below.

In 2019, his collection of personal and work materials was acquired by Harvard University's Houghton Library. This collection also includes items related to Klaus Nomi.

In November 2023, Joey Arias released a new album called Past Present Future.

On Screen: Movies and Documentaries

Joey Arias has appeared in several films. These include Big Top Pee-wee, Mondo New York, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Flawless, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, and Wigstock: The Movie.

He also appeared in the 2016 film The Zanctuary. In 2012, he was interviewed in the documentary film Jobriath A.D..

Christmas with the Crawfords

Joey Arias played the role of Joan Crawford in productions of Christmas with the Crawfords. This play is a funny version of Christina Crawford's book Mommie Dearest. It has been a holiday tradition since 1992. Joey starred in productions of the play in New York and San Francisco.

Personal Life

Joey Arias married Scottish artist Juano Diaz in 2014.

Music Albums

• PAST PRESENT FUTURE (2023)

Singles

• "Fish Out of Water"
• "Good Morning Heartache"
• "Nevertheless"
• "Neil Innes"
• "No One Knows"
• "Them Them Eyes"
• "Them There Eyes"

See also

• LGBT culture in New York City
• List of LGBT people from New York City
• NYC Pride March