I’ve finished work. Michael AligArtist and Party Promoter#Death. I saw it. Michael Alig (born April 29, 1966) is an American convicted killer who served almost 17 years in prison for manslaughter; a former club promoter, musician, and writer, Alig was a founder and ringleader of the Club Kids – a group of young New York City clubgoers that became a cultural phenomenon during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Alig walked free in 2014, returning to a very different New York than the one he remembered; the legendary Limelight had become an upscale shopping mall, and his once-seedy Times Square a Disneyland. They should only have known what and who his minder was. It worked well for my job – I was a promoter."[15]. 4 in their top 400 listing. [9] In May 2015, a selection of Alig's paintings went on display at the SELECT Fair in New York. It worked well for my job – I was a promoter."[15]. As Alig's popularity in the club scene grew, so did his drug use. Watching Alig now, surrounded by glitter and glam, he finally looked in his element. Augostina Mallous: Perseverance Is Key to Living a... Chuck McDermott: The Girl From St. Lucy Is My Mother. The radio show's online hub at invocation.co serves as a conduit for discussion of the show, while featuring related videos and auxiliary content. The comments were not kind. [41], On February 2, 2017, Alig was arrested for trespassing and smoking crystal meth in Joyce Kilmer Park in Concourse, outside the Bronx Supreme Court, at approximately 1:30 a.m. I think that it’s a very complex issue,” he says. The Democratic parade of hopefuls? Revelers started clearing out well before last call. Some Fans Really Want It, Shefik Presents Invocation: The Journey Continues, Michael Alig: I Spent a Lot of Time in Solitary Confinement, Michael Alig: Death Has Always Really Frightened Me, Michael Alig: Revolution Is Extremely Important in the World, Glory Daze: The Life and Times of Michael Alig. Tell me who’s the judge … I’ll do anything to get my client off. © Copyright 2020 Rolling Stone, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. The New York Daily News reported that Alig was arraigned on drug possession and trespass charges, and pleaded guilty to trespass in exchange for a conditional discharge.[42]. When the conversation turns again toward his heyday, Michael drags a large cardboard box out from some corner of the crowded living room and begins rummaging through it. The blog contained transcripts of phone conversations between Alig and St. James about Alig's experiences in prison. The journey continues right here and everywhere. Some want another drink ticket – he’s equipped with a stack at all times – while others just want the party monster to pose long enough for a perfect selfie. Some of Alig's behavior could be explained by a personality disorder; he reports being diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder, stating: "The doctor said I was the most extreme case he'd ever seen. “If you think about it, he really is sort of like the Andy Warhol of our generation,” says one, named Jonathan, a college student who first met Alig here on Halloween and has been attending the “Outrage” parties ever since, his name now one of many on weekly invitations. Not locally — but for some reason deep in the heart of Brooklyn. Afterwards, he and Riggs threw the box into the Hudson River. His ability to stage memorable parties helped him rise in New York's party scene. After all, it’s been nearly two decades since this now 50-year-old party boy ruled these downtown streets. Predictably, this charitable ploy did little to stem the flow of outrage online. For manslaughter. "After Andy Warhol’s death in 1987, when writer Michael Musto famously declared … (In the feature film, James was played by the actor Seth Green). [12], Alig was paroled on May 5, 2014. The Club Kids wore outrageous costumes that former Club Kid and celebutante James St. James later described as "part drag, part clown, part infantilism". Aptly titled Shefik presents Invocation, the nationally-syndicated terrestrial radio show is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking journey through musical discovery and appreciation that spans the decades. [10], In 1988, Alig was hired by the owner of The Limelight, Peter Gatien. Several pieces would wash up on the shores of Staten Island eight months later. He bounced between friends’ places for a while, eventually landing in the apartment of a boyfriend, a walk-up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. “Everything I do, I don’t say it’s necessarily right. He was a founding member of the notorious Club Kids, a group of young club goers led by Alig and James St. James in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The party won’t start for another hour or two, but Alig is already hard at work; standing in the corner of the brightly-lit, silent bar and drinking pink lemonade instead of his usual prosecco, he’s autographing giant lithographs of his original Limelight invitations from 1990, which he sells for $100 a piece. Michael Alig (born April 29, 1966) is an American convicted killer who served almost 17 years in prison for manslaughter; a former club promoter, musician, and writer, Alig was a founder and ringleader of the Club Kids – a group of young New York City clubgoers that became a cultural phenomenon during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Alig doesn’t just collect a weekly paycheck for throwing parties here – he’s also cultivating a new set of people to populate them. Despite the fact that New York was being pounded by a Nor’easter, the place was as packed, and Alig’s new crew was dressed to kill: 10-inch platform heels, bird wings, copious amounts of glitter. Your Ad Choices Young people now lived in Brooklyn and the last time he called Manhattan home, New Yorkers were still two years away from meeting Carrie Bradshaw for the first time, and five from the fall of the Twin Towers. Hey, OK by me — but wouldn’t a parent prefer their child being watched over by Mary supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Poppins than a manslaughterer? [20], In the weeks following Melendez's disappearance, Alig allegedly told "anyone who would listen" that he and Riggs had killed him. Michael Alig (born April 29, 1966) is an American convicted killer who served almost 17 years in prison for manslaughter; a former club promoter, musician, and writer, Alig was a founder and ringleader of the Club Kids – a group of young New York City clubgoers that became a cultural phenomenon during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Alig is back, trying to regain the fabulousness he lost while locked up. [5] Seeking a less conservative social environment after graduating in 1984, he attended Fordham University in New York City. While that’s a nice sentiment, it doesn’t exactly ring true for all of Alig’s old acquaintances – the ones who knew him at height of the Limelight days. Mind, this Desmond is a young club kid. [2] Per the conditions of his parole, Alig returned to New York City. They initially left it in the bathtub, which they filled with ice. I don’t want to encourage him as a promoter… let’s not let that happen again.”. The complaint alleges that "police found a bag of crystal meth and a pipe with residue from the drug in his jacket pocket". [35] He was again denied parole in July 2008 after failing several drug tests. Whatever officials may be officialling in Jersey City, listen up: FYI: A charmer around you is Michael Alig.If you don’t know NYC late-night lore, be it known Alig is the original Club Kid. Alig's Club Kids included (among others): "Ernie Glam", "Gitsie", "Jennytalia", "Superstar DJ Keoki", Amanda Lepore, Charlie "Dash" Prestano, Joshua Davis "Richie Rich", Robert "Freeze" Riggs, RuPaul, and "Walt Paper". Alig’s parties were once the stuff of New York legend. Comparatively, Son of Sam seems a peace-maker. [41], On February 2, 2017, Alig was arrested for trespassing and smoking crystal meth in Joyce Kilmer Park in Concourse, outside the Bronx Supreme Court, at approximately 1:30 a.m.