Michael Alig : Can New York ever process the legacy of the Party Monster(2023)

The life of  Michael alig was filled with highs and lows. Infamous drug addict and later murderer, he would, nevertheless, revolutionize the art of party in New York before falling into disgrace after the murder of Angel Melendez, his drug dealer and follower. Imprisonned for most of his adult life (17 years), he would later die from a drug overdose on Christmass Eve right into the covid pandemic. How can  New York process the life & death of one of its most prominent and infamous party icon?

Beauty In The Beast (A difficult heritage to embrace)

If you ever had organized a party, you can relate how much of his work was pure art : the magnitude, the frequency (1 party a week is INSANE), he was at FOUR! Also the cultural impact of it (Where do you think Rupaul & friends come from?) HIS SCENE. There is no denial to it. And we must stop pretending it wasnt as important in nightlife culture as it was. Nothing since then, came even close to it. 2000 KIDS EVERY WEDNESDAY PAYING A 20$ COVER IN 1991. That is like 40$ bucks in 2023 on a freaking wednesday. hmmm no.

Making the Monster

I know he killed somebody. But bro, Disco 2000 was 2000 kids ! EVERY WEDNESDAY .20$ cover in 1991!!! in MANHATTAN, New York : THE LAST GLORIOUS AGE OF CLUBS and he was only 26.

Bro you like or not, but Michael Alig was instrumental to that age and on top of the pyramid #facts. Like P.Diddy he called the shots. That is not me having a point of view, that is factu. He gave a job to RuPaul BEFORE THE FAME… whatever she likes it or not He made Leigh Bowery performed in New York. FREAKIN LEIGH BOWERY. Boy George would hang out at his clubs just because …. Bjork was chilling with his crew. Madonna used to vip his clubs to see what what hip. NO QUESTION ASKED.

An underniable walk of success (His accomplishment)

If you ever had organized a party, you can relate how much of his work was pure art : the magnitude, the frequency (1 party a week is INSANE), he was at FOUR! Also the cultural impact of it (Where do you think Rupaul & friends come from?) HIS SCENE. There is no denial to it. And we must stop pretending it wasnt as important in nightlife culture as it was. Nothing since then, came even close to it. 2000 KIDS EVERY WEDNESDAY PAYING A 20$ COVER IN 1991. That is like 40$ bucks in 2023 on a freaking wednesday. hmmm no.

Gays & Trans People on Mainstream Television

The problem with facts is that they are undeniable. To say that Michael Alig’s run of mainstream talk shows bringing « freaks » for views and publicity had one understated effect : it was probably for most « young Americans », the first time they say gay & trans in their life. An example would be the presence of Amanda Lepore on Geraldo in 1991. After being asked if she is a male or a female, she simply puts that she is the « idea of woman ». This was on mainstream television, 20 years, before gay marriage was legal in New York. Again on that same show, when being asked if the intervewees are gay, none of them.

A legacy maker and honorary

He made Leigh Bowery performed in New York. FREAKIN LEIGH BOWERY. And Leigh Bowery was not cheap.

A tradition created at Studio 54

Following the steps of Steve Rubbel (infamous but notorious owner of Studio 54), he made sure people were there, at the door, to make sure your average joe bloe did not enter the club. Yet 2000 people were ready to pay 20$ in 1991 on a Wednesday. Mind you, he was only 25 then….FREAKING 25 years old.

An era of Decadence

When you look at the mainstream success of American culture in the 90s, there is a common denomitator that only grew bigger until the « 2000 bug » : the apocalypse. Put in Fight Club, Kurt Cobain, Californication, Marilyn Manson, Columbine even the Simpsons, Alexander Mcqueen, Heroin Chic, The Prodigy Firestarter, Nine Inch Nails’ The Dowward Spiral, Radiohead’s Ok Computer…Trainspotting, there was this sense that society was falling and this walk towards a certain rebellion mixed with apathy became more and more extreme gore. Marilyn Manson’s Antichrist Superstar is probably the pinacle and Columbine the horrible aftermath. In that vein, Michael Alig’s magazine « Project X » was putting ads of « CRACK » next to Armani ads. Where could it go wrong from there? This romantiscm of descending to hell feels very original especially of the mainstream stars of that time. But Courtney Love didn’t seem to have such a great time the year she was the most relevant (1995) as « Live Through this » came out 3 days after, her husband, Kurt Cobain, did himself with what was found to be 5x the lethal heroin dose amount in his blood. This bloodfeast drug days had a cost. Lives were lost and art that had a lasting impact on the world, was made.

But, wait a minute

It does put a context around these bad behaviours. Remember all those people were under 30 at the time and on top of the world. This kind of fame has been rarely seen before at that magnitude.

Celebrating American culture yet with comments

Hard facts

Michael Alig did do great parties that shaped the nightlife of New York. He also did a lot to promote on mainstream level the idea of queerness and gender bender.  New York was a place of culture and music that still resonates with today’s antics. All of this before the age of 30 years old.

The Vision

According to Ernie Glam, the Club Kids had a vision : to go as extreme as possible to leave their imprint on New York. It was their plan and that is what they did.

An Influençal group of pals

Bro you like or not, but Michael Alig was instrumental to that age and on top of the pyramid #facts. Like P.Diddy he called the shots. That is not me having a point of view, that is fact. He gave a job to RuPaul BEFORE THE FAME… whatever she likes it or not He made Leigh Bowery performed in New York. FREAKIN LEIGH BOWERY. Boy George would hang out at his clubs just because …. Bjork was chilling with his crew. Madonna used to vip his clubs to see what what hip. NO QUESTION ASKED.

Marilyn Manson/Walt Paper Case

Marilyn Mason 90s il litterally a straight version of the club kids as seen on Geraldo (tv spots organized by Michael Alig) and most literrally Walt Paper’s look. When you compare them both, it is obvious. There is a latter comparaison also between Lady Gage « Fame Monster » cover and Kenny Kenny looks (the wig).

Madonna’s odd spiritual journey’s and Dj Keoki’s All Mixed Up Cover

Marilyn Mason 90s il litterally a straight version of the club kids as seen on Geraldo (tv spots organized by Michael Alig) and most literrally Walt Paper’s look. When you compare them both, it is obvious. There is a latter comparaison also between Lady Gage « Fame Monster » cover and Kenny Kenny looks (the wig).

Bjork hanging out with kids.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/w3kGy_S5HjEA common theme is that there were very close to the culture that became mainstream in a very respected way. You have also to remember that all these people were under 30. I mean, Michael Alig, was 1 year older than Kurt Cobain and literraly fell from grace shortly after his 30th birthday.

A fallen monster : The inevitable creation of a myth

Okay you want to virtue signal that bad people are bad, but can you shut the fuck up when no one asl your opinion on the body of work of someone.

They come on stage when the performer leaves

The bliss of not Knowing

Nobody knew how things would end. It is tempting to know afterwards but it is hard to judge people that knew him before everything happened.

How do we process?

As a society we need to set up values and principles to guide us into separating the good from the bad. The problem with Michael Alig’s life is that, low key, he is very respected by party organizers and socialites. New York still parties like the Club Kids do but maybe just in a lesser manner. Before Michael Alig’s party, nobody really dressed out as a Space Punk Commander to go out and party. And on multiple occasions, he led the « A-B-C »s of doing it. Him as well as his group of followers.

Separating the beauty from the beast

Okay you want to virtue signal that bad people are bad, but can you shut the fuck up when no one asl your opinion on the body of work of someone.

They come on stage when the performer leaves

Fallen Angel : A glamourous descend to hell

Kurt Cobain said that after becoming a rock star, he decided to become a junkie and live the « sex,drug & rock’n’roll » lifestyle he always read about. It does feel part of our culture is look at our icons burn in glory until it is too late. The 00s had the barbie icons (L.A. Socialites)  and Camden druggies (Amy Winehouse & The Libertines). Those glamourous descend to hell made great documentaries….

Drug Usage : Hitting the point of no return

Hiding and dismembering a dead body while a seventeen years old was living in the appartament is unforgiving….to later use his drugs and share them with pals…..vomits

Yeah, so apparently, son of famous writer Paul Auster, was a roomate (and lover) of Michael Alig (30) when the murder and dismembering of Angel Melendez happened….That is already two lifes « fucked » forever by Michael Alig’s action. Then you have his accomplice, Freeze, from his written confession, seems to have been drawned after reacting to Michael Alig’s cries for help. Then this girl « Gitsie » who died of a drug overdose, at 22 while awaiting to be a witness in Peter Gatien’s trial. Michael Alig was 30 when he was hanging it out with her and doing drugs, being « bestie », as she was only….19. #redflags.

It does feel the private life of Michael Alig was turmoiled by abuse, overbearing « problems’ sharing », disrepect, « transactional » love, and prey on young people which is especially reprehensible. Michael Alig had bad karma and lived with it until he died.

A note on Angel

Angel’s murder seems to be the pinacle of bad taste. Even if nothing is black or white, there is this sense of abuse towards Angel prior to the murder. What hurts the most, is the moment he tried to regain respect, his money back and break free, he got murdered…. dismemembered and treated like his life was not even important for people around him (like his family). It is just sad and unfair that his legacy was now forever linked to somebody that he ultimatly tried to break free from. He too, became a myth : the naive victim impressed by the glitters and smothered by the emptiness of the glamour. he was fatally going to be forever linked to Michael Alig on the very occasion he had enough. The more I read into this story and the more I could relate to the bullying as I was in the same position of Angel (trying to get into a select group during college notably selling weed to charm my way in). It ended up very badly, and got bullied immensely for it. I remember my awe (one of them actually become a huge star in Québec) was so intense and my lack of knowing what a secure relationship was so low that I endured the bullying until they literally wrote on a wall that I should die while convincing me that it was okay that they had done so. To this day, I feel so bad about that time…..That event still haunts me whenever I feel powerful and worthy as I felt dispossed of any value and self protection. Eventually that led me to the nightlife community which was full of shady characters and transactional relations. To this day, I wish I had known better. In a sick manner, Angel became this myth as he lost his life in such despicatable and sad manners.

An unfullfilled legacy

After jail, Michael was faced with a lot of opposition and backlash. It probably wasn’t the best environnement for him to show his vulnerable side and redeem himself of his past behaviours. There is a chance that we never got to see the pain behind the wall and the intresict details of his traumatic relationships. A great manipulator himself, he probably, at the top of the pyramid was facing a lot of manipulation himself and probably did a lot of bad decisions because of poor counselling from his pals or business relations. Mind you, he was only 30 years old when he went to jail. Nevertheless, had he adressed his mistakes with honesty, vulnerability, accountability and actual change, he probably would have survived and free himself of the guilt. But he did not. His last party called « Outrage » was a bit « toned-deaf » when you think about vilains redeeming arcs.

The « ABC’S » of a great party

Like it or not, Michael Alig knew the recipe for a great party like no one. He taled about it retlenlensly. For any party organizer, this is gold. He had an outlook on popular culture that few had and gladly shared his thougts and visions about it. That is precious knowledge for anyone trying to keep the party happening. His downfall too : how success (especially at a young age) will destroy you from the inside. It is like a lantern about what and what not to do. New York has to appreciate that input to move forward.

How do we reconcile?

There is two perspective : the people who knew him personnaly, on the inside, and the rest. For the first group, nothing in this article can heal the personal wounds someone may have after being publicly humiliated or ashamed because of his words and actions. For the rest, like for New York as a whole, it is to be lucid about his legacy : great parties, a love for culture and great warning for doing too much. The myth, the parties, the cultural legacy is something that changed a lof of people lives for the better. For that, we must separate the art from the person and keep only the good while acknowledging the bad. For the bad part, it is to acknowledge that no one should want someone like that in their life, no matter successful how they are.

Conclusion

Okay you want to virtue signal that bad people are bad, but can you shut the fuck up when no one asl your opinion on the body of work of someone.

They come on stage when the performer leaves

Note on the autor

Hey my name is Tom Tales. A very important in my life is fairness (libra – libra). This article tries to answer the question : should we overview and forget to recognize Michael Alig contribution to New York because of the horrendous crime he did. In short, this article will prove that no since his contribution to nightlife was not meant to perpetrate crimes.