Michael Alig

Michael Alig (April 29, 1966 – December 24, 2020) was an American club promoter and artist who was convicted of Felony manslaughter.

He was one of the ringleaders of the Club Kids, a group of young New York City clubgoers who became a cultural phenomenon in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Seeking a less conservative social environment after graduating in 1984, he attended Fordham University in New York City.

He studied architecture there before transferring to the Fashion Institute of Technology.

There, he met the boyfriend of artist Keith Haring, who introduced Alig to New York City nightlife.

Alig soon dropped out of school and began working at Danceteria as a bus boy.

While working at Danceteria, Alig studied the nightclub business and soon became a party promoter.

His ability to stage memorable parties helped him rise in New York's party scene.

During this time, Alig and other regular clubgoers began creating flamboyant personas, and later became known as "Club Kids".

The Club Kids wore outrageous costumes that former Club Kid and celebutante James St. James later described as "part drag, part clown, part infantilism".

They were also known for their frequent use of ketamine (known as Special K), Ecstasy, Rohypnol, heroin, and cocaine.

Alig's Club Kids included (among others): "Astro Erle", "Ernie Glam", "Gitsie", "Jennytalia", "Superstar DJ Keoki", Amanda Lepore, Charlie "Dash" Prestano, Joshua Davis, "Richie Rich", Robert "Freeze" Riggs, RuPaul, and "Walt Paper".

The Club Kids' outrageousness became a source of interest for the media, and articles about them appeared in such media outlets as Newsweek, People, and TIME.

They also appeared on Donahue, Geraldo, and The Joan Rivers Show.

Alig's notorious "Outlaw Parties", which were thrown in various unconventional places including a McDonalds, a Dunkin' Donuts, abandoned houses, and a subway, helped to revitalize the downtown New York City club scene which Village Voice columnist Michael Musto declared had atrophied after artist Andy Warhol died in 1987.

Alig's parties also became notorious due in part to his own "bad behavior".

Alig would throw $100 bills on crowded dance floors just to watch people scramble for them.

In other instances, he would urinate on clubgoers or urinate in their drinks, and would engage in stage falls wherein he knocked others to the ground.

As Alig's popularity in the club scene grew, so did his drug use.

He was arrested several times for drug offenses and entered rehab, but continued to use drugs.

In 1988, Alig was hired by the owner of The Limelight, Peter Gatien.

Alig's parties at The Limelight were such a hit that he began organizing parties for Gatien's other clubs: Club USA, the Palladium, and Tunnel.

In 1995, his boss, Gatien, sent Alig to rehab once again.

Alig later claimed that after he completed his stint and was released, Gatien fired him.

Some of Alig's behavior could be explained by a personality disorder.

He reported being diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder, which is characterized by high levels of attention-seeking behavior, stating: "The doctor said I was the most extreme case he'd ever seen. Everything has to be completely over the top and exaggerated. It worked well for my job – I was a promoter."

Andre "Angel" Melendez was a regular on the New York City club scene and worked at The Limelight, among other clubs (some not owned by Gatien, e.g., Webster Hall ), where he sold drugs on the premises.

After The Limelight was closed by federal agents and an investigation found that Gatien was allowing drugs to be sold there, Melendez was fired.

Shortly thereafter, he moved into Alig's Riverbank West apartment.

In March 1996, Alig and his roommate, Robert D. "Freeze" Riggs, killed fellow Club Kid Andre "Angel" Melendez in a confrontation over a drug debt.

In October 1997, Alig pled guilty to first-degree manslaughter.

Both men were sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.

Riggs was released on parole in 2010.

Alig was released on May 5, 2014.

On Christmas Eve, 2020, shortly before midnight, Alig died at his Washington Heights home from an accidental drug overdose at the age of 54.

Born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, Michael Alig was the second of two sons born to John and Elke Alig.

His mother, a native of Bremerhaven, Germany, moved to the United States after marrying his father, a computer programmer.

The couple divorced when Alig was four years old.

Alig attended Grissom Middle School and Penn High School, where he was a straight-A student and graduated in the top 8% of his class.

During his teenage years, Alig reported that he was often bullied because of his homosexuality.