Tag Archives: Party Monster

Remembering The Limelight NYC (1988 - 2001)

Remembering The Limelight NYC (1988 – 2001)

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The Limelight was a infamous nightclub in New York City that operated in the 1980s and 1990s. It was located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan and became an iconic destination for club-goers during its heyday. The Limelight was originally a church called the Church of the Holy Communion, which was built in 1844. In the 1970s, the church was abandoned, and the building was used as a warehouse.

The Limelight was known for its unique atmosphere and eclectic crowd. The club was open seven days a week, and different events were held each night. On Sundays, the club hosted a popular party called Disco 2000, which was known for its wild and eccentric costumes. The Limelight was also a popular destination for New York’s underground music scene, with DJs playing a variety of genres including house, techno, and hip-hop.

One of the unique features of The Limelight was its design. The club retained many of the original architectural features of the church, including stained glass windows and a large pipe organ. The dance floor was located in the nave of the church, and the VIP area was located in the choir loft. The club also had several themed rooms, including a medieval room and a chapel room, which added to the club’s unique atmosphere.

Despite its popularity, The Limelight was not without controversy. In the 1990s, the club was raided by the police several times, and the owner, Peter Gatien, was accused of drug trafficking. Then there was the small matter in 1996, when club kid and party promoter Michael Alig was arrested and later convicted for the killing and dismemberment of Angel Melendez, a fellow member of the Club Kids and a drug dealer who frequented the club. Gatien was eventually deported to Canada, and the party was over at The Limelight and was shut down in 2001.

The Limelight was more than just a nightclub; it was a cultural phenomenon. The club attracted a diverse crowd of people from all walks of life, including artists, musicians, and celebrities both gay and straight. The Limelight was also known for its cutting-edge fashion, with club-goers donning elaborate and outlandish outfits. The club was a symbol of New York’s vibrant nightlife scene, and it helped to shape the city’s cultural identity.

The Limelight may be gone, but its influence is still felt today, and the club remains an important part of New York’s cultural nightlife heritage.

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Club Kid Murderer and Party Monster Michael Alig To Be Released From Prison

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Michael Alig

Michael Alig (above), who s credited with fueling the early days of the “club kid” scene and reigned supreme over New York City’s gay party scene in the early 1990s, is due to be released from jail on May 5, after serving a 17 year  jail sentence for the murder of Andre “Angel” Melendez

Alig’s life and conviction inspired the Fenton Bailey-directed movie Party Monster, which detailed the events leading up to March 17, 1996 — the day Alig murdered and dismembered the body of his friend and  drug dealer Angel Melendez in the apartment they shared.

Alig has claimed many times that he was so high on drugs that the events are quite cloudy. On December 9, 1996, along with Robert “Freeze”Riggs Alig confessed to police.

According to Riggs confession:

On a Sunday in March of 1996 I was at home … and Michael Alig and Angel Melendez were loudly arguing … and getting louder. I opened the room and started towards the other bedroom … at which point Michael Alig was yelling, “Help me!” “Get him off of me” [Angel] started shaking him violently and banging him against the wall. He was yelling “You better get my money or I’ll break your neck” … I grabbed the hammer … and hit Angel over the head…

Then according to Riggs he hit Melendez a total of three times on the head. Then Alig grabbed a pillow and tried to smother him. When Melendez was unconscious Riggs went to the other room and when he came back he noticed a broken syringe on the floor. However, Alig’s story was that he injected Melendez with Drano, while Riggs claims that Alig poured it down Melendez’s throat and duct-taped his mouth closed. Since Alig and Riggs did not know what to do with the body they put it in the bath tub that they filled with ice. They kept the body from rotting, but after a few days the corpse began to smell. After discussing what to do next (and who should do it), Alig injected himself with heroin. He then cut the legs off the corpse, put them in a garbage bag and stuffed the rest in a box. Afterwards he threw the corpse into the Hudson River.

Alig’s arrest was largely credited to Village Voice columnist Michael Musto’s unrelenting reporting.

While in prison, Alig told Musto, “I know why I blabbed. I must have wanted to stop me. I was spinning out of control. It’s like the old saying ‘What do you have to do to get attention around here – kill somebody?”

While incarcerated in the New York prison system, Alig has been transferred from prison to prison and has also spent time in the psychiatric ward at Rikers Island. 

Money, Success, Fame, Glamour, Addiction, and Murder

Source:  Michael Tharrett/Queerty