Glamour, Heroin an Murder...Oh My! Party Monster Michael Alig Takes Us Behind the Curtain

Michael Alig, the beautiful party promoter who took took over NYC's party scene in the 90's has been released from Prison for his 1996 murder of Angel Melendez. For some background, this is the same man whose life that the 2003 movie Party Monster (Staring Seth Green and McCauley Caulkin) was based off of. He was a brilliant Pied Piper who was able to create a social movement that swept over the nation calling small town rejects and societal misfits to join he's legion of worshippers called the "Club Kids." Reviled by some, worshiped by others, he's like the trump of 90's. . As someone who itimately knows the New York Party scene, let me tell you the kind of charisma and raw unique creative chutzpah this takes happens with only a very brilliant, visionary with a calculator brain. Every single person I know whose above 35 got their party flippers wet at Limelight, or Tunnel. HE wasn't a monster, he was God, for years. Then he fell, like Icarus, into the abyss not be be seen or heard for 17 years. Well he's back, and we've been spending time together. He's been out of prison for two years he's off drugs, and ready to find way to pick up the humpty dumpty pieces of his life and try to hot glue them back together again but shockingly that hasn't been easy.... He was gracious enough to let me into his life, speak with his family and friends, and provide some light into what a world soaked in heroin and solitary confinement would be like. We spoke endlessly, about life, prison, addiction, redemption, his art, he's dreams and his nightmares. I realized what I was trying to do in speaking to him was take an issue that seemed black and white and show the prism of colors that surrounded it. Michael is a rainbow of colors. He has a kind of brutal honesty through his humor that can be sharp and cutting, while being dull and blunt. He reminded me constantly of the Cheshire cat from Alice and Wonderland, both hands pointed in opposite directions whenever I would try to ask him about difficult subjects. We are all chasing a different white rabbit that is represented in our different addictions, whether helpful or harmful. We are all playing hide and seek with the ultimately elusive meta concept of "happiness." We are all constantly scraping up and crashing against each other, harming ourselves and others to varying degrees. The question becomes not if we will harm others it's merely when? Subsequently, how can you ever atone, when the repercussions of your mistakes leave lasting scars on the ones your love, your community, and the world. Furthermore what's really tricky is even if you’re absolved judicially, how do you forgive yourself? I don't claim to answer any of these questions. All i can do is ask them, and when I make mistakes try to put one foot in front of the other, find news ways to live my life, as my mother always says, with gentle loving kindness. Thank you Michael for sharing your story with me. Throughout this journey I kept two quotes in mind: From My Neck So Free The Albatross fell off, and Sank Like Lead Into The Sea Dorthy: OZ we're you frightened? Oz: Frightened? Child you're talking to a man who's laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe, I was petrified Thank you to Zev and Gadi for allowing me to do the live show at their beautiful Marcy North Hotel in Williamsburg. Thank you to Jordan Reisman my trusty sound engineer Thank you to David Herman, and Emily Brodtman who helped me weave this story together. Songs: Neil Diamond: Damage Done Go to www.adamandevetoys.com and put in my name "Zoe" to get discounts and free shipping on any of their online store. You can help me live my dream of doing this full time, every time you come.