James storytelling is great and its honestly amazing this hasnt happened more often. A fabulous but true tale of murder in clubland reprint by st james, james isbn. In party monster originally published as disco bloodbath, james st. I went into reading the book hoping to have the story more fleshed out, and although you will find some tidbits about some of the. James which details his friendship with alig, that later fell apart as aligs drug addiction worsened, and ended after he murdered angel melendez and went to prison. James book disco bloodbath, itself based on a true story, party monster is one weird movie. August 1, 1966 is a television personality, author. James wrote the book that served as the basis for party monster and now works for world of wonder, the production company behind the.
Back in the 90s, the club kids ruled nycs nightlife and alig ruled the club kids. When party monster was first published, it created a storm of controversy for its startlingly vivid, strikingly fresh, and outrageous depiction of the hedonistic world of the 90s new york city club kids, for whom nothing was too outreincluding murder. Alig was convicted of the murder of angel melendez and is the subject of the book party monster by james st. Party monster tells the whole sordid story in detail. His life was the subject of the 1998 documentary party monster. Even tracked down the documentary which is very telling. It tells the sordid tale of a sociopathic pretty boy named michael alig. As i went to college in michael aligs hometown of south bend,in, and being that i am always interested in how and why people become the way they are, i wanted to see how this seemingly average hoosier evolved into the fabled club kid toast of new york killer. Apr 03, 2015 buy ernies new book 69 hangovers at s. Party monster which screened at the 1998 sundance film festival tells the story of the rise and fall of michael alig, a kid from middle america who aspired to take the place of andy warhol. Alig was portrayed by actor macauley culkin in the film of the same name. He is known for his work on party monster 2003, freak show 2017 and uncut.
Jamess debut book, disco bloodbath 1999, is a memoir that describes his. Based on the true story of michael alig, a club kid party organizer whose life was sent spiraling down when he bragged on television about killing his drug dealer and roommate. Party monster is a darkly comic 2003 film about the rise and fall of infamous club promoter michael alig. The shockumentary is a 1998 documentary film detailing the rise. James curates art shows at the world of wonder gallery for the production company world of wonder, makers of both party monster. His story sparked a documentary in 1998 called party monster. I enjoyed both the shockumentary and the film party monster. James about the club kids and michael aligs murder of angel melendez which was rereleased under the title party monster. James wrote the book that served as the basis for party monster and now works for world of wonder, the production company behind the the shockumentary as well as popular tv shows like.
Nominated for the edgar award for best truecrime book of the year, it also marked. James is awesome with words and has a gift of interpreting them. Even before michael alig was released from prison on may 5, after serving 17 years for firstdegree manslaughter, speculation had turned to what. James and directors fenton baileyand randy barbato. Disco bloodbath is also published under the title party monster. Nominated for the edgar award for best truecrime book of the year, it also marked the debut of an audaciously talented writer, james st. With party monster, directors fenton bailey and randy barbato the eyes of tammy faye rework their 1999 shockumentary into a feature film. Michael alig james st james, friends or foes youtube. It was the first thing james ever stolea book, taken from the library, that. He was a club kids member of the new york city club scene back in the late 1980s and early 1990s and is a frequent collaborator with mathu andersen. Heres our take on the experience of producing and directing party monster the documentary and the feature from our book the world according to wonder.
I bought this book years ago after watching a documentary on c4 about the club kids murder. Michael quickly rose to become the biggest party promoter in new york and king of the socalled club kids. Freeze riggs of fellow club kid and drug dealer andre angel melendez. The shockumentary is a 1998 documentary film detailing the rise of the club kid phenomenon in new york city, the life of club kid and party promoter michael alig, and aligs murder with the help of robert d.
A fabulous but true tale of murder in clubland by james st. Michael alig and ernie glam discusses some of the many inaccuracies, real and imagined, in james st. James, the film opens with michael alig as a smalltown outcast who lived with his mom before moving to new york. James authored the book freak show in 2007 and has also appeared on several tv series including the jerry springer show, geraldo, the joan rivers show, americas next top model, and rupauls drag race. Oct 17, 2003 directed by fenton bailey, randy barbato. The iconic and icky blood feast scene from party monster. He was also featured in the documentary party monster. Clips is our exclusive daily peek into the extensive library of wow shows, interviews, and pop culture ephemera weve collected over the last three decades. He was notorious for a lifestyle of excess that included heavy drug use, partying, and bizarre costumes. Likewise, do not combine either with the book party monster. This book is officially classified as true crime, but calling it a its a story that everybody knows.
James published a second book, freak show in 2007, a comedyromance about a teenage drag queen who attends a new school and forges a relationship with the football teams quarterback. The book and the film also served as the basis for the 2003 feature film, party. Its the story of extreme excess, and how it all went horribly wrong. James, who wrote the book on which the film was based.
The shockumentary film having read the book and viewed the other version of the film i was still wanting more and the shockumentary delivers but listen to the commentary while watching it,it is so much better that way and get the truth from james st. Party monster is based on a book named disco bloodbath, and theres a tugofwar in both titles between fun and horror. Documentary film exploring the rise of club kid legend michael alig and his fall in 1996 when he murdered his drug dealerroommate angel melendez. James watching party monster the shockumentary together. The shockumentary, a brutally honest book written by james st. Party monster the shockumentary documentary heaven. Diary of a mad teenager the birthday of michael alig. The film covers his partnership with fabulous and attentionseeking socialite james st. In 1996, new york city drug dealer and club kid angel melendez was bludgeoned, injected with drano, dismembered, and tossed into the river.
James was born on august 1, 1966 in sagamore, michigan, usa as james clark. The film is based on disco bloodbath, the memoir of james st. The notoriety of party monster and its story of fabulously debauched downtown nightclubbing also raised the profiles of the filmmakers world of wonder productions rupauls drag race, million dollar listing and celebutante james st. Disco bloodbath, aka party monster is the true and highly opinionated story of the late80s nyc club kid movement and its leader, michael alig. James friends, or is there beef between them over james book and the party monster film. Jamess perspective, who was at the center of it all. It was directed by fenton bailey and randy barbato.
James, james and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. James one of the infamous club kids recounts the murder of angel melendez whilst also spoiling us with many tales of the late 80searly 90s new york club scene. Angel melendez and is the subject of the book party monster by james st. Colors appear sharp, audio clear, and skin tones accurate. With macaulay culkin, wilson cruz, seth green, diana scarwid. The shockumentary 1998 was released prior to but is based on events in disco bloodbath, as is the film party monster 2003. May 21, 2014 that as articulated by seth greens james st. May 09, 2014 even before michael alig was released from prison on may 5, after serving 17 years for firstdegree manslaughter, speculation had turned to what the most notorious club kid of the 1990s would do. A 1998 documentary on the murder, also called party monster. I had previously read disco bloodbath and watched party monster both the movie, and the shockumentary. Get your tickets now for a special screening of original documentary party monster at arclight cinemas hollywood. James biography, age, dating, music, books and net. James in the movie party monster was the irresistible ethos of the club kids, a group of young partygoers and partythrowers who ruled. After the drugs take over he becomes not merely dangerous but deadly, and we are reminded of george carlins answer when.
I didnt watch this, obviously, but party monster is one of my favorite movies and disco bloodbath is a favorite book. James called disco bloodbath in 1999, and the hollywood movie, party monster, in 2003, starring macauley culkin and seth green. Do not combine the film party monster with the documentary party monster. The shockumentary 1998 and party monster 2003, and blogs regularly on world of wonders website, the wow report. James born james clark, is a former club kid of the manhattan club scene in the late 1980searly 1990s and the author of disco bloodbath now published under the title party monster.
Club kid killer michael alig seeks postprison job billboard. James, his success in the outrageous 90s club scene, and the ensuing downward spiral of outrageous behavior culminating in the murder and dismemberment of roommate and drug dealer angel melendez. After seventeen years behind bars, michael will make his way back into the world he once knew. The shockumentary is a 1998 documentary film detailing the rise of the club kid phenomenon in new york city, the life of club kid and party promoter michael alig and aligs murder with robert freeze riggs of fellow club kid and drug dealer angel melendez. Like everything good and bad his gleeful reign ended far too soon. The shockumentary, was used for certain elements of the film. Oct 05, 2016 his story sparked a documentary in 1998 called party monster. Some of it was sad but most was glitter sprinkled lunacy. From the very first sentence of freak show, i knew the book was going to be overthetop fabulous. A terrifying truelife tale of good times gone bad, fenton bailey and randy barbatos harrowing documentary finds its way to dvd courtesy of wolfe video. Originally from indiana, alig moved to new york, and came to be an. Party monster the shockumentary, club kids killing for fame. James, the film opens with michael alig as a smalltown outcast who lived with his mom before moving to new. One night before christmas, in 1996, we sat in the hollywood canteen waiting for james st james to arrive for dinner.
New york gritty s1 e5 party monster michael alig details grisly crime in exclusive. So, were all ok with michael alig being a celebrity again. I saw the shockumentary and also saw the movie party monster. A fabulous but true tale of murder in clubland reprint by james st james isbn.