Club kid co-founder and undisputed king of 1980s New York nightlife, Michael Alig, was released from prison yesterday afternoon, having served 17 years for the 1996 murder of drug dealer Angel Melendez.
Though Alig, now 47, was up for parole multiple times during his sentence, he was allegedly denied release after a judge had seen Party Monster, the 2003 film inspired by Alig’s life. According to USA Today, he was freed on a conditional release yesterday and will remain on parole.
Following his release, Alig tweeted that he was “happy to be free and so grateful for this second chance.” He was picked up from prison by friends and a film crew from World of Wonder, and taken to eat a burrito as his first post-prison meal:
Happy to be free and so grateful for this second chance. Can't wait 2C @JSJdarling at dinner. #frenemy pic.twitter.com/AJwvtPcyFf
— Michael Alig (@Alig_Aligula) May 5, 2014
My first burrito of freedom ! #CincoDeMichael pic.twitter.com/1d0AFDFVmm
— Michael Alig (@Alig_Aligula) May 5, 2014
Last night, he reconnected with “frenemy” and former club kid James St. James at a Manhattan dinner celebrating his release:
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Yesterday, St. James penned a “welcome back” letter to Alig, now published on the WOW blog. In it, he explains how technology has advanced in the last 20 years and cautions against using “the t word.” (“It’s ‘trans’ now. Also: ‘cisgender’ is a thing”):
Speaking of clubs: You’ve become a bit of a legend since you went in (YOU’RE WELCOME) and you WILL stop the room the first few times you go out. It’s an odd sensation, but even odder is when it doesn’t happen. See, you’re old now, and although many of this generation were raised on Party Monster , sometimes you’ll find yourself in a room where everybody is completely CLUELESS. They’ve never seen the Geraldos or Phil Donahues or Jenny Joneses. They’ve never heard of Angel. They don’t know or care who Julie Jewels was. They don’t even know who Andy Warhol was. A 21-year-old at WOW had never heard of Moby. MOBY. It’s weird. The generation that has the greatest access to knowledge in the history of mankind is the one that cares the least about it. So there will be places where you go where NOBODY WILL RECOGNIZE YOU and NOBODY WILL CARE. And because you are no longer a cute little twink, 20-somethings will LOOK RIGHT THROUGH YOU. Or worse: SNEER at the old man. Joy Behar once said that after 35 nobody looks at you on the beach anymore, no matter how good you look. It’s true. And it’s true everywhere. My point: Enjoy the times people recognize you, because not being recognized when your old SUUUUUUUCKS.
Though Alig hasn’t announced his plans for post-prison life, he’s reportedly finishing his first book, Aligula.
Our suggestion: Do this. Now:
.@worldofwonder wants2 film me watching the Shockumentary so they can rerelease the Shockumentary w footage of me watching the Shockumentary
— Michael Alig (@Alig_Aligula) April 23, 2014
Cam
I heard that many of his parole releases were delayed because he kept failing drug tests.
robho3
That psycho should never have been released.
TinoTurner
I turn 35 tomorrow and people stare at me on the beach….
Ogre Magi
I wold much rather read about Michael Alig than gay christians
Polaro
Well, he did murder then cut up and dump his “friend” in the river. I don’t think I’m going to be hanging around him.
DarkZephyr
What he did aside, I think he is far more attractive now than he was back then.
myloginname
Well, what a winner we have back in society. I can totally wait to read his thoughts on life and murdering his roommate, who sure, was a crappy drug dealer but didn’t deserve what he got from this unrepentant creature. I hope he runs into Angel Melendez’ brother.
Spike
At least he didn’t find jesus while in prison.
Cam
@Spike:
Oh he found Jesus, then he found Juan, then he found Buck, then Tyrell, then Kevin, then Conrad…
Blackceo
What does Angel’s family think about this scum’s release? 17 years for killing and dismembering a body? He should’ve served life without parole. Is it because Angel was a Latino drug dealer? This is a travesty. Now he’s cheesing all over twitter and showing the food he’s eating. Disgusting.
James Hart
This dude should have gotten life in prison without parole.
Large Marge
beyotches puhleez.. you cut up one lousy mexican and your life is supposed to be ruined forEVAH?
iT’S Nots like the dealer was innocent either… for realz.
But where you goes and gets a burrito that they gives you the foo foo lame fork and knife? Didn’t we already learn that’s a bad thing with this Alig?