Set in the New York club scene of the late 1980's thru the 1990’s. The main character, Michael Alig, a party organiser, whose extravagant life was sent spiralling downward when he boasted on television that he had killed his friend, roommate, and drug dealer, Angel Melendez. This is the story of how that murder came to be, it is written by James St. James, a mutual friend of both the killer and the victim. Originally from Indiana, Alig moved to New York, and came to be an underground legend, known for his excessive drug use and outrageous behaviour in the club world.
At his peak, he had his own record label, and magazine, and hosted Disco 2000, one of the biggest club nights in New York in the '90s. He was doing a lot of drugs, and as his addiction got worse, his party themes became darker and more twisted. Alig's saga reached its tragic crescendo when he viciously murdered his drug dealer, Angel, by injecting him with Drano and throwing him in the East River. The power he wielded on the club scene made him feel untouchable. He didn't hesitate to boast of the murder killing his room mate in a drug-crazed stupor, chopping up the body and tossing it in the river. The press thought it was a publicity stunt--until Angel's body washed ashore.
The British Guide to Showing off
British artist Andrew Logan had a fasination with the world of celebrities and misfits. He hosted a glittery bazaar pageant show know as the 'Alternative Miss World Show' Logan refers to himself as the high priest of the show and describes it as his best artwork. The film explores this show and the outrageous costumes that were used.
It was about using modern art and using extravagant costumes to bring out personalities, wether it was to cross dress or be a different species all together it worked in the Alternative world of the pageant. The film takes you into this world of this type of pageant. The host is famous for being spilt between both the male host one side and a hostess the other. This is his famous costume when hosting as he can show spilt sides of his personality, First created in 1972 and is still going strong till this day.
The show was very colourful and bold and showed a more fun and exciting world, unlike this world which can be very seriousness and dull. This was probably the reason why it had the title of 'Alternative' as it was something different and out of the ordinary making the show more fascinating.
The Blitz Kids were a young group of
people who partied weekly in the Blitz club in convent garden, London 1979-80.
They were known for launching the subcultural movement New Romantic look.
Through my research I found the movement
of the look had many punk like designs, with thick elongated eyebrows and
striking contouring with lines on the face. The hair was big and full with
different colours running through. Boy George was part of the Blitz Kids and
was a big icon for fashion and music in the 80's
Icons and Divas of the 80s
Princess Julia
She was an English DJ back in the early 80's and was part of the blitz kids club scene. She became very big in the clubland scene after appearing in the song 'Fade to Grey' by Steve Strange's band Visage which became a UK hit single. The music she was playing when first DJ'ing was a disco and house that was becoming more popular in the 80's club scene.
In 2005 she was involved in Kylie Greatest hits tour as she was asked to be part of the stage video by both Kylie and William Baker- Kylie's Stylist. She is known for her personal glam rock style as she says in the video of 'Style Like U 'My theory of dressing is that its all drag anyway.' She had the style of the blitz kids by always looking glamorous and ready for a night out. She is also a music writer for and has interviewed artists.
Leigh bowery
Leigh bowery had many paths in his career, being a performance artist, club promoter, actor and fashion designer which was based in London. He was originally from Australian and is known as a icon of the 1980's-90's for influencing other designers and artists in both London and New York.
He studied fashion and design in Melbourne and then went off to London in the 1980's. At first in his career he would do commercials and promos for artists such as David Bowie in his Ashes to Ashes video. He then collaborated on customers with a dancer named Michael Clark. He then started to become more noticed for his wacky look and had a cult following in the London club scene. This helped establish Taboo one of the famous night clubs that involved drugs and fetishes.
Divine
Real name- Harris Glenn Milstead was a famous american actor notoriously known for his drag queen persona and singing. He adopted a female character persona 'Divine' for his music career. And often played drag in his cinematic or theatrical roles.
When asked in interviews wether he was transsexual or transgender he would always refer to himself as a male and that he doesn't wear the drag unless he's being paid to. In peoples magazine they named him the 'Drag queen of the century' as his reputation was becoming more increasingly popular especially in the gay culture.
Clubs
The Mudd Club was a nightclub in new york city which opened in 1978 by Steve Mass art collector and Diego Cortez a punk scene figure. This club became increasingly popular in the underground music world and club culture scene, until it closed its doors in 1983. When the loft for the club first got paid for Steven described it as a venue for cabaret.
The club had a bar, gender- neutral bathrooms, rotating galleries. It would also show live fashion catwalks for emerging designers to showcase their work and make it a more fashion based up and coming club. Live performances of artists would be in the club also. So there was a lot of energy and excitement around it.
Nag Nag Nag club was a influential night club in London. Founded by DJ and musician Johnny Slut. It was famous for is subcultural musical styes with using electro punk and tech pop. It was a club held every wednesday night and began in 2002 till 2008. The independent magazine wrote about how students would mix with celebs in there as both the celebrity and non celebrity went.
Make up artists
Theo Carias a beauty stylist specialised in body painting. He's done international camp gains, fashion shows, editorial fashion and beauty. He's also worked as a stylist assistant and window dressing. He says that his great passion in make up is 'body art'.
He has been a make up artist for America's next Top model and Brazils next Top model. Looking thought his work its very beauty based but he also uses brightly coloured materials to showcase certain parts of the face and to use them as a decorative. Such as the eyes, he uses materials in a fan shape to make them look bolder and bigger and give a new light to the classic beautiful 'smoky eye.'
Billy B
Billys career began in 1985 when he moved to New York. He first applied for a job at Macy's in the counters and from there with hard work and determination got him a career beyond the counter into freelancing. He got his break when meeting photographer/director Ken Nahoum. Billy has worked on many projects and magazines including Harpers Bazaar and the British ELLE. He has also been the man behind many influential look in music videos such as Lady Gaga's- 'Bad Romance, Born this way and Telephone'. While also working with Beyonce on 'Videophone' and 'Listen'.
I have researched about Billy B before as I follow Beautylish a beauty page on flipboard. They've had interviews with him about what its like in the industry which I found fascinating. They have also advertised his brush collection. He's a very down to earth influential person. He seems to make any make up look beautiful and current.
Music Videos
David Bowie
Ashes to Ashes is a song realised by David Bowie in the 1980's. It became a huge hit in the UK going to No.1. Its mainly been recognised for the music video that was directed by Bowie and David Mallet. The tune of the song is very recognisable from the 80's with the slow funk. It is noted that the song revisits David Bowies album space oddity song character 'Major Tom' where he describes him as a Junkie.
This song was on the Scary Monster and Super Creeps album which was also a No.1 hit. David Bowie was very successful in the 80's with his confident fashion choices. He also had been credited for his success in the 70's from his famous Ziggy stardust and Aladdin sane make up.
Gwen Stefani
What are you waiting for is a song by Gwen Stenfani released in 2004. Written by Stefani and Linda Perry. The music video shows you how she has writers block and feels pressured to know what new 'hot' track to release with her big contract. The theatrical staging of the song shows a wonderland and her being Alice finding her way around the maze.
Gwen Stefani back up dancers known as the 'Harajuki girls' have big false white eyelashes. With some shots showing different placements of the lips which was a big cultural thing in the club scene. The theatrical part of the video shows the references of the club scene, how everything was bright, dramatic and your own fantasy world.
-b5a3c9b4-511c-450d-9023-26f8ebda6d8e-0-450x521.jpg)
