The New York Club Kids appear on Phil Donahue's talkshow to talk about their life as a club kid. Michael Alig, James St. James, Richie Rich, Jenny Talia and others talk about the New York party scene, house music, drug use and having fun.
Why are people hating on Donahue? Yeah, he's a little all over the place but Michael Alig, himself, said that Donahue was a giant hippy who gathered all of the club kids for a group hug before the show and told them that he wasn't going to shame or degrade the club kids. He also is playing devil's advocate because this is a TALK SHOW...the host has to play every card. It's plainly obvious whose side he is on the whole time.
"When you insult them, they love that. When you insult them, you are saying to them: I'm afraid of you, I'm old, I'm old-fashioned, and anything out-of-the-ordinary, I'm terrified of" THANK YOU DONAHUE.
I love how the boss of one of the club kids stood up for her employee. I also get why Phil was saying those things at the beginning, to get the close-minded people to agree with him and listen more so that Phil can lure them in to hearing the club kids' side.
It's called entraining..you start where they are and then gradually relax in the reassuring safe zone you've created and they relax and open up some along with you.
Angela TraumaMama All the money he has made was earned. Clearly you aren’t aware of drag/fashion. He has probably made more than you will ever see in your life.
This is for those that dont "get" the 90s generation. In the 90s era, it was about the fun and sharing and being part of that community. There was no posers or pretentious clubgoers or any of that. we used to have fun and didnt have to think about it. Just that. only the over 30s will know the feeling.
Hey if it helps to know,I;m 25 and I understand what you're getting at. I live my life for fun and when people act like I'm doing something wrong it's like ugh...
Exactly right. In the 80s and 90s it was about fun, creativity and dancing elbow to elbow with people of all walks of life, red, blue, white, black or green it didn't matter your skin tone or how much you had in the bank. Hard to convince folks who weren't there that this magical world existed. But it did!
‘76 baby here. For us 90s twenty-somethings, especially us gay ones, the 90s was our decade to express ourselves. I’d argue that the 90s produced the best music ever.
It's also total nonsense. Limelight was filled with B&T high school kids who'd go out once a week. I know because when I was 16 and 17 I was one. Maybe they'd sleep in on Sunday, but only a few people on that stage made any kind of life or living out of clubbing. The rest of the people on that stage came along for the chance to put on clothes and makeup and go on TV to promote Tunnel for free, and to get on Peter Gatien's good side (he's since been jailed for tax evasion and - bc he's a Canadian citizen - banned from the US). The woman on the phone who said Peter was exploiting the kids was right, of course... and Phil is an idiot for defending a club owner who made his living on the backs of "club kids" as young as 13.
This is such a cool time-capsule. I love the girl at 6:10...her eyes are lit up by this; you can tell she's loving it. I'm a straight guy(not even a little bi), but I adore gay culture and everything tangential to it. It's liberating and *_creative_*. And it's hilarious to see the faces on all the older people in the audience; they have no IDEA what to think of all this. I can't imagine how shocking it must have been for them in 1993. What's funny is...all the audience members' fashion/aesthetic look pretty *_strange_* now in 2015....while the club kids *_still_* look cutting-edge creative.
Dude im 16 and out as gay, i do drag and am completely open. You'd be shocked about how many straight boys are just like you, but FYI we are all somewhere in the middle. Trust me. but being an ally is so amazing, you do you! Love yourself.
Okay, to those young people who don't know: Phil Donahue was the original talk show and host. He wasn't like the ones, today, where they showcase tabloid-type fodder without really having much to say about it. Donahue was actually a journalist. It was his job to play "devil's advocate," to get to the bottom of why people behaved the way they did and what happened as a result. He did it to and for every single person who ever graced his stage. The only reason he left television was because he retired-he didn't have to. People responded to his actual journalism. I miss it.
+Ashley Penrod What he was, was a journalist in the days when they were supposed to provoke and ask the tough questions, when they were supposed to question and probe for answers...my father was a journalist during the same period. You are now used to the propaganda journalists who are bought and sold by corporations and products, who are told what they can and cannot ask. It's tragic, because journalism is intended to open dialogue and force people to ANSWER the tough questions. Real journalism no longer exists. Which is why I gave up on it.
Donahue was NOT an asshole. He's asking questions that the average, Conservative, boring, middle-aged housewife living in Iowa with 20 cats would ask. Donahue himself was a staunch liberal.
A lot of them are still around but quite a few are no longer in the spotlight. Michael can't seem to get it together, James St James is still doing things, Freeze is off the radar, Michael Mustafo still writes. Some have passed but a lot just grew up. Lol
James St. James is absolutely lovely and I love his positive message and how he told that girl to start her own club kids group where she lived, and how fun is in everyone's hearts. The club kids were just colorful people and it's sad but interesting how a person's apperance greatly affects how people treat them. Michael Alig doesn't represent them all, it seems most were people just having fun.
Yes. All that is fine and dandy. But they played with fire the moment Heroin was incorporated into their drug smorgasbord. Doomed from the very first taste.
James didn't do heroin@@joed2818 He was too busy being a Michael Alig knock-off, and not convincingly. James abandoned Michael when the latter was accused of drug distribution by the Feds, when everyone in the scene knew Alig didn't distribute drugs. That was Lord Michael and Steve Lewis. But James didn't want the contents of his then-upcoming book to be leaked, and they would have been if he gave sworn testimony in Brooklyn Fed Court. Great friend!
It is so rude how the audience reacted towards them. some of the club kids were troubled but not all of them. It's so interesting hearing about their lives.
guinness4life That is the same with every generation...Every generation have a youth that defines THEIR culture. Discos, raves, Woodstock, etc. So, yes, they were culture-defining, and you'll see it every decade.
It's so strange that Michael Alig is known as the ringleader of this movement because every time I watch videos of the Club Kids, he is ALWAYS the least interesting, most unoriginal, and most annoying of the group.
Bc you only see him for a few moments on camera, and everyone acts differently with a camera suddenly shoved into their faces plus they're trying to work. He was probably different when they were really partying on drugs and in private among closer friends. Running around a club schmoozing with guests for a few minutes at a time is going to be boring of course. The real fun happened after hours and in private convos and parties. Plus he was a party promoter, so he set all props up, came up with wild ideas, sent invites, etc., so he really was the ringleader. He's the one who took control and led the parties. He spent a lot of time running around doing sound checks, making sure everyone got in, had drink tickets, any complaints when to him, etc. He was busy until the parties finally wound down.
He was the most outrageous of them all if you read James book youd understand. He thought about party ideas that were never done before and this was long before internet and cell phones
actually agreed yes.From what i've researched on the club kid movement (I was only born '92 lol to be fair) I believe that he did put work into being an influencer but then more interesting and less awful people turnT the party up
I like at 14:25 Phil is talking to someone else and Michael stomps his foot and James is like "we have to pay attention to Michael!" Right there just says it all about Alig haha.
I didn’t find out til like a month ago, I’m surprised it didn’t get more media coverage but it did happen on Xmas during a pandemic so I’m not shocked it got put on the back burner but it didn’t even come across my recommendations, I had to go looking for the party monster movie and ended up stumbling upon ernies pee-ew episode saying he had died...
Micheal in this show was incredible high and was losing control. You can clearly see it based from his previous two appearence from the Geraldo Show. It's truly tragic that his out of Control drug use lead to the murder of Angel with Wings. Rest in peace Angel.
You do know that Angel was supplying the heroin, right? So it's not actually that surprising he'd be involved. Not saying what happened was justified -- Angel was my downstairs neighbor and a nice enough person -- but its takes 2 to Tango.
I knew Angel well enough to know he was not a bad person at all but made questionable choices as it relates to dealing drugs at the clubs. He always showed love to everyone at the clubs. I don't agree with selling drugs but this was not an excuse to end someone life in the matter that happen.
By showed love@@NewyorkRican2191 don't you actually mean sold them drugs? Angel was not outgoing, he was quiet. His wings and his drugs were the loudest part of him. Nobody said it was an "excuse" but it's reality that when you are a drug dealer and deal with drug addicts, bad things happen.
Also@@NewyorkRican2191 this video aired before Michael began taking heroin. I know, because I was there. At this moment in time it was coke, K, and X. There was no heroin in his system, which is what led to Angel's death, so not sure you're seeing what you think you're seeing.
He's a wannabe Michael Alig now and that's exactly what he was in the late 80s and early 90s. Betrayed Michael, too, first chance he got by refusing to testify that Michael wasn't involved in distributing drugs. Fortunately others in the scene myself included were willing to take the stand, and the Fed conviction was run concurrent. I'm sure MA won't get much sympathy here, but one shouldn't serve decades for something unless they actually committed that specific crime.
@historyiwitness5915 I am friends with several people that are on that stage and if you're trying to tell us that he wasn't involved in drug distribution that shit just won't fly. Just because they couldn't prove it beyond a reasonable doubt doesn't mean " he wasn't involved". And Michael was only convicted of 1st degree manslaughter, nothing to do with drugs....and I happen to own 4 of Michael's paintings. I think he was a wonderfully talented artist.
Oh Limelight...I wish I could say I remember the times...but I don't. Because I had an awesome time ;). Also, I used to work at a video store in NYC that rented to the Gaitiens. Peter's wife was very nice.
I cannot imagine his wife being nice at all. We can all blame "Party Monster" for that, I suppose. :) But if she was anything as portrayed in the film, no. She was many adjectives, but nice is not one of them. I truly am glad to hear that maybe the movie went too far, and she was probably a pretty cool person.
Richie Rich said it best… it’s just like creative minds that make movies and such. It’s creativity and should never be looked down upon. Creativity and passion built this world we live in. Why shun those who can make life more interesting, beautiful and fun
Jennytalia is Jenny Dembrow and is involved with an organization that works with young women. She’s actually done very well for herself and is a contributing member of the community.
My current friends are just like this, we always go to gay clubs and dress up in drag and all over the top. It's pretty much the exact same thing (even the bars we go to have this sort of scene, tonnes of them where I live) minus the catty bullshit and self centred-ness
They could be as elitist and cliquey as any other social milieu.. it wasnt all warmth sweetness and light.. some of the folks on the stage weren't welcoming to all, were exclusive and excluding of anyone nerdy ordinary and not 'cool' artistic or fabulous enough to impress..
We were going in there from 1987 to the mid 90s...the best times ever. The Shampoo Room, VIP Room, our school friend, DJ Divine, was spinning the turntables sometimes on a Wednesday night, and get us on the guest list.
I was so sorry to hear about that young man from Cuba that came here to America with his family as a kid, and he was killed. Awful. My heart and prayers are with his family. 🙏💔😔
It’s awesome coming back to this 30 years later. This is what my 90’s looked like, only I wasn’t nearly as creative and donned huge wide leg jeans, thrift store baby tees and shell toes. Raves were the place to be. Acid was the thing to take. Dancing took place all night. I saw a lot of things as a young teen that opened my eyes wide and taught me a lot (what to do/what not to do). I got married and had a baby at 21 so this phase only lasted a few years, but it was the _most_ freeing, authentic and exciting. Looking at the world today… the 90’s were nothin 😂
James is ahead of his time at this age and the things he has being exposed to and stills chooses Love and to protect the kids instead of attracting them to New York like all the club kids were doing he was actually telling them to find it within them. My god. Bless it be your heart James 6:00
I lived in CT when this was happening I wasn’t so out there like these young ppl.. but I enjoyed going to the Limelight ughh sooo much fun.. since she’s kinda right there wasn’t alot to do in CT.. New Haven had cool clubs she should of gone.
Because you knew either one of them@@joyhruska9377 ....Peter Gatien did not create Michael Alig. And no, Peter is neither evil nor crazy. Take your misinformation about people you never met and drop it in a hole.
Ms. Ravenwood You seem sooooo very sad & broken. I sincerely hope you learn to find love & peace in the rest of your life. Hatred hurts the vessel which stokes it as much as those receiving your hatred.
Michael n Kevin need to chill down and behave professionally like how James St. James carry himself. Being rebel and defensive will not give good impressions especially to people who don't understand them and trying to understand them... wish this was happened in more sophisticated way back then.
Michael, was obviously quite high, Richie was probably high too but he was totally being Richie. Michael just wanted more attention...and let's face it, Donahue was a horses ass-he was rude, arrogant, self serving and boorish. James certainly had the most command of the situation. But think about it, the format of this show was totally about riling people up, those on stage and in the audience and Phil was a master at pissing people off to the point of making them look foolish, and if he couldn't make them appear stupid and out of control he would make some back-handed comment under his breath to the camera to make a lame point that the guests/audience members were the ones lacking in judgement. Donahue was a dickwad.
These kids looked tripped the fuck out. I try not to judge but it seems like they've all been neglected in some way and have turned to this and whatever comes with it for comfort
Always surreal to me seeing Michael Alig in these and the Jeraldo scenes...talking about "this could be a stepping stone or a road block...you could overdose and die".
LoL...I partied all night. Then went to work. Got off of my shift. Slept for 3 hours. Then grabbed my Club Kid outfit and went to the next party. I miss the good old days.
@@lovealwayswinslovealwayswi51 Actually, it was a box, not a suitcase. But it doesn't really matter because a man, Angel, was brutally murdered, which is horrific and sad. He wasn't innocent, but he sure didn't deserve to die the way he did.
Aleg was 27 years old in 93. It was time for him to grow up. He didn't. He continued the drugs and parties and ended up in prison for killing his drug dealer. He is now out of prison and trying to capitalize on his history. You can't make this stuff up.
@@marley92282 Correct you are. Some say he died on Christmas Eve 2020, while others say Christmas Day 2020, but that's just a dispute over the exact hour. Bottom line: He had picked his heroin drug habit back up before his 2017 drug arrest, and ultimately died from it.
Damn James looks straight asian here!! Haha you can hear his little lisp too aww!! And I didn't recognize Michael without the dots all over his face haha They all look killer but James is obviously Queen!
Also I think that back then the only mainstream pop culture representation of "gay" culture was RuPaul and maybe Paris is Burning. To the club kids, who were more part of the high art/ club scene, I think they sort of resented the 'of course RuPaul gets brought up, that's the only version of gay culture these straight people can compute.'
***** RuPaul became famous and got into pop culture, but he was not club kids' mentor... in fact, he decided to go to New York because of the club culture.... and just like JPlovesmusic said, maybe they resented how RuPaul became a reference because he's a "computable" version of drag culture... 1993 was the year Ru exploded, actually
This is such a cool time-capsule. I love the girl at 6:10...her eyes are lit up by this; you can tell she's loving it. I'm a straight guy(not even a little bi), but I adore gay culture and everything tangential to it. It's liberating and *_creative_*. And it's hilarious to see the faces on all the older people in the audience; they have no IDEA what to think of all this. I can't imagine how shocking it must have been for them in 1993. What's funny is...all the audience members' fashion/aesthetic look pretty *_strange_* now in 2015....while the club kids *_still_* look cutting-edge creative.
For no reason, I'm rewatching these interviews. I was a part of it and it lives on! We have built a city on the exact same principals. It is Black Rock City, and it exists for only about a month each year. More and more people are learning about it all over the world as Burning Man. It exists officially for 8 days.
The American club scene was more contrived and class orientated. London had a scene more inclusive and art/life. M. Alig was an ugly person and tainted that NY club scene with desperate neediness. London led where NY followed. In my opinion of course
Ah that opening clip with the girl dancing in the cage from the 1992 movie "Bad lieutenant" with Harvey Keitel awesome movie and awesome era. This whole video makes me miss the 90s. I was just 9 years old when this aired but I remember watching it and living in NYC at the time I remember the fashion, music and era well. I used to always pass the limelight and think as soon as I'm a teenager or old enough to get in I'm going! Unfortunately the scene changed a bit and limelight closed by the time I was old enough to experience it.
Maaaaaan! I remember watching these type of shows as a little girl. I felllll in looooovvvveeee. I just knew I was gonna grow up, move to NY and be just like them.
amazing to see people in the audience express their disapproval in such a peaceful manner. what the hell happened? why did we all start trying to kill the opposites of us?
I was ten years old when this aired....and I remember this show and Guess what I became... It all turned into eat, sleep, rave, repeat. Did anyone else get chills when Angel spoke. These people really did change the way mainstream was viewed. Of course we ended up having to go underground for awhile because of all the bad press but no press is bad press. Now Candy Kids and Club Kids have taken over the EDM scene and we have events like Electric Daisy Carnival, SnowGlobe, and Nocturnal Wonderland. one of the OG female club kids died in Miami from an OD (thought it was Jenny but I'll have to look that person up) and of course the infamous murder of angel. It does start as just pure good fun. I've been in the scene for 16 years. I survived.
@Pampel Moose yes, I'm aware. I was referencing the 94 Geraldo Rivera show. My video had switched because it was on auto-play and I didnt realize I was commenting on the Donahue show when that comment was written.
I was 20 in 1993, so I remember the club kid culture well. It was actually pretty destructive. I'm curious what they look like now and what they think of those times?
well james st james does a show on world of wonder so you could hop on over there and see what you think of his "looks", i have no idea about the rest of them tho
Sorry assholes for wondering how they are all doing! lol. Fucking internet bitchy trolls. I see a few people who need to get fucked on this comments section!
love James st James! such close minded audience. I wish they'd do a where are they know and see what those audience members have to say now. Kudos to all those club kids who paved the way for the community now!
