Michael Alig Reads “Good Night Mr. Lewis” From His Prison Cell

[guestofaguest]

Until I met Steve Lewis, I had no idea who Micheal Alig was.* In fact, I didn’t know that club kids had even existed, (I KNEW there was something missing in my life).* Fast forward four years and I’m dressing as them for Halloween and quoting lines from “Party Monster”.* Don’t get the wrong idea: I don’t support drugs, violence, or wasting your life in clubland.* I think I just like the idea of these characters running around Manhattan with too much creative energy for even themselves to handle.* It’s sad really, that one morning out of a person’s life could dictate how they would spend the next remaining years.

Michael Alig will remain a mystery to me, (until Steve takes me to meet him in the flesh as promised), but his spirit is alive in the young regulars of nightlife.* He’s never had the chance to step foot in The Box, Bea, or 1oak, but we all are stepping into a part of him each time we enter a club today.* Michael helped establish the rules of what makes a successful club and, discounting any of his wrong doings (and they are substantial), that is something we can thank him for.

I talk about Steve’s loyalty a lot.* Perhaps the best way to illustrate this is to show you this letter that Michael Alig wrote to Steve from prison.* Steve is, most likely, the ONLY one who has gone to see Michael in prison in a very long time, this even after the differences the two men shared (also substantial). Here are parts of it:

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU … FOR SAYING SUCH NICE THINGS ABOUT ME IN YOUR BLOG. YOUR ASSESSMENT OF ME … BECOMING DARTH VADER … AFTER FALLING SO HEAVILY INTO DRUGS … WAS SPOT ON. BUT IT WAS YOUR RECOLLECTION OF ME … AND OUR FRIENDSHIP … BEFORE I BECAME A DRUG ADDICT … THAT REALLY GOT TO ME. WHATEVER OUR MINOR CREATIVE DIFFERENCES IN OPERATING NIGHTCLUBS- - AND REALLY, THEY WERE MINOR, AS ULTIMATELY WE BOTH HAD THE SAME IDEA OF WHAT MADE A CLUB HOT –UNDERNEATH IT ALL, I HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED YOU ONE OF MY CLOSE AND TRUE FRIENDS … SOMETHING I HOPE WILL COME ACROSS IN MY BOOK. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU ONE DAY, STEVEN! I THINK YOU WOULD BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED … TO FIND ONCE AGAIN THE OLD ME BACK AGAIN. MY ADDRESS IS:

MICHAEL ALIG 97A6596
BOX 999
COXSACKIE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
COXSACKIE, NY 12051