Angel Melendez
Encyclopedia
Andre Melendez better known as Angel Melendez, was a Club Kid
and drug dealer who lived and worked in New York City
. Melendez and his family arrived in New York from Colombia
when Melendez was eight years old. Melendez became a drug dealer during the early 1990s after he met Peter Gatien
, owner of the Limelight Club
in New York, and became a regular dealer in Gatien's clubs. He was frequently seen at Manhattan clubs wearing his trademark feathered wings.
Melendez met Michael Alig
, the famed co-founder of the Club Kids
and the Disco 2000 party groups. Alig became an important customer, leading Melendez to the world of the Club Kids
, including James St. James
and DJ Keoki
. Melendez was murdered by Alig and Robert "Freez" Riggs after going to Alig's apartment to collect on a delinquent drug debt. He was hit on the head with a hammer, restrained with duct tape and either injected with or forced to drink Drano. Later his body was dismembered and dumped in the Hudson River. At first, Alig claimed it was self defense, but later admitted to first degree murder.
On October 1, 1997 Michael Alig
and Robert Riggs were sentenced to ten to twenty years in prison
for Melendez's murder
after each pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter.
Alig's murder of Angel Melendez is documented in the memoir Disco Bloodbath
, written by James St. James. The book chronicled the life of Michael Alig and the Club Kids
. A 1998 documentary film
titled Party Monster: The Shockumentary
was based on the events leading up to and surrounding the murder. A feature film titled Party Monster was later released, starring Macaulay Culkin
and Seth Green
.
Club Kids
The Club Kids were a group of young New York City club personalities mostly led by Michael Alig and James St. James in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and drug dealer who lived and worked in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Melendez and his family arrived in New York from Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
when Melendez was eight years old. Melendez became a drug dealer during the early 1990s after he met Peter Gatien
Peter Gatien
Peter Gatien was the owner of several New York nightclubs, including The Limelight, Palladium, Club USA, and Tunnel. He was once dubbed as the "King of New York Clubs", during his time in New York City.-Life and career:...
, owner of the Limelight Club
The Limelight
The Limelight is the name of a chain of nightclubs that were owned and operated by Peter Gatien, located in Atlanta, Hollywood, Florida, and London, and formerly in New York City and Chicago.-History:...
in New York, and became a regular dealer in Gatien's clubs. He was frequently seen at Manhattan clubs wearing his trademark feathered wings.
Melendez met Michael Alig
Michael Alig
Michael Alig is the co-founding member of the Club Kids, a group of young clubgoers led by long time best friend James St. James and Alig in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
, the famed co-founder of the Club Kids
Club Kids
The Club Kids were a group of young New York City club personalities mostly led by Michael Alig and James St. James in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and the Disco 2000 party groups. Alig became an important customer, leading Melendez to the world of the Club Kids
Club Kids
The Club Kids were a group of young New York City club personalities mostly led by Michael Alig and James St. James in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
, including James St. James
James St. James
James St. James is an American television personality, author, celebutante and former Club Kid of the Manhattan club scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s.James St...
and DJ Keoki
DJ Keoki
Superstar DJ Keoki is an Electronic music,among other genres DJ. Born in El Salvador and raised in Hawaii, Keoki reached 'Superstar' status shortly after moving to New York City.-Bio:...
. Melendez was murdered by Alig and Robert "Freez" Riggs after going to Alig's apartment to collect on a delinquent drug debt. He was hit on the head with a hammer, restrained with duct tape and either injected with or forced to drink Drano. Later his body was dismembered and dumped in the Hudson River. At first, Alig claimed it was self defense, but later admitted to first degree murder.
On October 1, 1997 Michael Alig
Michael Alig
Michael Alig is the co-founding member of the Club Kids, a group of young clubgoers led by long time best friend James St. James and Alig in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and Robert Riggs were sentenced to ten to twenty years in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
for Melendez's murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
after each pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter.
Alig's murder of Angel Melendez is documented in the memoir Disco Bloodbath
Disco Bloodbath
Disco Bloodbath: A Fabulous but True Tale of Murder in Clubland is a 1999 memoir written by James St. James about his life as a Manhattan celebutante and club kid. The book specifically chronicles his friend Michael Alig's rise to fame and his subsequent murder of fellow club kid and drug dealer...
, written by James St. James. The book chronicled the life of Michael Alig and the Club Kids
Club Kids
The Club Kids were a group of young New York City club personalities mostly led by Michael Alig and James St. James in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
. A 1998 documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
titled Party Monster: The Shockumentary
Party Monster: The Shockumentary
Party Monster: 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 Alig's murder of fellow club kid and drug dealer Angel Melendez. Produced by World of Wonder and based in part on the...
was based on the events leading up to and surrounding the murder. A feature film titled Party Monster was later released, starring Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Carson Culkin is an American actor. He became widely known for his portrayal of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He is also known for his roles in Richie Rich, Uncle Buck, My Girl, The Pagemaster, and Party Monster...
and Seth Green
Seth Green
Seth Benjamin Green is an American actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer. He is well known for his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Dr. Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, Mitch Miller in That '70s Show, and the voice of Chris...
.