7. Disco Bloodbath by James St. James: The Fabulous and the Grotesque

We’re talking about the “fabulous but true tale of murder in clubland,” Disco Bloodbath. Later re-printed as Party Monster, this non-linear, Ketamine-infused true crime novel paints an abstract picture of the Club Kids and details the horrific murder of Andre “Angel” Melendez by scene leader, Michael Alig. 

This book has absolutely everything you could want from a queer text... and also some things you might not want want. We talk about how we as queer people can integrate the fabulousness with the grotesque and how we can maintain our bonds without the trauma. Also we talk about Ketamine. 

Additional Reading:

• Michael Alig NYC Club Kids on Geraldo April 17, 1990
• Life of the Party by Olivia Gatwood
• Peeew! #565: RIP Michael Alig
• Party Monster (2003) Dir. Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato (We’re talking about this one next week!)

Extra Credit:

• Follow us at @wedidthereading
• Read more of Clementine’s words at @clementinevonradics
• See more of Pia’s drawings at @pia_marchetti