Michael Alig (born South Bend, Indiana, April 29, 1966) was the founding member of the notorious Club Kids, a group of young clubgoers led by Alig in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1996 Alig was convicted of the murder of Angel Melendez in a confrontation over a drug debt.
Alig was mentored by socialite James St. James and club owner Peter Gatien, while rising in popularity and prominence in the national underground club scene. Alig was also influential in the early promotion of Superstar DJ Keoki (whom he dated on and off). Other protegés included Gitsie, Jennytalia, Robert "Freeze" Riggs, Richie Rich, RuPaul, Amanda LePore, and many other Club Kid personalities. The Club Kids' outrageousness resulted in their appearing on the news and the television talk show circuit.
Alig's most notorious parties were held at The Limelight, owned by Gatien and designed by Ari Bahat. The Limelight was closed by the police for supposedly drug trafficking, but subsequently reopened several times during the 1990s. In September 2003, it reopened under the name "Avalon."
Alig's time with the underground club scene was accompanied by his notorious drug use. He was known to do several hard drugs at once.