RuPaul, Diane Brill, James St. James & Michael Alig sing "Downtown"

This charity event resulted in a recording, the profits of which went toward the fight against AIDS All the fabulous people attended, from the celebutants to the club kids. Video by Nelson Sullivan.

[@bellebslife6504]

Lahoma van Zandt was always happy, outgoing, and spoke intelligently on these videos. She never seemed out of it or rude.Very put together.

[@davidhallen7766]

Lahoma was always smiling and happy and polite and courteous all the years I would see her.

[@DylanRomanov]

She’s my favorite

[@giggles7179]

I don't about her being "put together," but Lahoma was undoubtedly a ray of sunshine in a world of bitchy drag queens.

[@vikingsong2068]

She? Do you really believe womanhood is based on nothing more than makeup and clothes?

[@giggles7179]

....And the one person here that would ultimately become the biggest star of them all is crammed in the back row where hardly anyone can see her.

[@annalee-rw9es]

Wow how racist can u be they loved Ru and he was in the back with all the other people that were that tall ,dam u fucking racist are unreal u always accuse whites of being racist when u actually are!!! I do not know ur color but ur ANTI white even if ur white so that would mean urc a liberal for sure!!

[@ColdSid]

Usually the most unknown have the better success

[@harrysatin5110]

Nelson Sullivan Southern gentleman New York ICON. ❤️💪🏼

[@geraldmocarsky906]

It was hard to watch these videos at first because everyone was so young and alive. I remember how afraid everyone was of Aids. But no I’m loving Nelson’s work!

[@kearad4410]

Nelson did better coverage or footage than no other..rest in peace his soul

[@gledwood9108]

Nelson's passed away? O I don't believe that. Everyone has gone my best friend died in February then someone else in November then Michael Alig on Christmas Eve... it's terrible

[@stacykeller8461]

I just love how cute Lahoma is! I would have loved to hang with all of these legends! Nelson has given us such priceless treasures with these videos.

[@brucewebb1114]

So happy that Nelson filmed all of these things in the 80s.

[@Leilafart]

Ru is always spewing that wisdom.

[@indashadewithguccipaid510]

Always that’s what I said

[@frankfontaineofficial]

Oprah's wisdom

[@katherinejacoby5915]

@@Leilafart that's Mama Ru🫶🏼 C.harisma U.niqueness N.erve T.alent😉

[@crskid28]

Love it! I miss Lahoma...I wish she still performed! RIP Dean!

[@justynjonn]

Dean died?

[@erinmefford8041]

Yes sadly in 2007 he was 46 from a apparent drug overdose

[@katherinejacoby5915]

I miss Michael so damn much...he introduced me to the club life & that's why I started spinning records & throwing parties in the early 90s to early 00s... So many faces no longer with us... Some of these videos are hard to watch without bawling...

[@kenella74]

Your 90s sound as fun as mine was but I'm here in England, i did all the club scene in the 90s too and woyld have loved to have met michael, I'm so intruiged by the club kids but especially michael alig❤❤

[@wolfpackfan1984]

@@kenella74you need help. He was a a horrible person and killer

[@Brendoofus]

James st James has good style! He dresses like a celebrity in modern times

[@markaspaliokas6157]

The person that film this is just amazing. Have such modern way of thinking. The shots look like 2020 vlogger. Its the earliest proper vlog i have ever seen. This is a treasure trove of history. The videos are very good and so interesting to watch a real blast from the past

[@DOOMGENERATION]

Whoa, even a bunch of Guardian Angels singing along with them. Lovely footage!

[@MerynCadell]

I was so glad to see full credits at the end. Mostly because Karen Finley is in so many shots and was not identified. Great footage as usual, Ghost King of Nelson - thank you!! Anita Sarko's comment at the end shows how much video was distrusted at the time. I'm so glad Nelson persevered (and god bless Anita Sarko).

[@doradore]

omg james st james was so cute

[@TaliaIGhul]

This reminds me of "We are the world" where a group of people got together for a cause. My aunt for over 20 years has had HIV. It definitely can lead to what this cause was to fight against.

[@garybarawidan9252]

This is amazing footage

[@DanziLately]

OMG JAMES ST. JAMES WAS HHAAWWWTTTT!!!!!!

[@Mia7189]

I was thinking the same thing. I love his TRANSFORMATIONS clips. Didn't know how hot he was. Damn!!!

[@RibbonVintageGirl]

Ikr ?!

[@indiahaze2197]

Danzi Lately Hawt as hell!

[@RibbonVintageGirl]

Danzi Lately and less jumpy, too, jc

[@kingikiller]

He reminds me of Milk

[@defco89]

Who else is watching this on April 16, 2018... exactly 30 years to the day of this recording session... cheers from Asan, South Korea

[@yogigirl3641]

SinusoiDave 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@chaseatari3320]

“Money, success, fame, glamour”

[@spaceorbison]

I've never seen more concentrated disease in my life.

[@sacredgeometry536]

@@spaceorbison Lyme disease

[@gledwood9108]

This song reminds me so much of Girl Interrupted!🤪!

[@JerseyDevilJerseyGirl]

Me too I think of it immediately

[@greg7656]

James was adorable. And baby alig, still so young he'll stand in the back row. RIP michael

[@jcolterh]

RIP Angel

[@sburker32]

He finally got his karma... To bad it wasn't as painful as what he put angel through

[@drinkingpoolwater]

michael musto in 2020: i hardly knew michael alig. i barely knew nelson. i didn’t really associate myself with those people. michael musto in 1988: literally singing downtown with alig, nelson, and rupaul.

[@davidhallen7766]

Musto is nobody to be quoting . In truth, his behavior was sickening at clubs. He would be obnoxious and it wasn't cute. Throwing ice cubes, pushing his friends, dressing ugly, just being a stereotypical old queen even when he was young. Uggh. But the rest were fine!

[@winecrimesfoodandtime7119]

Yep exactly poser he is

[@teijaflink2226]

Really he definitely seems to think he's better because I have seen him hanging with Nelson in lot of these videos. I don't understand I would be super proud to have known Nelson and appeared in his vlogs.

[@drutalero2962]

this is so interesting I was born this year. I often wonder what people born now will think of old videos from today when they're older

[@gledwood9108]

Whoever looks after Nelson's archive: have you ever thought of splicing your videos into a proper documentary? Not necessarily for youtube (although it would be nice to watch it free) I mean for Netflix/whatever or television. I don't know about American TV but British TV like BBC2, BBC4 and Channel 4 might be interested if you can come up with something focused and mixed in with more HD footage from wherever. I think you could do something pretty amazing 😍

[@tillyrose2632]

@William Byron What are they called?

[@tennillej9601]

Unfortunately the owner of the channel has passed away I’m not sure if someone else would have access to Nelson’s archive since it’s been a couple of years since an upload but I’m hoping so 🤞🏼 there must be someone who can.

[@mountainmamanirvana31]

​@halcolombo6380do tell...❤

[@robertocampano2089]

OMG!!! 4:50 Dean!!!! RIP! It is so cool to see everyone really Happy and enjoying themselves. Then the spawn took over and the best people ran!!!!

[@LANCEA-r6t]

Hands together!

[@crispypoohs]

I love that this video is older than I am and some of the people in it are still around doing interesting things. James St. James was so young and cute -- and he looks tired / stoned, which is what I'd expect. This channel always makes me wish I had been born 25 years earlier.

[@shannondemers8728]

Same i was just a baby

[@jeannetterw]

2:40 you can't tell me this isn't Sasha Velour's inspo. Holy cow.

[@jameshoughton7509]

Seriously! 😦

[@RihannaChristina]

I was thinking the exact same! Even their voices sound a like

[@enorme72]

Lahoma Van Zandt its in everything!

[@ViennA2891]

That sounded surprisingly good 🤘

[@uncleavi2002]

What a time!

[@Nadtochy]

Thank you!

[@shanny4306]

Кирилл Надточий ditto

[@kithand1106]

This video is GOLDEN

[@blackestcat1111]

That was pretty cool 👍😁😎

[@maxiscoozuba4338]

I love James St James

[@HeatherAIYA]

Sasha valour. Voice n all

[@shawnalynn5198]

The voice is fucking uncanny!! Alternate timeline Sasha velour

[@RibbonVintageGirl]

Wow, everyone was so young and fresh-looking (*o*)

[@arturocas90]

Before it went crazy in the 90's and consumed by drugs

[@EpicRSvids]

:’) bless their hearts

[@mprevis]

Funny enough as I was looking around at all those recognizable faces I immediately picked out Karen Finley wondered if I was correct then thought to myself of course it was her. She wasn't a club kid but was very much a part of that downtown scene so Im glad to see she was able to take part in that.

[@JacobK0722]

This is golden!

[@cgvapors963]

It's funny to see Curtis Sliwa and the Guardian Angles team up with the queens here.

[@nikfiendluvr666]

fabulous. james looks so cute

[@brentaudi9354]

Lahoma sure did wear the heck out of that poke-a-dot dress during this 10 year period.

[@Tefixitafuckme]

Brent Audi lost in so many drugs... he seems such a nice person now :3

[@_tardigrade]

You mean polka dot dress? :)

[@sandradee3803]

And the wig! Love lahoma! What is he up to now? Curious to see how he looks these days!

[@Hallahanify]

Is Nelson's ginger friend lohama?

[@brentaudi9354]

@@Hallahanify Yes. Lahoma.

[@jsmith1077]

Daaaaaayuuuuummmm James St. James use to be soooooo fkn sexy back then!!!!! im crushin

[@arturocas90]

Exactly my thoughts. Jump to the Shockumentary interview and he looks A MESS!!! He was a very good looking dude...

[@robertocampano2089]

@@arturocas90 He turned extra ugly because of all his using of people and the lies he told not even talking about that "book"!!! scank!

[@CG68810]

Time has not been kind to JSJ

[@Oscaxr]

Is that Sasha Velour?

[@hypehype666]

i hate that i know exactly who you are talking about... LMAO

[@sw_fit50s]

No one is original anymore

[@d-space7679]

Haha..exactly! I love it !!

[@mrmikeyd2]

GOD you silly little RPDR bitches are annoying! Does EVERYTHING gay revolve around that fake show to you?

[@shawnalynn5198]

I thought the exact same thing lmfao their voices even sound similar!!!

[@enorme72]

Ohh james st james

[@johnnybickle13]

Julie Jules .... I'm in love with Julie Jules 😉😊

[@reptarDISCO]

This was filmed on the day I was born.

[@BEZBZ1]

When Dean Johnson says: ‘ I’m the lead singer ...’ then says: ‘ I’m here to sing but I’m not very good at it’ lol

[@shanny4306]

BEZBZ1 sooo not a diva eh

[@twistoffate4791]

R.I.P. Dean Johnson, 1961 - 2007, died in Washington D.C.

[@job89]

Can i hear this version of downtown anywhere ?😊

[@Lisatropolis]

I have wondered about that, too. Does anyone know who recorded it?

[@crissttol]

💖💖💖💖💖

[@lupelupelupe]

"I didn't know myself until I went to go pee"

[@richbones8419]

michael musto is so young

[@luispaulino4336]

Me gustaría saber de que murió y cuando murió Nelson en que año

[@twistoffate4791]

@Luis Paulino, Nelson Sullivan was born March 15, 1948 in Kershaw, South Carolina. He died of a heart attack in his New York home on July 4, 1989. His grandfather also died of a sudden heart attack at the same age as Nelson, which is 41 years of age. He is buried in Kershaw City Cemetery, Kershaw, South Carolina. (Wikipedia.)

[@Darswar4]

I was a 3 month old fetus when this was filmed.

[@gledwood9108]

I was 16. You just made me feel really old!!

[@shawnalynn5198]

It was one month and 3 days before I was born!

[@Genterik]

i was 2 months old

[@polyglot6542]

Sad to see that some good people end up so bad. Drugs, alcohol in excess bring sadness, despair and even murder.

[@triggerwarning3010]

I remember watching this live and my dad thought the woman in yellow was Marilyn Manson.

[@breakfastsurreal5650]

A a nearly life-long musician, stick to what you're good at 🤭 still though i wish the remaining club kids long lives of prosperity 🖖

[@emmyarellano3704]

I adore Lahoma!

[@LoveMoreJudgeLess]

April 16th, 1988

[@trevorroth4139]

Sasha Velour looks great.

[@richbones8419]

Okay l gotta say it! Lahoma van zandt looks alot like Nicole Parker from MADTV

[@Broc13]

I cant find this anywhere. Was this supposed to be for a record release? I heard him say it would be released to raise money back then but I seriously can't find any trace that this ever existed on any format. I was hoping to download it or buy it.

[@RedefiningBodybuilding]

Here ya go kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYrFYaONa613m5o

[@COBYKOEHL1]

FUCKING LEGENDS

[@lawrencepreiser4443]

Is that Curtis Sliwa?

[@michellelopez8594]

Is frank zappa there?

[@sallythomas8599]

It's so early most people arent normally up at 6.30... (here's me thinking he meant the morning 🤣)

[@ms.martiegallego8834]

This was more of a self promoting mess !! For all the singers. It was bad, and for James St. James to Not know that PETULLA CLARK sang this beautiful song was embarrassing !! Their egos were bigger than their talent, that's for sure !!

[@senseibroner9079]

You smell like FARTS.

[@bennyblanco9312]

oh look it's sasha velourr

[@mrmikeyd2]

GOD you silly little RPDR bitches are annoying! Does EVERYTHING gay revolve around that fake show to you?

[@haroodasac8092]

There is a man in the last line behind the others and on the left, with look similar to mexican, could be Ángel? Thanks

[@orsolazane1051]

I think this was way before the club kids, still nearer to the warhol era of downtown, so Angel was still nowhere in sight, people were a tad less drugged up, and Alig was still relatively obscure

[@mandyfontenot6352]

I love the Asian guy♡

[@ldcWhereJustFar]

4:20 I feel like Toby Maguire looks like this guy

[@clarissamoll666]

You need culture

[@rullygyuud1361]

Lol, how did Michael Alig get his name at the top of the credits above Dianne Brill???? Scandalous

[@SusieSynth]

Rully Gyuud alphabetical order lol

[@idiotfiend4584]

the clout he got from murdering someone

[@michellepotter5763]

This can not be a serious question

[@death2putin718]

Lol. Rupaul in that rear

[@Gaish]

does anyone know if lahoma/jon is still alive? i've heard that he worked as an editor for a magazine, but i'm not sure what he's up to now as of 2020.

[@Gaish]

@melly mel thanks! i still don't know whether he still works at grapevine though, i think i saw some comments talking about that he recently passed but i'm never sure if they're telling the truth on here

[@Gaish]

@melly mel omggg no way, thank you so much for finding this!!! makes me so happy to know that lahoma's still being fabulous 😭😭

[@Gaish]

@melly mel aahh you're too kind thank you so much! this made my entire day! 😭 really looking forward to it, i'm so bad at finding people on social media but i'm going to try to look for him as well!

[@Gaish]

@melly mel hi!! i did some digging and finally found the lahoma interview from october this year. do you have a discord/twitter/anything else? i could send it to you if you want! :)

[@Gaish]

@melly mel yes sure i can add you on facebook!! what's your name on there? :)

[@jesykahashope]

Dean Johnson looks just like Sasha Velour!

[@LuLuGuable]

Which one is Micheal Alig?

[@donniefrohnau7875]

---who is that weird pinhead puppet on 0:27 or 3:27 ???

[@budakshinchan]

2:24 Sasha Velour mixed Pearl = Dean Johnson

[@mrmikeyd2]

GOD you silly little RPDR bitches are annoying! Does EVERYTHING gay revolve around that fake show to you?

[@davidhallen7766]

Everyone all fabulous (except Michael Musto who was never fabulous)...

[@kennethblake6470]

So many faces

[@carlotaduarte9853]

yooooo, y is sasha 0:31 in the back rund? girl, arent u like, 1

[@shanny4306]

Petula Clark,,,,England big hit

[@XX-pl3tm]

How many of them are still alive besides RuPaul?

[@RedefiningBodybuilding]

Many are! At least of the main people who appeared in most of Nelson's videos.

[@WhimsicalNessa]

Aew!

[@Frankie343]

Lohoma is the best

[@iran747]

Lahoma is FUCKN sexy😍❤️

[@shanad4975]

So is this like before ravers ha They look like from another era of time

[@haelhebra2458]

I don’t see Alig

[@Nadtochy]

I did not see the date this video was recorded.

[@barbaraespinosavanleer5926]

This was real not some Hollywood... I'm promoting a movie, album etc... 💋

[@basilrodericks7791]

Dean 2:23

[@bluecollar825]

Nothing about musto seems genuine to me, nothing. He oozes backstab vibes lol. Sorry he just irritates the shit out of me. Id have definitely smacked him if I was around him. His inclusion in this scene wasn't even genuine.

[@senseibroner9079]

Sounds like you got a bias! Give Nelson some credit; if Musto was so shady, Nelson might have suspected it

[@bluecollar825]

@@senseibroner9079 lol, I really do! I remember when I was a kid he would always be on the E! Network and he gave me a bad vibe before I even knew what that was! I do like Nelson tho he seems pretty sincere but trapped in a world full of plasticity smh. I feel like he tolerated alot of these people to be around the ones who genuinely did like lol. Take care friend and well wishes.✌

[@harrymonk6]

Cant believe they all had h.i.v :(

[@TS-qq7vr]

@@kithand1106...uh, yeah a lot of them did die of AIDS...

[@mrmikeyd2]

They DIDN'T asshole......Michael Musto is still alive so is the founder of the gaurdian angels

[@christinadevis8849]

James St James com cabelo what?

[@Bj_mc31]

SASHA VELOUR @ 4:41

[@mrmikeyd2]

she wasn't even born yet.....probably her MAMA wasn't even born yet

[@92GreyBlue]

Were there any straight people in the scene? I mean I'm sure there were but you never see any at all really lol. It was the same when I lived in Oakland and San Francisco. Being straight I was always treated like such an outsider despite how kind or generous or friendly or respectful I would try to be. It made me feel so uncomfortable.

[@slayerpianoman]

Well especially at the time my guess is gays weren’t accepted in the main stream, and Reagan certainly didn’t help by ignoring AIDS, which George Bush Sr. did as well right after. So, a community like this thrives in an environment like that, since it’s a defiant and tight knit group that partially exists because it’s the only place they could go and be accepted. Similar to how white people will probably never be fully be accepted in a black group in the same way as if they were black, or a man will not be accepted in the same way as a woman in a woman’s group, It’s probably the same for straight people. Of course the vice versa of that was no one accepted these people, which is why racism and sexism have existed for so long. You see it today, we have trouble not getting tribalistic, I just think it was a group where gay people thrived, and they weren’t going to connect with you in the same way as other gays because your identity, your experience, didn’t resonate as strongly to them. Not your fault, it’s like trying to be a white rapper, it’s harder, and I feel ya, in a way it’s like the more you struggle the more everyone cares about you, and it makes me almost wish I could identify as a non straight non white male, but I can’t, I’m just a plain ol white straight dude, and no one cares what I think, but it’s ok. Somewhere out there there are straight white dudes who feel the same, they support racial equality, women’s equality, lgbt equality, all of it, but their voices don’t matter right now. Those are my homies I guess lol 😆 It’s cool you were there though, even if you never broke in like you wanted to.

[@dannydavideos8106]

Of course Atlanta... Smh... Atlanta is where all the weirdos come from still too this day...

[@ddiruscio01]

Lahomas mustache andd ughhhh the wigssss

[@mrmikeyd2]

WAY before the slick corporate queens you are used to today......REAL people