James St. James
A flamboyant Club Kid who transformed New York nightlife into a theater of the absurd, then became a chronicler of its wildest characters.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American TV & internet personality and author·Birthday: August 1·Generation X
Biography
Born James Clark, James St. James emerged from the suburbs to become a central figure in the explosive New York City club scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He wasn't just a partygoer; he was a performance artist of the night, crafting outrageous personas and costumes that turned nightclubs into immersive, chaotic art installations. This era of decadence and creativity was immortalized in his 1999 book, 'Disco Bloodbath' (later retitled 'Party Monster'), a darkly comic tell-all that captured the scene's tragic underbelly. His transition from scene star to author and television commentator, notably on shows like 'Celebrity Fit Club', demonstrated a sharp, witty intelligence that had always underpinned the glitter. He became a bridge, translating an insular, vanished world for a mainstream audience and securing his legacy as its most eloquent and enduring witness.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
James was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When James Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
James's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Authored the seminal club culture memoir 'Disco Bloodbath', which inspired the film 'Party Monster'.
- Was a defining 'Club Kid' personality at iconic New York venues like the Limelight and the Tunnel.
- Built a second career as a television personality and pop culture commentator.
- Collaborated frequently with makeup artist Mathu Andersen to create groundbreaking looks.
Did You Know?
His legal name is James Clark; 'St. James' was a nightlife persona that became permanent.
He was a close friend and rival of fellow Club Kid Michael Alig, whose story he detailed in his book.
He appeared as a judge on the VH1 reality competition show 'My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding'.
His writing has been featured in publications like *The New York Times* and *Vanity Fair*.
“We weren't just going out to clubs; we were creating a world.”
