Angie Stardust facts for kids

Mel "Angie Stardust" Michaels (1939 – 21 October 2007) was a talented singer, actress, and performer. She became the first black star at New York's famous Club 82 in the 1950s and 1960s. Angie also managed Hamburg, Germany's first all-male show, Crazy Boys. Later, she founded and owned Angie's Nightclub in Schmidts Tivoli Theatre.

Early Life and Beginnings

Angie Stardust was born in Norfolk, Virginia. She grew up in Harlem, New York. She started performing when she was just 14 years old. Angie was a transgender woman. This means she identified as a woman, even though she was assigned male at birth.

A Star on Stage

Angie Stardust performed at popular venues like the Jewel Box Revue and Club 82 in New York City. She was one of the first performers to take hormones to live as her true self. At the time, this was not widely understood.

In 1974, Angie moved to Europe. She settled in Hamburg, Germany. There, she continued her amazing career.

Film and Personal Journey

In 1983, Angie Stardust appeared in the film City of Lost Souls. This movie was directed by Rosa von Praunheim. It later inspired the well-known musical Hedwig and the Angry Itch. In the film, Angie played the owner of a restaurant called the Hamburger Queen. She also ran a boarding house called Pension Stardust. Her co-stars included Jayne County and Tara O'Hara.

After the film was finished, Angie took another step in her journey. She had surgery to fully live as her true self. This completed the process she had started years earlier with hormones.

Angie's Nightclub

In 1990, Angie Stardust opened her own club. It was called Angie's Nightclub. It was located in Schmidts Tivoli Theatre in Hamburg, Germany. By 1994, her club was known as a top spot for jazz music.

Angie performed there every night until 1999. She became known as the "Big Mama of Soul." She was famous for singing soul, jazz, pop, and musical theater songs. Since 2008, Angie's Nightclub has been part of Hamburg's Reeperbahn Festival every year. Many artists have performed there, including Skinny Lister and Ezra Furman.

As of 2017, Angie's Nightclub was still one of the most popular clubs in Sankt Pauli. It continues to operate under the same name today.

Music Albums and Films

Angie Stardust released several music albums and appeared in films.

Discography

Filmography