Nov 5

Nov 5 Steve Lewis: The Godfather of Nightlife Reflects on New York’s Club Culture, Past and Present

Culture, Dj/Producer, Music, Creative People

The Man Who Lived a Thousand Nights

If New York nightlife had a patron saint, it would be Steve Lewis. A legend who helped shape the city’s club scene from the gritty '70s to the decadent '90s and beyond, Lewis has been called the "Godfather" of nightlife—and for good reason. From Limelight, Tunnel, and Club USA to designing hotspots like Butter, Marquee, and Hotel Chantelle, his fingerprints are all over the city’s after-dark history.

The idea to interview Lewis came while flipping through old photos of Save the Robots, one of the greatest after-hours clubs of all time. Who better to discuss the evolution of nightlife than the man who lived it, ran it, and wrote about it for decades?

Now a manager for house music legend Jonathan Peters, a designer, and a columnist for VinePair, Lewis remains a night owl at heart. In this exclusive interview, he reflects on Queens punk roots, the rise and fall of the Club Kids, jail time, and why today’s scene might just be the best yet.

From Jackson Heights to the Limelight: A Nightlife Origin Story

Q: You grew up in Queens with the Empire State Building as your nightlight. How did you find your way into nightlife?

"I always felt I didn’t belong in Jackson Heights. I questioned all the rules, hung out with people of 'questionable character'—but with all their flaws, I identified more with them than the straight-edged crowd. One day, some friends and I went to the East Village to buy bongs, and we ran into Joey Arias and Klaus Nomi on St. Marks. My friends saw freaks—I saw brilliance. I never left. They opened my mind to things I’d never considered. Queens wasn’t my home for long."

Lewis modeled his early persona on Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca—cool, observant, always in control. But his real break came when he accidentally produced a fashion show at Bonds Disco after the original director stormed out.

*"I told them, ‘I watched him all day—I can do this.’ It went well, so they hired me for the next one. I ended up producing 400+ shows, taking me to London and Paris. That led to promoting clubs, packing them out, and eventually running them."*

The Golden Age: When Clubs Were Dark, Dangerous, and Sexy

Q: What was club culture like in the ‘70s and ‘80s?

"The clubs back then were illegal, in the armpits of Manhattan, and gloriously rotten. After-hours spots were where anything could happen if you were… open-minded. We were ‘woke’ before the term existed. I wasn’t a big drinker or drug user, so I remember it all—but it’s still a blur because I never slept."

Lewis credits The Ramones for giving him an edge. Their lighting designer, Arturo Vega, introduced him to the underground gay scene, which became instrumental in his career.

Q: Where did Club Kids go before Limelight and Club USA?

"Before Michael Alig’s infamy, there was Danceteria, RedZone, and The Palace de Beaute. At Limelight and Tunnel, we created a home for outcasts. Michael was on TV, so kids flocked to him. We gave them jobs—coat check, busboys, go-go dancers. Club Kid culture was a business."

But Lewis doesn’t romanticize the past.

"People think the ‘90s were the golden age, but House of Yes proves nightlife is thriving now. The difference? Today, there’s more tolerance, more creativity, and fewer arrests."

Mentors, Arrests, and No Regrets

Q: Who were your biggest influences?

"The Ramones taught me dedication. Arturo Vega, Joey Arias, Klaus Nomi—they turned me out. Chi Chi Valenti and Johnny Dynell taught me everything I know (but not everything they know). Susanne Bartsch made me want to be better. And my parents, married 68 years, taught me integrity matters more than quick wins."

Q: You went to jail during the Limelight era. Any regrets?

"I wondered if I should’ve taken a gig at The Building instead of Limelight—but regret was short-lived. Jail was almost a validation. I didn’t do what I was convicted of, but I helped create chaos. I knew the risks. I came out wiser, happier, and stronger."

The Golden Age Is Now

Q: What’s your take on today’s nightlife?

*"This is the golden age. Brooklyn’s scene rivals the East Village in the ‘80s. The music bridges cultures, and clubs are more inclusive. The only thing missing? The NY-London creative exchange. Back then, I’d fly to London just for a haircut—now I can’t name three clubs there."*

Q: Favorite spots now?

"House of Yes—it’s pure spectacle. Tilt, too. For food? Peter Pan Donuts and Tom’s Diner."

What’s Next?

Lewis is far from retired:

Managing Jonathan Peters’ new residency at Freq NYC (formerly Space Ibiza).
Writing Late Shift, a nightlife column for VinePair.
Designing spaces, including a Manhattan nightclub and a converted NJ bank.

Q: Any advice for today’s generation?

"The world is rotten, but also wonderful. Nightlife at its best is inclusive, not exclusive. Stand with each other. Respect other paths. And remember—life is long, but the party doesn’t have to end."

Final Memory: Save the Robots

Q: Any wild stories from Save the Robots?

"I ran The World around the corner, but Robots was where I’d unwind—which usually meant getting wound up again. Anything could happen there. And thankfully, it did."