There's been a lot of Bad Boys stars over the years.
For the Bad Boys Pool Parties back in LA and Palm Springs, I required that the guys appearing to have had a career for at least two years.
This made sense to me because it meant that they were committed to the porn as a career (at least for now) and had fans who would come to see them. I broke the rule a couple times and got burned badly once.
The burned badly guy was with a star whose name recognition factor had been white hot that particular summer and even though he'd only been in the industry a few months, I put him on the 'marquee' with guys who had been working hard at their biz for years - I did this as anyone would do - to sell tickets to the event. But as anyone in entertainment knows (and I did but stupidly ignored) when someone hasn't earned the level to which they have gotten, they tend to become a spoiled brat. This particular star threw his weight around about a particular issue and nearly caused the entire event to go off the rails. I vowed I would never compromise what I felt were guidelines set for a really good reason.
In any event, when I started doing the New York parties in 2004 I didn't know what kind of guidelines to set. The biggest problem with doing the New York cruise was that so few stars lived in New York that assembling a great lineup of established stars was a challenge and so I had to throw out the old rule book and simply find hot delicious guys that I wanted to work with again and again. I have discovered that creating a core group of reliable men to feature at my annual events is a lot more fun than the old way of doing things.
Fortunately I discovered a super hot stud along the way who would ultimately become one of the most reliable talents that I've ever had the pleasure to work with.
Sure, Michael Brandon is probably the king of number of appearances he's made at Bad Boys events - 2000 as a dancer and then 2 more LA parties and 5 Palm Springs parties plus 2 of the three San Francisco events, making him the reigning champ at 10 so far (Kevin Kramer is probably pretty close behind that talley and psychic Jodie Hart and singer Irene Soderberg have both made multiple appearances at a variety of Bad Boys events over the years although this year will mark Michael's first BBH party and his 11th overall).
But it's Duke Rivers who is the only star to have made appearances at all the Bad Boys on the Hudson parties over the years.
When I met Duke, well, hell, I'm not even sure I remember how we met. But I do remember my first erection around Duke which was in the early 2000s at a Tom of Finland event where he was nude modeling at the LGBT Center here in New York. TOF used to do an annual erotic art fair in the city and Duke was modeling for them in the buff.
Clearly I already knew Duke by this time because he smiled at me while modeling and urged me to come up and pose with him. I felt I was a little out of shape at the time (I always think I'm out of shape - it kind of comes with the territory I suppose) and not really wanting to take my clothes off - but for Duke, his royal hotness, I did it and got a huge boner (because who wouldn't?).
Now when I write that some star is 'nice' and 'fun' I always think, 'gee I hope that people who read this don't equate 'nice' and 'fun' with 'dull'.... because Duke is certainly not dull but he IS super nice and he IS super fun. He's an ex-military guy and has made bodybuilding his post career hobby and has dabbled in the porn stuff with Smoking Hunks movies and modeling for Tom of Finland parties. And he looks fucking hot in leather. He also looks pretty damn good with nothing on at all.
Since Duke's first Bad Boys event in 2004, he's made some regular Bingo stops and hit all six Bad Boys Hudson events and now will be joining us for the 7th party on Sunday July 11th I guess you could say that he's one of the family now even though I only see him for one day a year, but in the annals of Bad Boys parties, he is among the biggest of stars.
Bad Boys on the Hudson 7 takes place Sunday July 11th on the Queen of Hearts (Pier 40, just below Christopher Street). Doors open 6pm, boat sails at 7:30 and returns at 10. There is an after party which will be announced on the boat. Tickets are $22 in advance or $25 at the door (if available). Go to Gay Party Cruise or Sea Tea to get your tickets. Or, if you want to buy them off line, in person, you can go to the following stores:
Wear Me Out: 353 West 47th St [212.233.3047]
Village Apothecary: 346 Bleecker St [212.807.7566]
Steel Gym: 146 West 23rd St Between 6th & 7th Ave [212.352.9876]
