LOS ANGELES—Rocker Phil Varone, the former drummer for Skid Row and Saigon Kick, hosted the public launch of his Sex, Toys and Rock ’n Roll line Thursday at the Melrose Avenue location of Romantix.
In between posing for pictures and signing autographs, Varone talked to AVN about his toy line, which is manufactured by California Exotics Novelties, and his movies, available through Vivid.
“I was involved with all the aspects of the line,” Varone said. “I originally went in just for the molding (of the Dr. Philgood dong, which features a removable Prince Albert piercing just like his own) but then I was talking with Al Bloom (directing of marketing for CalExotics) and he asked if I would be interested in doing some more pieces.”
Varone said he jumped at the chance to design a line, since it was the next progression.
“I was pretty much done with the music career, and with the sex tapes it was a natural to do the sex toys,” he said.
But the movies—which include Phil Varone’s Secret Sex Stash and Swinging American Style: Texas Fuck ’Em—weren’t his first foray into the world of sex.
During his rock career, Varone slept with more than 3,000 women, which landed him on Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Sex Rehab on VH1 (the same season that starred former adult star Penny Flame). He admits it’s ironic that most ofAmerica learned about him through a show dealing with sex addiction, and now he stars in adult movies and has a sex toy line.
“I haven’t heard from Dr. Drew yet about all this, but I would love to,” he said with a chuckle.
For their part of the evening, Romantix staffers had wall and table displays of the Sex, Toys and Rock ’n Roll products, which include the Dr. Philgood, Sex Stix (drum stick-shaped vibrators), the All Access Vibrating Pass and more.
“We work with CalExotics and carry Phil’s line, so when the opportunity came up to host the launch event we were excited,” said Ricardo Romero, Romantix store manager.
The store also offered gift bags to the first 50 attendees, which included products and gifts from CalExotics, who also had representatives on hand for the event.
“Doesn’t everybody like Romantix?” said Desiree Duffie, director of public relations for CalExotics. “When we were brainstorming about this event, one of our sales rep told us that this Romantix store was a great location for this type of event, and the rest is history.”
Duffie said the event was planned after products from the line started shipping out to retailers.
“We launched the line last year to the industry, but we all know it can be a few months between the launch and when the products start rolling out of the warehouse,” she said. “Now that they are in the stores, we thought it was the perfect time to launch the line to the general public.”
Another event is planned for a Déjà vu store inLas Vegasnext week.
For more information on the Sex, Toys and Rock ‘n Roll line, visit CalExotics.com.
