Co-Hosted by Ninn Worx director Michael Ninn and iconic rocker Eddie Van Halen, The Gathering was a classy affair that brought the worlds of rock ’n roll and adult entertainment harmoniously close. The bash was held at the Dutch rocker’s mansion to celebrate the DVD release of “Sacred Sin,” which Van Halen wrote two original songs for.
Despite the rigorous guest list, a long line of guests were queued at L.A. Valley College waiting for a shuttle to take them to Van Halen’s gated estate high in the Hollywood Hills.
A pianist playing Van Halen’s porcelain white grand piano greeted invited guests in the rotunda. The backyard was abuzz with hundreds of guests enjoying an open bar, a mojito stand and hors d’oeuvres.
Van Halen’s leafy backyard replete, with a gazebo, hot tub, pool and water slide, resembled a carnival of sorts with fire swallowers performing on stage, elaborately costumed men on stilts dancing and a pair of acrobats demonstrating slick choreography suspended in the air by strands of silk.
Seminal punk frontman Billy Idol was expected to take the stage at 8 p.m. but cancelled just hours before the party began. An elevated stage with concert-style lighting was rigged and ready to be rocked on.
Van Halen showcased his legendary guitar playing when he took to the stage in his own backyard to perform a rousing set of classics. The guitar virtuoso ripped into Idol’s “Rebel Yell” to thunderous applause. Dressed in jeans and an unbuttoned white shirt, Van Halen tore through his hits “Panama,” “Jump,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” and others, ending the set in a trademark shredding solo complete with his signature harmonics and fretboard tapping.
Industry players showed up to the soiree in droves, including XBIZ founder and President Alec Helmy, Vivid co-chairman Steve Hirsch, Wicked Pictures President Steve Orenstein and contract stars Kirsten Price, Kaylani Lei, Jessica Drake and Stormy Daniels, AVN President Paul Fishbein, Hustler’s Theresa Flynt, Shane’s World contract star Casey Parker, Jessica Jaymes, Angel Cassidy, Nick Manning, Brad Armstrong, Todd Todd, Jenna Presley, Sunny Lane, Ashley Steel, Gia Jordan, Rayveness, Tiana Lynn, Faith, Marcos Leon, Nautica Thorn, ClubJenna director DCypher, Smash Pictures’ Stuart Wall, Zero Tolerance’s Travis Nestor, Playboy TV Producer Eric Mittleman, Mindy Main, Tall Goddess, Taylor Rain, Nicole Sheridan, Voodoo, Dean Sussman, Jeff Mullen, Scott David, Barrett Blade, Ben English, Tommy Gunn, Rita Faltoyano, Monica Mayhem, Tony Battman, Mia Rose, Jasmine Byrne, Gia Paloma, Sarah Blake, Gram Ponante, Mika Tan, Evan Stone and Roxy DeVille.
The party commenced with guests being treated to a gift bag that included a designer Chase-Durer watch, a bottle of Stockholm Krystal vodka, a collector’s edition of Ninn Worx’s “Sacred Sin,” and a Phallix glass toy.
