This Saturday sees London‘s first ever HOTWIRED, the strict-fetish leather and rubber party that promises to be a departure from anything this still-leather-loving city has seen. Even the venue — a sexy industrial space in southeast London — has not been previously tried, tested and soiled by the gay scene. The HOTWIRED weekend is peppered with tapering-on and coming-down events at various bars across London, but the Saturday night party is the signature do. It’s the combined vision of gay London’s doyenne of down-and-dirty Suzie Krueger (Hard On, ex-FIST) and RUT organiser Rob Rutt.
GayCities London editor David Oppedisano talked to New Jersey-born Krueger about her most grandiose London venture since 1990, when she organised her first women-only SM party.
When did you start up Hard On, and when did Rob Rutt get RUT going?
My Hard On began in September 2003. RUT started in 2008.
HOTWIRED is the centrepiece event of this first weekend fetish venture between you and Rob Rutt. Where did the idea come from? What will differentiate the Saturday night HOTWIRED party from Hard On or RUT?
I have always wanted to host a huge fetish weekend event but it has taken years to find the right partner. Rob from RUT approached me and we clicked. The difference will be that this is a one great big leather party in a massive German-style gritty warehouse.
Will this be like Hard On/RUT-plus? And are you trying to do something different from the summer’s semi-successful London Fetish Week?
The dress code for HOTWIRED is much more specific than for Hard On. Yes we are definitely doing something quite different than London Fetish Week in that we are appealing to a wider market and also women are welcome.
Have there been challenges in transforming a raw industrial space into a fantasy club environment? Will there be different zones with different music? And can you say something about the DJs?
It has been a challenge but Rob is very creative and came up with lots of ideas. However the venue will speak for itself. There will be two different zones of music: the Hard On room style and the Rut room style. Rut is more electro and Hard On is progressive house and trance. You will be moved. LOL. Also the sound system is out of this world. Joe and Will Ask? are 2 young straight boys who will be spinning a live electro mix in the Rut room and my DJs will put you on a journey bringing you up and then twisting your mind.
So far everything is running smoothly thank god. But don’t want to tempt fate as we’re not there quite yet.
In the vein of Hard On and RUT, there will be a strict dress code of leather and/or rubber. What’s the most minimal look that you would allow entry?
We are trying to create an edgy atmosphere so the more rubber/leather the better. However a rubber or leather jock, boots and a harness or arm bands will do.
What’s the best reason for dishing out cash for a HOTWIRED ticket rather than staying at home with Recon, GayRomeo or that ilk?
All of those sites provide a good service; however we are offering try before you buy, which you can’t really get online as you don’t know what will show up at your door.
Do you ever fantasise about an all-female fetish version of this event? Will it ever happen?
I wish there were that many women into fetish in one place. I would be in heaven. I have run women-only fetish events before but on a much smaller scale.
Do you work with any other women or do you prefer organising with boys?
I much prefer to work on my own. However sometimes you do need a partner. I have recently been collaborating with a lovely woman called Nikki from All Girl Action. We are organising a women-only sauna party in November called Heat. She has a lot more connections to the dyke community than I.
Where in London, if at all, do you find what you’re looking for?
I don’t. I work all the time.
Do you get to see other clubs? If so, what aspects do you tend to like or find fault with?
All the fetish clubs in London and Europe are men-only so the answer is no, I don’t get to check them out. LOL. Yes the fault is they don’t let women in. One being SNAX in Berlin. I had to sell my ticket… bloody pissed off I was… all rubbered up and nowhere to go.
The event is called HOTWIRED. What were some of the short-listed names that lost out?
Hmmm now that would be telling; don’t want anyone to nick our ideas.
Might you recommend good places to buy well-made sexy leather and rubber in London?
Master U for leather, RoB, Expectations, Fetish Freak, Regulation and DV8 for both. Rubber specialists: recoil.557 and Dvote.
See all of David Oppedisano’s fabulous GayCities guide to London
