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Metalbond Q&A: Meeting Van Darkholme

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A Visit to Bound Gods Headquarters in San Francisco by MetalbondNYCA Visit to Bound Gods Headquarters in San Francisco

By Metalbond

Armory pictures courtesy of SeriousBondage.com

While visiting San Francisco recently, I had the opportunity to accompany the men from the Serious Male Bondage website on a field trip to Kink.com headquarters. This enormous enterprise encompasses dozens of bondage-themed adult websites — including the kinky gay sites Bound Gods, Butt Machine Boys and Naked Kombat, plus many other hetero kink sites. The whole business is located in the Mission District of San Francisco — in the armory, an imposing building where the movies for all of these various sites are produced, cast, directed, filmed, edited and marketed.

Bound GodsI cannot even begin to tell you how massive this whole self-contained kink universe is. Even for a jaded New Yorker like me, I must say I was quite impressed. It made me think of the days when MGM and Paramount Studios had huge properties with sound stages, wardrobe departments, set designers and thousands of worker bees running around making movies — not to mention all the big talent like Bette Davis and Mickey Rooney, working under contract. In its heyday during the 1930s and 1940s the American film industry cranked out hundreds of movies every year, to satisfy the ever-growing demand of an insatiable pubic.

In a way, Kink.com is a lot like the golden age of Hollywood. To begin with, when we arrived, we were buzzed in through security and literally drove into the building and parked inside. They have a reception desk, and we had to sign in. We saw dozens of full-time employees going about their business, working behind computers, editing film, creating marketing and promotional materials, and carrying out support and administrative tasks — all cranking out new adult entertainment. These people are all professionals, and they really know what they are doing. The only difference is that, unlike Hollywood, which churned out movies the whole family could enjoy in the theater, the focus with Kink.com is on a much narrower fan base: consenting adults who want to watch very well made kinky porn. And boy do they deliver.

The Armory in San FranciscoNo matter what sexual orientation you are or what kinky fetish you might have, chances are there is a website headquartered here that will get you all hot and bothered. If you happen to get off on seeing grown men tied up and dominated by intimidating, latex-clad vixens in spiked heels, they’ve got you covered. Maybe you prefer to see women in gags and harnesses being worked over by dominant straight men. Well, they have a site or two for you as well. Into watersports? No problem! How about a site featuring athletic men wrestling on mats for real stakes — with the loser getting fucked by the winner? Yeah, they’ve thought of that, too!

The Armory in San FranciscoAnd if you’re like me and you enjoy watching really well made kinky gay bondage porn featuring some of the hottest and most adventuresome gay porn stars with great bodies and dependable dicks who know how to suck and fuck like champions, you need look no further than Bound Gods. As readers of this blog know well, Bound Gods is one of my very favorite sites.

Then it’s no surprise, of course, that the highlight of the day was the chance I got to meet Van Darkholme — the man behind the Bound Gods site — in person. In the flesh. Wow. In my opinion, he looked much hotter in person than he does in videos, if you can imagine that. He’s tall and worked out, has beautiful eyes and nice dark hair, and has a healthy skin tone. You can tell he eats right and gets plenty of sleep. He greeted us wearing cargo pants, a sleeveless blue T-shirt and comfortable sneakers, also blue. (He changed into a black ribbed cotton tank top for the on-camera interview we did later) .

When we started talking, I could tell right away that that he is just a normal guy. He even told me right off that he doesn’t let his porn stardom go to his head, and this was apparent in his demeanor. I found him to be friendly, soft-spoken, gracious and polite. When I asked him casually what he likes to do outside the dungeon, he looked me in the eye and without hesitation said gardening, with a sincere grin. But don’t be fooled. Behind all of Van’s boy-next-door charm lurks a true bondage master. He has been known to have even the biggest and most muscular of men trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey and whimpering like a baby in no time flat. When we started talking about his work, his eyes lit up and he became more animated. It’s clearly something he enjoys very much. He explained that he likes to work the tops in his videos hard, and that he takes excellent care of his slaves, protecting them and making sure they get what they need. He also shared some humorous behind-the-scenes anecdotes, one of them involving the actor Nick Moretti, who … well, let’s just say he got a little “over-enthusiastic” one day with a fellow actor.

Van took us to one of the sets, and I immediately recognized it from The Slaughterhouse. He showed us the tenterhooks hanging on runners from the ceiling, the wet area complete with drain in the floor, the built-in cage in the wall, and some of the hanging meat props. He also pointed out how the walls and floors in the room had been treated for a realistic look on screen. They think of all the details.

We got to peek inside some of the other sets, including the bar, featured most recently in Bar Bondage Hookup 2. I really wanted to see the padded cell set featured in The Sex Addict and Tommy, but it was in use. In fact, many of other sets were in use, with blinking red signs outside the doors warning passers-by that filming is in progress, keep voices down. We also got to visit the infamous Upper Floor at Kink.com, where some of the group scenes and live action updates take place.

Van also showed us the equipment room, where the restraints, whips, floggers, hoods, gags, butt toys and other devices are stored. He showed us how directors can come to the room and “check out” equipment to be used in their movies. Sort of like a kinky library or depository. Van said we could not touch any of the gear that would go in someone’s mouth or ass. As he explained, all the gags and butt toys are thoroughly sanitized after each use, and then quarantined for seven days before being put back in circulation. They also have a prep room, where all the actors clean their privates before any on-camera action takes place. We didn’t go in there.

Van also took us on a tour of the rest of the Armory building itself, which really is a former armory. It has a shooting gallery and a live stream running through the basement. (An interesting side note is that when Kink.com purchased the armory building itself, the transaction generated quite a bit of local controversy. Some community activists and neighborhood groups were up in arms over what they perceived as a threat from kinky perverts about to descend en masse into the neighborhood, filling the area with nefarious characters. That didn’t come to pass, of course, and since then the new residents of the armory and its neighbors have apparently settled into a peaceful coexistence. They even host community groups sometimes for events inside the massive indoor space.)

Before we left for the day, Van told us a little about his new, soon-to-be-launched website, called Bound in Public, which will feature lots of rough play and humiliation. I for one cannot wait to see what this site will be like.

Bound Gods Bound GodsBound Gods interview

Metalbond would like to thank Van Darkholme for his time and for graciously agreeing to be interviewed, and the Kink.com marketing department for granting access to the building and for their time and consideration as well.

Metalbond would also like to express his most sincere appreciation to Mark at Serious Male Bondage for arranging and facilitating the interview.

Be sure to watch for the on-camera discussion featuring Mark, Van and Metal at Serious Male Bondage.

See the latest updates from Bound Gods here

Get access to all the KnkMen gay bondage channels here

Van Darkholme gay bondage top

Daily Thread

ShackleNYC spends a week in chains and lives to tell about it

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My friend ShackleNYC spent a week in chains and he sent me some pictures and information to share here on Metalbond … Check it out:

metalbondnyc_front_01

 

My Week in Chains

By Anonymous

 

Here’s a short recap of the events that transpire:

If you remember, I had agreed to spend a full week in heavy Irons. Originally, we had thought this would all transpire in the Jail Facility up at Dragon Ridge, but realities of Yossie’s work and other factors made this unrealistic for this week.

I was scheduled to be in CA for 11 days.

First two days were rather tame – some fun cuffs and shackle play here and there, but nothing heavy or full time.

I was even left totally uncuffed for the trip up North.

We had dinner up on the Ridge, and it wasn’t until Yossie said to grab anything I needed and ushered me into the truck that my heart began to race, as I knew we were going down to the Jail.

Upon arrival, he immediately led me to the Cell, (hear after “my” Cell) and locked the door.  I could hear him preparing the Irons in the large playspace in front, but of course could not see anything from my Cell.

After a while, he came to fetch me, and ordered me to put my hands behind my back and thru the slot in the Cell door they way it is done in Prison. Of course cuffs were slapped on me, and he opened the door and led me to the front room.

There, as I suspected, was a pile of Irons and the hammer and rivets and anvil.

“You know the deal – heavy Irons,” he reminded me. I knew only too well.

Heavy was a understatement, What he had devised for me was truly massive:

The two inch Collar had an attached chain leading down to the 2 inch ankle shackles, nothing too astonishing in that, except that the front chain also passed through a loop in the Iron Belt he had made for me on my previous visit.  Collar was riveted on first, then each ankle, and finally the Belt.  I knew immediately I was in for it; just the sound of the chain passing through the Belt with the slightest movement told me this would be some very restrictive Bondage.  Wrists were last; riveted into heavy 2 inch wrist shackles attached my chain.  This chain could (and would) be easily padlocked to the Belt making movement almost impossible, or to a ringbolt in the Cell walls.  Very versatile.

I was sweating like a pig by the time the Riveting was finished and I was led back to my Cell.  It was not long before it was “light out” and I was left alone in pitch darkness in massive chains.  He was generous enough to NOT secure my belt or Collar to the wall or floor – it was difficult enough finding a position to lie in that was not too uncomfortable for the night.

With the exception of occasional abuse sessions (Beatings with the massive Prison Strap, forced cock sucking,) and one outdoor hose-down (a long chain padlocked to my Belt and the front of the Jailhouse) I spent most of the next two days in my Cell.

When it was time to return to SFO, I was led to the car and off we went – me still in full Irons.

As hot as this all sounds (and indeed, was) there were a few issues.  Even though the Belt had been built for me, it had begun to dig into my waist rather badly, and I had large open wounds were the metal kept abrading my flesh.  The Collar, too, had similar issues, and my neck was rather badly chewed up in various places.

Here’s where friendship can interfere with a total bondage scene – between my lamenting and obvious genuine discomfort and wounds, Yossie cut off the chain connecting my Collar to leg Irons, and struck off the Belt.

After another day in the Collar, he struck that off as well, as by the time my neck was really hacked up by the sharp edge of the massive band I had worn for three days.  He did replace it with a riveted on Collar made of rebar, (smooth round iron) which I wore till the end of the scene.

The ankle Irons and wrist shackles remained in place for the rest of the allotted time as well; I quickly developed what is called the Convict Shuffle – as it is the only way to walk in permanent ankle restraints.  I got very good at every day tasks in my wrist Irons as well.

I won’t say I missed them, exactly, when all my Irons were finally struck; but I was already thinking about the next time when we might extend the time.

So, although it was not full time in the massive “Six Ways” I was originally hammed into, I indeed spend 7 full days in Irons.

By the way – now, over a month later, my neck and waist still show heavy dark marks from where my Irons had dug in…. HOT!!!

 

metalbondnyc_front_02 metalbondnyc_imgp4405 metalbondnyc_side-view

Daily Thread

James Bondage

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I heard today the sad news that Jim Boyd of New Jersey, aka “James Bond” / “James Bondage” has passed away.

jimboyd-copy

 

Jim was one of the first men to ever tie me up. The year was 1992, and I was a young kid who had just moved to New York City to explore his interest in bondage and kink. That naturally led me to the New York Bondage Club, which met Friday nights at J’s Hangout at the time. On my very first visit, I met Bob Wingate, editor and publisher of Bound and Gagged magazine, and “James Bond,” who was a photographer for Bound and Gagged. Having been a longtime reader (and beater offer) of Bound and Gagged when I lived in much smaller towns Michigan and Texas, I was thrilled to meet these two bondage celebrities in person.

When Jim and Bob asked me if I wanted to be tied up, I thought I had died and gone to heaven! They proceeded to rope me down to a floating bondage board, and they kept me tied down for the next two or three hours. It was a fantastic initiation to the Bondage Club! It’s no surprise, after that hot experience, that I became a regular at the Bondage Club, attending almost every Friday night for years.

At the start of each meeting, Jim would gather all the men in a large circle around the pool table, and he would get everyone to introduce himself and tell the group what he was into and what he was looking for that night. Then, every single week, after everyone had said something, Jim would utter his immortal phrase, “OK men, it’s time to pair off and sniff armpits” … and then the fun would begin.

 

To read even more about Jim and see some of his pictures, keep an eye on Bob Wingate’s Blog.

 

Metal would like to thank Max Cita for the picture above.

Daily Thread

Long-distance 48-hour lockup

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MarklnorthLong-distance 48-hour lockup

An illustrated adventure by Marknorth

A blogger buddy and I have been emailing for a long time (and a few phone calls) – and we discussed the idea of some long-distance lock-ups and were finally able to make it happen. About a week and a half ago he mailed me a box that I was not to open until he told me to.  The plan was to hook up on live video (yahoo messenger) and take it from there.

We set last Friday as the date and he sent me an email beforehand telling me that he wanted me in my orange prisoner uniform, black boots, leather ankle cuffs (locked on and with a short chain locked between them) when I logged on.  At that time I would open the box and see where it went from there.

As I was getting ready, I was excited and nervous – I had no idea what was in the box – it wasn’t very big, but it was heavy.  I was thinking some heavy handcuffs or something.

When we logged in, it was a one way video chat.  I could hear him, but not see him (on purpose – he wanted me to be under surveillance, not being able to see my captor).

He made me show him that I was dressed as directed and that the ankle cuffs were locked on.  Once he was satisfied, he told me to open the box – I had to do it so he could see that it had not already been opened.

It was a heavy, short chain and a large brass combination lock (4 digits).  He ordered me to place the chain around my neck and set the links so that it was tight (no way to pull it up over my head) – then he ordered me to close the lock.  I did it immediately – really without thinking – and I was fucked.  It was a heavy chain and lock – would have been a bitch to cut off.  And I just locked it on myself without the combination – by a guy that I really didn’t know and who was a thousand miles away!

I was locked up in the chain at about 8:30 pm on Friday.

He gave me a set of tasks that I had to complete to earn the digits to the combination.  Each successful task would earn one digit.  I needed to be free by the end of Sunday so I was really worried that I wouldn’t get them done – or that he would fuck me over and not give me the combo.

At first I thought it wouldn’t be that bad – but I was wrong.  I thought that I would be able to just unlock the chain between the ankle cuffs – but he had thought of that.  Randomly throughout the entire weekend he did “cell checks.”  I received an email from him with orders to write something on a piece of paper, take a pic showing the ankle restraints and chain, and email it to him within 10 minutes.  Sounds like a lot of time, but it isn’t – especially if you don’t catch the email right away.  I was basically chained to my computer the whole weekend.  If I didn’t get the pic to him in time – additional time would be added to the collar being locked-on or I was given some other punishment.

MarklnorthMarklnorthThe damn chain was really heavy and started to make my neck sore early Saturday.  By Sunday morning it really was starting to hurt.  I was scared by late Saturday that he had some worse crap in mind, so I offered to accept something more restrictive so that I would ensure that he would give me the combo on Sunday night.  Of course he took me up on that – and added locking wrist restraints, locked to the collar chain by another short chain.  The added weight and movement of my arms made the collar even worse.

MarklnorthMarklnorthBy noon on Sunday I had earned the combination – although I wasn’t going to get it emailed until later – which I already knew.  He gave me reprieve from the rest of the restraints at 2:00 – the collar still locked on.  BUT the final set of instructions came regarding the release.

I had to go out in public and take my picture – with the collar and padlock visible – at a landmark in town.  It is a small town – so I was scared shitless that I would be seen.  I did it in front of the post office sign, but had to scramble back in my truck twice as people stopped to get their mail (the PO boxes are accessible 24/7).

Marklnorth

Finally I got the pics to him and he was satisfied.  I got the combination at the 48-hour point and was able to remove the damn collar.  My neck was sore for several days – but my dick is still hard.

What a ride!  I can’t believe that I did that to myself – I was truly imprisoned in my house and to the computer.  It was, however, exhilarating.

Metal would like to thank Marknorth for sharing this latest adventure!

Daily Thread

The 10 Commandments of Handcuffs

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You know, fellas, sometimes I tend to go a little crazy on this blog with entries about how hot and exciting it is to see a man in handcuffs. But let’s get serious for a moment. Listen, no matter how turned on we all get about this stuff, it is always best to remember this: safety comes first. When not used properly, handcuffs can actually cause real physical damage. Especially if you are using inadequate equipment or if you do not know what you are doing.

So — in keeping with the Top 10 List theme — I thought it might be a good idea to share some basic safety information about steel bondage. At the recommendation of my friend David Stein, I asked none other than Harold Cox (who has kept me in handcuffs longer than any other man I have ever played with) for an article called “The Ten Commandments of Steel Bondage.” It was originally written by Harold and published in Dungeonmaster Magazine in 1981. It was subsequently used in a presentation by Harold and david at GMSMA in New York.

Harold has graciously updated the article, and it is presented here:

 

The Ten Commandments of Handcuffs

Revised and updated by Harold Cox 11 October 2009

For those who like realism in bondage, there is no substitute for steel — handcuffs and leg irons. Leather and rope can be cut, or be insecure, and/or dangerously tight. Unfortunately, many tops who use handcuffs are not familiar with their use, which can cause damage to their prisoners. If followed, the rules below will allow players to enjoy their scenes more under safer conditions.

1. DON’T BUY CHEAP HANDCUFFS.

Most cheap cuffs can be easily broken or forced open. A good pair of handcuffs bought in a police supply store or ordered from a reputable specialty internet supplier will cost little more than junk cuffs sold in porn shops. For modern-style U.S.-made cuffs, Smith and Wesson is recommended, with Peerless as second-choice.

2. SHOP FOR THE BEST PRICES.

A good pair bought over the internet from a police supply house will cost little more than junk cuffs sold in porn shops. Smith & Wesson #1900 leg irons can be purchased from the Handcuff Warehouse for $40.99. The identical leg irons are sold by internet toy shops for $79.95. Caveat emptor.

I have had no problems with Warehouse’s service. A pair of S&W leg irons purchased about a year ago had a slight defect. They were replaced immediately upon complaint and the Warehouse paid the cost of return postage. I have reservations about Warehouse’s house brand – Chicago handcuffs – some of which could cause an accident in rough-house play.

3. DON’T BUY CUFFS WITHOUT A DOUBLE-LOCK MECHANISM.

Usually the set-lock is closed by inserting the pointed tip of the handcuff key into a small hole on the top of the lock case of the cuffs. The set-lock is released by turning the key backward in the keyhole. To lock the cuffs Smith & Wesson uses a pin accessed through the side of the lock case, which has the advantage of being accessible from either face of the cuff when locking.

4. ALWAYS DOUBLE-LOCK CUFFS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN APPLIED.

Cuffs that have not been double-locked can tighten on the wrists if the prisoner struggles or changes position and thereby cause damage to the nerves. Do not buy handcuffs with lever double-locks. These can be accidentally unlocked in a rough scene allowing the cuff to be tightened, or allow the cuffs to be unlocked by the prisoner, facilitating a possible escape.

5. DON’T MAKE CUFFS TOO TIGHT.

The point of steel bondage is that it doesn’t have to be tight to be secure. Don’t tighten cuffs more than necessary. As long as the cuff won’t slip off, it’s tight enough. It should still be easy to move the cuff on your prisoner’s wrist after it has been locked and set. Assuming that no tension is applied to the fastening point, the cuff bows should not press into the skin at any point. A quick safety check can be made by the captor by attempting to slip his little finger between the cuff and the flat surface of the captive’s wrist. If no part of the end of the finger can enter the space, the cuff is too tight.

6. NEVER SUSPEND YOUR PRISONER BY STEEL RESTRAINTS, OR MAKE THE PRISONER LIE ON HIS/HER CUFFED WRISTS.

This can cause severe nerve damage. Suspending the arms above the head with steel cuffs, even with feet or body primly planted on the floor, can cause damage if the tension is great or the position is held for more than a few minutes.

7. DON’T APPLY HANDCUFFS BY SWINGING THEM AGAINST THE WRISTS FROM A DISTANCE.

You can break someone’s wrist or arm that way. The outer edge of the cuff should just touch the wrist as you apply it. A short downward snap will swing the bow up through the locking part of the cuff and then back down and around the wrist. Practice snapping cuffs onto yourself until you get the technique down right. If it hurts you, it is going to hurt the prisoner. Practicing on your wrist is a slow process since you will have to unlock it after every attempt. You can eliminate this problem by holding two fingers together and snapping the cuffs over the fingers.

8. CUFF THE HANDS BEHIND THE BACK.

Unless secured otherwise, cuffs attached in front can be a dangerous weapon. For s/m scenes where high security is less important than minimizing unnecessary damage to the bottom, it is better to fasten handcuffs behind the back so the palms are facing each other, making any tension on the cuffs affect only the less-vulnerable outer sides of the wrists. Palms-out behind the back provide better security but is riskier and less comfortable.

9. DON’T TIGHTEN LEG IRONS.

Leg irons don’t have to be tight to stay on. If they are, the bottom won’t be able to walk, and the pressure could damage the Achilles tendon or bruise the ankles. Leg irons over boots are best if the prisoner will have to move around in them. Smith & Wesson leg irons are recommended because of their oval design. Leg irons should not be tightened more than two clicks when being applied. This will be sufficient to keep the iron from popping open accidentally. Probably the most comfortable way to use leg irons is to have the prisoner wear high-top shoes so that the leg irons can rest on the top of shoe. Pulling down the pants of the prisoner between the leg and the iron will also help to cushion the leg.

10. KEEP EXTRA KEYS HANDY.

Nothing can ruin a scene quicker than trying to remove the bottom’s restraints (or those you have put on yourself) and finding that you can’t locate the keys.