Jeremy gives his member a break today when he hosts the Rockstar Players Ball at the Hi-Fi. He'll introduce a parade of 10 local bands — including the A-10s, the Sex Crimes, and Dozen Dead Roses. He'll also sign autographs, take pictures with fans, and talk about his, ahem, rise to the top. "I was the average-looking guy that other guys could relate to," says Jeremy. "If you get a real good-looking guy, it's hard to get so far, because the audience does not relate."
The 52-year-old ex-high school teacher broke into porn in 1978, after his girlfriend sent a nude picture of him to Playgirl. After the magazine ran the photo, Jeremy was deluged with letters from female readers and filmmakers alike. He quickly signed on to appear in his first flick, Coed Teasers. He sees his story as inspirational. "It puts a friendly face on the world of porn: no drugs, no alcohol, no abuse," says Jeremy. "I'm just a guy — college-educated — who wanted to make a porno film and ended up being in the porn business."
In 2003, Beachwood native Brian Berke directed Jeremy in Being Ron Jeremy, a 40-minute straight-to-DVD parody of the porn industry. "I've always thought of Ron as this goof, almost like a punch line," says Berke. "He gives every normal guy the idea that they too can have a chance with hot girls."
But Jeremy doesn't give his Jewish libido as much credit as some of his fans do. "I heard Italians made for good lovers," he says. "Jews just give good head."
Sun., Jan. 29, 2 p.m.
