Lasse Braun speaks to my butt.

by Dr. Susan Block

I met the great sexual revolutionary and explicit film auteur Lasse Braun in 1993 when he called the phone number that appeared on my screen during one of my cable TV shows. When his call was put through to my husband Max, he introduced himself using his birth name, Alberto Ferro. Max was pretty blasé about an unsolicited request to meet me until Mr. Ferro dropped the bomb: “I am also known as Lasse Braun.”

Max immediately recognized that name as the nom de cinema of one of the greatest erotic filmmakers of all time, “a pornography king arguably higher in stature than Hugh Hefner and Bob Guccione combined,” according to his Rotten bio, “taking legal bullets in stride long before Larry Flynt.”

Alberto Ferro, a.k.a. Lasse Braun, became a frequent visitor to our home and at our studios, a collaborator on several of erotic art shows, including Erotic Art of the Apocalypse and Democratic Sex, the instigator of our legendary Eros Day celebrations and a popular guest on The Dr. Susan Block Show, sharing his secrets of seduction and female ejaculation.

That last subject got me curious as I didn’t think female ejaculation was “real” at the time. Lasse/Alberto introduced me to his talented son, Alessandro Ferro, a.k.a. Axel Braun (known, at the time, as “The G-Man” to his fans in Italy) and, on the first day of the new millennium, New Year’s Day 2000, Axel’s skilled fingers in my vagina manipulated my G-Spot as Lasse’s skilled voice in my ear manipulated my mind. Thus the two of them made me squirt “Holy Water” for my very first time.

Now, a little over 15 years later, Axel is one of the greatest award-winning pornographers of the 21^st century, and Lasse is, sadly, gone. Word is he just died this morning at the age of 78.

I miss him so!

Lasse Braun and I get ready for the “Erotic Art of the Apocalypse” opening at Speakeasy Gallery in 1999. Photo: Max

Like Frank Moore and Al Goldstein (who left us in 2013) and Max (who, thank goddess, is still with us!), Lasse Braun was a true sexual revolutionary. He came of age during the long “Cold War” against humanity’s sexual bonoboësque nature, as well as the “Commies,” and he fought for freedom of speech during times of intense government restriction. He was extremely “sex-positive” several decades before there was such a term, explicit without apology, polyamorous to the core, explored consensual BDSM long before 50 Shades of anything, as well as produced, directed, edited, distributed (with Rueben Sturman) and defended the brilliant hardcore films (including the critically acclaimed Sensations which he showed in the Cannes Film Festival) and short “loops” that were so popular among millions of viewers, they pretty much “forced” the legalization of pornography throughout Europe and then America.

The son of an Italian diplomat from an aristocratic family, a lawyer by trade and a sincerely devout lifelong lover of “poosee,” Lasse was uncompromising in his values, especially his sexual values, as well as the aesthetics of his erotic art and the inherent comedic nature of all things, and he demanded similar dedication, depth and lightness from his collaborators. He’d always push me to be honest, to seize the moment and assume my role in the erotic comedy of life with as much sincerity, creativity and panache as possible. Thanks for the push, Lasse! Whether it’s about squirting, showing off the erotic beauty of life, standing up for those I love or speaking my mind about what I believe, I can still feel Lasse’s strong but gentle hand at my back (or is that his whip on my backside?), and I can still hear his sexy, raspy, Italian-accented voice in my ear, “Come on, Sooozan, you can do it!”

Arrivederci Lasse! Tonight, I will read a few pages from your classical masterwork, Lady Caligula, and, with Max’s help, squirt a stream of amrita in your beloved memory.

Long before there was “50 Shades of Grey,” there was Lasse Braun, shown here teaching me a lesson I never forgot on Mario Saucedo’s Bondage Cross. Photo: Jolie Barry

© February 16, 2015. Susan Block, Ph.D., a.k.a. “Dr. Suzy,” is a world renowned LA sex therapist, author of The Bonobo Way: The Evolution of Peace through Pleasure and horny housewife, occasionally seen on HBO and other channels. For speaking engagements, call 310-568-0066.