Goss, other men with ‘swagger’ join Diddy

Diddy formed a Rat Pack-looking group of guys last week to hit the Strip and film a new vodka ad campaign. Diddy looked for men with "swagger." So who did he put in his ads?

Caesars headliner Matt Goss, for one. They shot for 20 hours a day for two days -- in casinos, on casino rooftops and in a jet.

They drank the vodka, Goss says.

"It just made the shoot better. It warmed us all up a bit," he says. "It was crazy decadent with a big film crew ... bringing the glamorous side of Vegas."

The other guys wearing suits and ties in the ads: Frank Vincent of "The Sopranos," Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad," Jesse Williams of "Grey's Anatomy," Chad Michael Murray of "One Tree Hill," Michael Kenneth Williams of "The Wire" and musician Chris Jones.

Goss says Diddy was a great gentleman and "a funny cat."

"All of us got on so well. It was like we'd known each other for 10 years," Goss says. "Honestly, the next day I missed him and the guys."

Also on the set were dancers from Goss' Caesars show and models Chrissy Teigen and Eva Marcille.

"So there are some babes in there, as well," Goss says.

Goss joined up with Diddy just days after performing for packed crowds at Royal Albert Hall and the Savoy in his native London, where he attained fame with brother Luke in the band Bros.

"It was a win-win for me. I got to take a piece of Vegas to London to show my hometown what we do. And I brought my whole cast (from Caesars) to show them my hometown."

Amy Winehouse's father, Mitch, opened for Goss there. I ask Goss whether Mitch is still heartbroken over his daughter's death.

But Goss (who has a tattoo that reads "Civility Costs Nothing") respectfully keeps the details to himself.

"Mitch was lovely," Goss says. "He just loves his daughter with all his heart. ... He went out there and had the time of his life. He's a good guy, you know."

Mitch told Goss that his daughter was a fan of his. Goss was overwhelmed. Goss was so influenced by Amy Winehouse that when he performs his old Bros hit "When Will I Be Famous" now, it's restructured with a hint of her song "Back to Black."

Goss will be back at Caesars this weekend. In his spare time this week, he plans to play the new online multiplayer mode of "Battlefield 3" on PlayStation 3.

Why does he prefer "Battlefield" games?

"The game play is so immediate. You can throw a grenade into a building, and whatever's in that building will come flying out!" he says.

But the best part of "Battlefield" is that he, his brother and his old friends go to war online at the same time, while talking on PS 3's chat function.

"So we can literally be in four different countries and all play. That's what I like about it. It strangely keeps you all connected."

I have news for Goss: I played "Battlefield 3" online for 12 hours on my last day off.

"That's a long time you played for, man! That is kind of psychotic, just so you know that -- even for gamers, bro," he says.

He is not wrong.

Doug Elfman's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Contact him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.