Concert riders are supposed to cover practical details like food, equipment, and dressing rooms, but some musicians have turned them into something far more entertaining. Over the years, backstage requirements have included unusual requests involving candy, flowers, furniture, and even live animals. Some sounded like outrageous celebrity demands until their actual purpose became clear. Others turned out to be jokes, personal preferences, or attempts to make life on the road more comfortable.
1. Van Halen and the Bowl of M&M’s Without Brown Ones
One of rock music’s most famous backstage stories began with a surprisingly small detail. Van Halen’s 1982 concert rider instructed promoters to provide M&M’s with every brown piece removed. For years, the request was treated as evidence of the band’s enormous ego. David Lee Roth later explained that it was actually a way to check whether organizers had read the band’s lengthy technical requirements. Van Halen traveled with an elaborate stage production, and finding brown M&M’s backstage was a warning that more important instructions might have been overlooked, including those involving safety.
2. Jack White and the Strict Ban on Bananas
When Jack White’s backstage rider circulated online in 2015, two details attracted particular attention: a prohibition on bananas and an unusually elaborate guacamole recipe. The document quickly became a favorite among entertainment reporters, who treated it as another example of rock-star eccentricity. White eventually addressed the controversy, explaining that the banana restriction was related to a possible allergy among touring personnel. The guacamole recipe, meanwhile, was an inside joke created by his tour manager to entertain local promoters. White also pointed out that the rider covered the needs of his entire band and crew, not just his own preferences.
3. Pharrell Williams and the Framed Picture of Carl Sagan
A framed photograph of astronomer Carl Sagan seems like an unusual thing to request before a concert. Yet the item appeared in Pharrell Williams’ rider, attracting attention when the document became public in 2015. Williams explained that he had admired Sagan since watching Cosmos as a child, and that seeing his photograph reminded him how fortunate people are to experience life on Earth. The unusual backstage tradition reportedly began as a joke among members of his team, but it also reflected the musician’s genuine appreciation for the astronomer.
4. Foo Fighters and Their Backstage Coloring Book
Foo Fighters took a different approach to the traditional concert rider in 2011. Instead of simply listing catering requirements, the band distributed a 52-page document featuring jokes, puzzles, illustrations, and even a coloring book. Drummer Taylor Hawkins offered advice about what made a good salad, while other pages covered breakfast options and the proper preparation of ice cubes. Dave Grohl later explained that tour manager Gus Brandt had developed the humorous format, with much of the information intended to ensure the road crew received proper meals. The result was a practical document that doubled as backstage entertainment.
5. Iggy Pop and the Bob Hope Impersonator
Few concert riders have been as entertaining as the 18-page document prepared for Iggy Pop and the Stooges in 2006. Among its stranger provisions was a request for someone dressed as comedian Bob Hope to perform impersonations backstage. The document also contained absurd jokes about equipment, catering, and the people responsible for organizing the show. Much of the humor came from road crew member Jos Grain, whose deliberately ridiculous writing transformed an ordinary collection of technical requirements into something resembling a comedy script.
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6. Joe Jonas and His Request for 12 Puppies
Joe Jonas once revealed that his concert rider included a request for 12 puppies. During an Australian radio interview in 2016, the singer explained that he had kept the unusual item on his rider for some time, and that certain venues had actually managed to provide the animals. Not every promoter could fulfill the request, but the occasional backstage visit from a dozen puppies apparently made it worth asking.
7. Rihanna and the Animal-Print Rug
Rihanna’s 2010 touring requirements included an unusually precise description of her ideal dressing room. Her rider specified dark blue or black drapes decorated with icy-blue chiffon, particular scented candles, and a large animal-print rug that had to be clean enough for her to walk on barefoot. She also requested a comfortable white couch, decorative pillows without sequins, and carefully selected flowers. Since many concert dressing rooms are converted locker rooms or other functional spaces, these instructions helped create a more comfortable environment wherever she performed.
8. Adele and the Ban on Organic Honey
Honey is a fairly ordinary backstage request for a singer, particularly one preparing for demanding vocal performances. Adele’s 2011 rider, however, specified clear honey in squeeze bottles and explicitly ruled out organic varieties. The document also requested room-temperature water, an electric kettle, fresh sandwiches, and European lager for her tour bus. The honey restriction became one of the more curious details in the published rider, although Adele never provided a widely documented explanation for that particular preference.
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9. Beyoncé and Her Heavily Seasoned Chicken
While some performers make headlines for demanding expensive champagne or unusual decorations, Beyoncé once attracted attention for something considerably more familiar: baked chicken. A backstage rider associated with her appearance at the 2004 Super Bowl specified chicken legs, wings, and breasts, generously seasoned with garlic, black pepper, seasoning salt, and cayenne pepper. The document also called for a dressing room maintained at 78 degrees Fahrenheit and careful cleaning of the private bathroom. Even an ordinary meal came with precise instructions.
10. Prince and His Jasmine and Lavender Candles
Prince’s backstage requirements during his 2004 Musicology Tour included a selection of relatively simple comforts. Along with tea supplies and snacks, his rider requested scented candles featuring jasmine and lavender fragrances. The document also called for tables at venue entrances where fans could leave gifts and flowers. For a musician known for elaborate live performances, these smaller details offered a glimpse of how he preferred his backstage surroundings to be arranged.
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11. Katy Perry and Her No-Carnations Rule
Flowers appeared prominently in Katy Perry’s 2011 touring requirements, but one variety was strictly forbidden. Her rider called for arrangements featuring hydrangeas, roses, peonies, or approved alternatives, while explicitly prohibiting carnations. The same document specified cream or pale-pink dressing room decorations and carefully selected furniture. The flower restriction became one of the most widely discussed details from the 45-page rider, although no confirmed public explanation established exactly why carnations were unwelcome.
12. Metallica and the Importance of Bacon
Metallica’s backstage catering requirements once included a request for bacon to be available with every meal and throughout the day. The instruction appeared repeatedly in the band’s published catering document, making its importance difficult for promoters to miss. Interestingly, the same touring arrangements also accommodated vegetarian crew members. The bacon rule became one of the more memorable examples of how detailed a band’s food requirements could become during a lengthy tour.
13. Kanye West and the Frozen Cocktail Machines
During his 2016 Saint Pablo Tour, Kanye West reportedly requested two machines capable of preparing frozen alcoholic drinks backstage. One dispensed a mixture of Hennessy cognac and Coca-Cola, while the other served Grey Goose vodka with lemonade. Kim Kardashian also shared images of the machines during the tour, helping bring the unusual setup to public attention. Unlike the bottles of alcohol commonly listed on concert riders, these refreshments required specialized equipment to prepare and serve.
14. The Kid LAROI and His Backstage Ball Pit
A ball pit sounds more appropriate for a children’s play center than a musician’s rider. Australian rapper and singer the Kid LAROI nevertheless included one among his requests, explaining in a 2021 interview that he enjoyed having somewhere to play during breaks. The unusual addition was also described in a Billboard profile that year, which noted that he used ball pits during downtime on music video sets. It was an unexpectedly playful request from a performer whose career was rapidly taking off.
15. Billie Eilish and Her Very Specific Gluten-Free Bread
Billie Eilish has made environmental considerations an important part of her touring operations, but her personal backstage food preferences are surprisingly straightforward. In a 2022 interview, she revealed that her rider included gluten-free bread from the German brand Schär, along with peanut butter, jelly, crackers, chips, salsa, and guacamole. She also mentioned pineapple, watermelon, and Tajín seasoning. The specific bread requirement reflected a familiar challenge for touring musicians: finding preferred foods while constantly moving between different cities and venues.
In the mood for more?
Check out 20 Stranger-Than-Fiction Facts about Infamous Musicians, or take a look at 12 Famous People Who Had Unusual Clauses Written Into Their Contracts. If you want to see more surprising stories from the entertainment world, you can check out 11 Concert Disasters That Shocked the Music World.
