Image via Complex Original
Every so often, the tour rider for a certain act or band will appear online, inspiring discussion of how ridiculous, crazy, and absurd said act or band is with their requests while out on the road.
In addition to outlining security, insurance policies, and other technical items, these lists provide some insight into exactly what makes your favorite act tick while hanging out backstage. It also sheds some light on just how comfortable they need to be before rocking a huge crowd.
Many times, a rider is actually revealing of the the non-diva qualities of certain music superstars like Nicki Minaj and Rihanna, whose "zaniest" requests are just a ton of candles, lotions, and choice beverages. But highlighting those riders would be, well, boring compared to those of acts like Metallica, Madonna, and Iggy Pop.
Those three, along with 17 others, appear in our rundown of the craziest tour riders in music history. Read on for reassurance that your life is exceedingly normal.
Written by Andrew Martin (@Andrew_J_Martin)
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20. Drake
Craziest request: Nivea chapstick
Drake likes to keep fresh, so he brings along trimmers to avoid nightmares of this. When he last spoke to Complex, he told us he had a built-in shower and it seems he's slightly obsessed by the finer aesthetics.
As such, he carries Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap, described as something that "tingles the body and clears the mind.” [Insert Drizzy-is-soft jokes, here.] Keep in mind these are items he brings along when performing music on tour, but by the looks of things, you would think he's prepping for his Degrassi high school reunion.
Full list of items: Four dozen natural-scented incense sticks, Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap, pork-free food, E-Z Wider rolling papers and a pack of Dutch Master President cigars, Pinot Grigio, Heineken, bottles of Jack Daniel’s, Patron Silver tequila, a bottle of Hennesey or Courvoisier, Grey Goose, Andis T-Outliner trimmers, and extra sets of speakers.
19. Bush
Craziest request: "No less than 10 percent of all security personnel should be female"
Miniature chocolates? Check. A massage room with a ton of ginseng extract? Sure. But female security guards? Not for Bush. During one of their jaunts, the Gavin Rossdale-lead band requested that "ideally no less than 10 percent of all security personnel should be female." Interesting.
Full list of items: Gatorade, soft drinks, skimmed milk, fruitless baskets, Marlboro Lights, hot salsa, and six-packs of beer.
18. Jay-Z
Craziest request: A late model Maybach ('57 or '62) with tinted windows
So Jigga went from Marcy-projects hustler to requesting late model 'Bachs while on tour. What does he need a Maybach for? To take some spins around the parking lot a la "Otis" with some middle-aged chicks? For his safety, let's hope the the ones he's provided with aren't the chopped and screwed ones with missing doors.
As for the champagne and snacks, "I went to One Trump Plaza on their asses/No room service, just snacks and shit"—at least Hov's staying true to his word.
Full list of items: A couple six-packs of Sapporo, a bottle of Belvedere Vodka, two bottles of Patron Silver, two bottles of red, Italian wine from Bolgheri Region, two Ace of Spades bottles, and peanut butter and jelly.
17. Korn
Craziest request: "Access to a 'Rock Friendly' lawyer, medical doctor, dentist, masseuse and/or chiropractor"
Just because a band makes heavy, loud, and moshpit-causing music doesn't mean that the members are down with gettin' wild. And even if they are, they at least want to come prepared. That's where Korn comes in, as they want to make sure they're covered if things get out of control backstage or during the show. What's interesting, though, is that they also request that there are blockades and locked doors all over the place. Better safe than sorry, right?
Full list of items: Phone lines, 20 meals for lunch and dinner, 72 full-size towels, private, clean bathrooms with dimmable lights, ashtrays and rubbish bins.
16. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails
Craziest request: Two boxes of corn starch
Over the years, Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has bulked up considerably, but that doesn't mean he's moved away from tight clothing. And to ensure said clothing doesn't stay adhered to his skin during his lively performances, he requests not one but TWO boxes of corn starch. We have to imagine he'd get pretty chafed if NIN didn't come out of the gate with some of their heavier joints ... or if there's any kind of delay.
Full list of items: Budweiser, Bud Lite, "very good" red wine, soft drinks, juice, Gatorade, specific lunch and dinner menus.
15. Foo Fighters
Craziest request: Various anecdotal requests
The Foo Fighters must take the crown of having the pickiest and most absurd rider requests. This shit is downright outrageous yet amusing. From used DVDs (no sports titles or Martin Lawrence) to any magazine (No Spin, Rolling Stone, or People) that "show us you have a brain and fantastic interests"—these are full of "WTF" demands. And this one takes the cake: "Please make arrangements for leftover food to be collected by a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter or our roadie that looks like Osama Bin Laden." #EnoughSaid
Full list of items: Iced-down beer, bottles of San Pellegrino water, cooler with ice, small box of Emergen-C, shower gel, DVDs (used are fine), and magazines.
14. Metallica
Craziest request: Lots of bacon
Nothing says "one of the most successful crossover metal bands in history" like bacon, right? RIGHT? Well, it should, because that's exactly what these guys want when they hit your venue. In fact, it's so important that they want it available for every single meal of the day. But that's not the case for some of the guys on the crew, as they are vegetarians. Why did we point that out? Because Metallica makes that point explicitly in their 24-page tour rider that also outlines the way they want alcohol sales handled, the band's insurance policy, and more than you can imagine.
Full list of items: Hot breakfast for 100 people that includes A LOT of fresh fruit, two gallons of every juice you can think of, nine or so different brands of cereal, assorted sodas and Gatorade flavors, hot coffee that must be kept up, and much more.
13. Gnarls Barkley
Craziest request: One pack of Magnum condoms
Groupies and artists are a match-made in heaven. And in some cases, these artists are actually smart enough to perform, bang a groupie in their hotel room, and still leave the city knowing they ain't gotta worry about a baby mama. Gnarls Barkley—the duo of Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green—are veterans in the game so they have a few tricks up their sleeves. Or, at least, they have common knowledge to practice safe sex by stocking up on Magnum condoms while on the road. What's with the athletic socks, though?
Full list of items: At least two pairs of white men's athletic socks, Swisher Sweets blunts, and bottles of Hennessy and Grey Goose.
12. Ozzy Osborne
Craziest request: A nose, ear and throat doctor
In his younger years, you can bet that Ozzy Osborne asked for some bizarre items to land on his tour rider and, of course, plenty of booze and drugs. But in 1999? Dude just wanted to stay healthy. As such, he made sure a doctor was on hand to take care of his nose, ears, and throat, just in case. Also, Ozzy needed three tanks of oxygen because, apparently, you can never have enough oxygen.
Full list of items: Three oxygens tanks available at load-in and the doctor must be able to administer a B-12 shot. Also, plenty of fire extinguishers.
11. Lil Wayne
Craziest request: Private jet
You could only imagine what one of the biggest rap stars in the world would bring along on tour. It would be one helluva party—huge entourage, girls, alcohol, the usual. But having superstar status like Weezy requires a little bit of extra, with said extra being a private jet because buses are overrated. Also, he requires a police escort because, let's face it, he's got some enemies out there. Not only that, but his fanbase has reached a pinnacle, meaning plenty of screaming, adoring fans looking to get a piece of Weezy.
Full list of items: Police escort, five-star hotel accommodations, Gatorade, vodka, Red Bull energy drinks, assorted candy and potato chips.
10. M.I.A.
Craziest request: Female extras at every tour stop
Gummies, vodka, chocolate, blah blah blah. But humans? M.I.A. requests for female extras to be on board for every stop of her tour. Requirement? Lots of stage presence but we're assuming not too much. We're pretty sure she wouldn't want to be overshadowed by her extras, especially when they have to be onstage with her during the entirety of the show while being drapped in Burkas. For someone who has had a history of outrageous and eclectic moments [Read: Super Bowl], should we really be surprised at what M.I.A. needs to keep herself pleased?
Full list of items: Twenty-four 500 mL bottles of non-carbonated spring water. Must be Evian or Fiji. A container of organic dried blueberries, a container of quality assorted olives, a variety of quality chocolates such as Ferrero Rocher, one small bag of sour gummy candy, one 750 mL botlle of Ketel One Vodka, a bottle of Absynthe, a bottle of Mount Gay rum, a six pack of Heineken.
9. Van Halen
Craziest request: No brown M&Ms
The craziest thing about Van Halen's request for no brown M&Ms is how NOT crazy it actually is but rather how sensible it actually is. So why did these guys, some of the biggest partiers of the '80s, want to make sure there were no brown M&Ms in their candy dishes? Simple: it was all to make sure that every other portion of their rider was followed. Genius, no?
Full list of items: One breakfast for eight people at 6 a.m. followed by another at 8:30 for 20 people. If feasible, said breakfast should be hot and cooked, and it will features four cases of soda, four gallons of milk, two gallons of chocolate milk, two dozen English muffins, two dozen raisin muffins, three loaves of whole-wheat bread, one dozen hard-boiled eggs, assorted cereals, and more.
No beer provided until dinner at 6 p.m., but before that there's a lunch with a minimum of 44 sandwiches and food and drinks for 24 people. At dinner, the meat and vegetable options switch on odd and even days while there are potatoes, breads, and desserts served every days.
Two cases of beer (Heineken and Budweiser) with dinner with two more of those cases given to producer's stage manager at 7 p.m. There are more food and booze requirements for the band outside of their meals along with the request of one large tube of KY Jelly. Sure.
8. Steve Aoki
Craziest request: Two medium-sized cakes reading “DIM MAK”
Picking out the most ridiculous request by Steve Aoki wasn't easy. The DJ/producer is becoming increasingly well known for his off-the-wall live shows that typically include—you guessed it—those two medium-sized cakes. What does he do with them? Well, let's just say he learned how to share at a young age. Also, props to anyone who requests that he needs an inflatable raft, because nothing says crowd participation like riding their hands like the rapids.
Full list of items"Inflatable boat or dingie, four confetti blast machines, handheld CO2 air blower, no self-powered speakers, only a Pioneer DJM-900 Nexus mixer, and other electronic goodies for his setup. Lots of drinks: 48 bottled waters, four Vita Coco drinks, eight ORGAIN protein drinks, two bottles of premium vodka, three bottles of champagne (cork only!), two bottles of Cristal, and much more booze. Even more food and drinks at the hotel, which must be within two miles of the venue."
7. Cher
Craziest request: A wig room
Cher stands out like no other when it comes to her public image. The tats, the plastic surgery, and her fashion sense outshine the rest, but it's her ever-changing hairstyles that catch the most attention. Hell, she even has a personal room carrying all her wigs. And if that's not outrageous enough, how about fresh cut Casa Blanca lilies, and 12 black solo cups to keep the Goddess of Pop from throwing a hissy fit and ripping out her hair. No wait...
Full list of items: Black solo cups, lilies, M&Ms, beverages (from soda to alcohol), and pizza.
6. Mary J. Blige
Craziest request: Private toilet (with new toilet seat)
Nobody likes using the public restroom. Quit frontin', you would rather hold it in than use the toilet at your local Mexican burrito joint. Mary J. Blige knows this better than anyone as she requests her own private toilet (with a new toilet seat!) at every city she visits. She also focuses on coziness, requesting extensive lighting, a humidifier, clothes rack, phone line, flowers, and a love seat. Touring means you'll be away from the comfier aspects of your home, but the queen of hip-hop soul doesn't have to worry about that.
Full list of items: Hot and cold running water, a large vanity with mirror, extensive lighting, humidifiers, a loveseat, matching lamp tables, pack of Mentos, soft drinks, water, and tea.
5. Motley Crue
Craziest request: A sub-machine gun
You would think the Motley Crue guys would tone the craziness down when they stopped drinking alcohol right? Wrong. In their post-booze days, they could be found requesting 12-foot boa constrictors, a jar of creamy peanut butter, some Grey Poupon mustard, and, oh, a sub-machine gun. Yeah. And in case they got close to wanting another drink, they needed to know the location of the nearest Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that night.
Full list of items: Alcoholics Anonymous meeting locations, a jar of creamy peanut butter, a 12-foot-long boa constrictor, and a jar of Grey Poupon mustard.
4. Madonna
Craziest request: 20 international phone lines
If you're Madonna, you can do whatever the hell you want no matter how outrageous it seems because guess what? You're Madonna. A 200-person entourage that'll put Waka Flocka's crew to shame? Check. 20 international phone lines to call all her celebrity friends and tell them how amazing it is to be Madonna? Check.
And she might as well bring her whole house with her, too, or at least something that closely resembles that. Nothing feels better than home so she ships her home furniture along every stop of the tour to make sure her backstage room looks exactly like the friendly confines of whatever mansion she's living in nowadays.
Full list of items: 200-person entourage, her backstage room must look exactly like her own home (that means she ships around her furniture), special flower-scented fabric, actual flowers, personal chef who prepares only vegan foods, and her own dry-cleaning service.
3. Marilyn Manson
Craziest request: A bald-headed, toothless hooker
So...anybody got a hook-up on a bald-headed, toothless hooker for Marilyn Manson? [Silence]. Props to whoever it is that handles Manson's rider demands, because all the money in the world wouldn't be enough for us take on that impossible task. The champagne, Doritos and cereal with 2% milk may be the closest thing to normal that Marilyn has seen since forever. Those Haribo gummi bears don't count.
Full list of items: Haribo gummi bears, mini chocolates, Doritos, cereal, 2% milk, fine cheeses, champagne (Cristal, Moet), two bottles of Absinthe, and air conditioning.
2. Iggy Pop
Craziest request: A Bob Hope impersonator
Whether the items requested by Iggy Pop are legit or not, he wins on the basis of wanting a Bob Hope (look him up if that name's not familiar, youngsters) impersonator at every show. Not only that, but Iggy apparently wants to laugh even more, as he desires a copy of USA Today featuring at least one humorous story about obese Americans. Fair enough, Iggy, but what's with the item about the reality TV show in which people eat dog meat? Gross.
Full list of items: Entire pages dedicated to the live mixes, someone who can speak English, location of speakers and amplifiers, and colorful anecdotes about them all, including a rant about Santiago de Compostela. Also, "two dedicated and intensely loyal" security men, strong tea and coffee, assorted food, two "enormous pizzas," bread (baguettes namely), some fruit, and chocolate. "Yum, yum." And 12 bottles of "nice beer," dinner for 10 people as well as Iggy and two others, a deck of playing cards, and more. Iggy's room was to be designed by someone "loose with a little bit of flair."
1. Mariah Carey
Craziest request: 20 white kittens and 100 doves
Mariah Carey is very diva-ish to say the least. This statement is backed by her trip to celebrate Christmas in London a few years back. The Phantom, pink carpet, security and entourage is understandable, but 20 white kittens and 100 doves are a bit excessive. A source told the Daily Mail, "We did manage to source the doves that we were going to release into the sky, but the kittens proved terribly difficult." Translation: "Like, how the fuck can we find and look after 20 white kittens at a Christmas celebration?" Fortunately for society, the request was turned down due to health and safety concerns.
Full list of items: Rolls-Royce, a pink carpet, pink podium, confetti shaped as butterflies, 80 security guards and 15-person entourage.