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The outrageous demands of music's superstars
The outrageous demands of music's superstars
BY KEITH BROWN
Sunday, December 09, 2007
One of the big talking points on November 19 was the Observer story outlining some of the dressing room demands of 50 Cent, including champagne, fine china and silverware. Having been in the entertainment business for many years, the "who the hell does he think he is" and "do promoters put up with this crap?" reactions, prompted me to open up to the public, the weird underbelly of the business.
Busta Rhymes. in addition to Moet champagne, he requires Heineken, Red Stripe Beer and Guinness Stout, plus herb teas, honey, Hall's cough drops, fresh fruit, fresh orange and apple juices, cheese, lettuce and tomato tray, no pork or beef, 12 white towels with no logos and 12 ribbed condoms
Thanks to the Smoking Gun website, we can now take you into the fantasy world of show business. Over the years, Smoking's journalists have compiled an exhaustive list of some of the wildest backstage requirements contained in the riders, which are actually pages of demands for everything, from food to sound protocols, and read "more like a spoiled child's fantasy world than really needed amenities".
Since 50 Cent's requirements were what triggered this article, let's kick this off with his requirements. Dinner for his entourage of 75 must include hot soup, salad bar with at least 10 items and five assorted dressings including light or non-fat varieties, two choices of entrees, two choices of fresh vegetables, wide choice of desserts. China and silverware are mandatory.
But listen to this? The dressing room demands for 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) include two bottles of Hennessy, Heineken in bottles, turkey/chicken deli tray, sliced cheese, a bucket of either KFC or Churches Chicken, 24 pieces of shrimp, 12 corn on the cob, herbal tea with honey and lemon, peanut butter, strawberry jelly, vitamin water, organic fruit juices, white bread, wheat bread, fruit platter with sliced and whole fruits, 12 white towels and a box of select Montecristos Cuban cigars.
By the way, this request asks promoters to violate Federal law which bars US citizens from importing or buying Cuban cigars.
Fellow rapper Busta Rhymes has not forgotten his Jamaican roots, as in addition to Moet champagne, he requires Heineken, Red Stripe Beer and Guinness Stout, plus herb teas, honey, Hall's cough drops, fresh fruit, fresh orange and apple juices, cheese, lettuce and tomato tray, no pork or beef, 12 white towels with no logos. and don't forget.12 ribbed condoms.
Busta's condom request is outdone by that of the pop/R&B duo Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse who call themselves Gnarls Barkley. They request a box of Magnum condoms (known to be 15 per cent larger than normal condoms. Their rider also requests an impressive amount of booze, including Hennessy, vodka and beer.
Hip hop stars Black Eyed Peas require promoters to ensure that they are provided with an experienced, professional English-speaking and sober monitor engineer (underline sober) for reasons that are not entirely clear. The Peas seem to be quite straight-laced as they have no alcohol requirements, but ask for Snapple. But just when we were about to say hooray for BEP, we note the request for fresh pants and undies for female member Fergie.
Let's stick with the ladies and look at the far from virginal Jennifer Lopez who wants her backstage lounge areas covered in white roses. The couches must also be white and so too the candles. She also requires a hairstylist and CD players to play tunes by artistes such as Macy Gray, Destiny's Child and hubby Marc Anthony.
Canada's star jazz crooner Diana Krall needs a yoga room "large enough to accommodate five people laying down". Her rider also emphasises that she is not comfortable with close-up camera angles. The only photo shot with which she is comfortable is one that is six inches below the shoulders and four inches above the head.
How's that for haughtiness?
Still want to know more about the desires of your favourite stars? Read on.
Red Hot Chili Peppers require a meditation room, pitted dates and six pairs of sports socks.
John Mayer requests four soft-headed toothbrushes, Krazy Glue, Gold Bond Powder and a copy of the New York Times.
For the resurgent Dixie Chicks, it's personal bathrooms, tee times to golf prior to the show and freshly cut flowers.
Eric "I Shot the Sheriff" Clapton, a table football freak, always requires a room for his travelling football table. Is that how he keeps his hands in tune for that great guitar playing?
Prince requires, among a host of other things, spiced cocoa tea, lavender and jasmine candles, Krispy Kreme donuts, rice milk, skim milk, organic non-salted white corn tortilla chips, home-made salsa and eggplant hummus.
The former artiste without a name also needs a doctor at all shows plus tables for fans to leave flowers and other tokens of love.
Janet Jackson is also a flower lover as she wants an arrangement of tulips, roses, gardenias and lilies in her dressing room, while our dear Aretha Franklin is taking good care of her pipes, as she insists that all air-conditioning vents must be turned off or taped shut to prevent any cold air from flowing into her dressing room. There must also be a cool mist dehumidifier along with silver tea service, silver flatware, tea, lemon, and honey and fresh fruits. Now we know where 50 Cent got the idea for silverware.
Country star Willie Nelson demands healthy goodies like grape seed oil, peanut oil, hazel nuts, organic cottage cheese, organic red grapes, butterfly cut organic free-range pork chops (wow), two gallons of distilled aloe vera juice, natural apple sauce and organic peaches.
Jamaica has to be in the thick of things, so Ziggy Marley makes the list. His rider asks for food of the highest quality, adding that hot food should be hot and cold food should be cold. Hot food should be served in chafing dishes and no plastic or paper plates are allowed. All meals should be sit down, catered meals and should not consist of takeouts or convenience type foods.
Food suggestions include tofu, mixed vegetables, chick peas, gluten, corn, brown rice, steamed spinach and cous cous. Fish must be deep sea and have scales. Fish must be well-seasoned and well done.
And speaking of fish, hip hopster Nelly has a distinct preference for baked salmon along with French fries, salad platter, fruit platter, assorted dressings, herbal tea, lemon and fruit juices. He wants neither eggs nor meat but inks in a gallon of milk.
Don't try to peep when Jimmy Buffett of Margaritaville fame is doing his sound check, because he won't perform if the doors are opened during his sound check. He's a lover of Jamaican coffee as his rider calls for one pound of choice Blue Mountain whole beans. He also demands one bottle of Chardonnay (opened) and one bottle of Merlot (opened, not iced). Jimmy's food list includes chicken drumsticks grilled with sauce, meatballs in tomato sauce, shish kebabs, chicken wings and mini quiches.
How could we forget Beyoncé? Jay Z's Cinderella who sang the American national anthem at Superbowl 2004 asked that her dressing room at Reliant Stadium be maintained at a temperature of 78 degrees. Her private bathroom had to be cleaned with disinfectant and antibacterial products before she arrived.
Her food requirements? Juicy baked chicken legs, wings and breast only, heavily seasoned with fresh garlic, season salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper, lightly seasoned green beans, steamed spinach and steamed garlic broccoli.
There are many about Mariah Carey's bizarre demands, so we peeked into her rider and saw a list including: Cristal champagne, Camus white wine, tea service for eight, air purifiers, air humidifiers, gold pretzels, seltzer water, sugarless gum, Ricola throat lozenges, grilled fish or shrimp, assorted freshly baked breads, stuffed pork chops, roasted turkey, wild rice, black beans, Italian, Mexican, Cajun, Thai, Indian and Greek cuisine.
Is all this something new? No way. So let's see what's what with the old stagers. The late great James Brown required a stretch limousine, black or white, 186 inches long and a model of the current year. He wanted an oxygen tent and mask on stage at all times and had to be accommodated in five-star hotels. His band members, vocalists and dancers had to be in four-star hotels with the dancers in separate hotels.
But while the Godfather of Soul took good care of his team, Kenny Rogers raised eyebrows when he asked for a five-gallon container of Kool Aid or fruit juice for his children's choir and a container of iced tea and pizza for his adult choir as against his own two-page list, which included broiled seafood, Chinese pepper steak, Japanese teriyaki steak or chicken, angel hair pasta with marinara sauce, fruit juices, various brands of beer, assorted candies and sunflower seeds.
Good Golly, Little Richard required a luxury air-conditioned motor home at all outside venues, while Tony Bennett, the man who loves to be close to his audience, insists that he be no more than six feet away from the fans. His tastes are quite simple - orange juice, fresh fruit, diet sodas and a deli platter, but he obviously wants undivided attention as he requests that there be no food service during his shows.
The late Frank Sinatra loved his booze, so for him it had to be Jack Daniels, Chivas Regal, Stoli vodka, Courvoisier, Beefeater gin, plus red and white wines. Added to that were 24 chilled jumbo shrimp, a platter of Nova Scotia salmon, three cans Campbell's chicken and rice soup, egg salad and chicken salad sandwiches, and spring water.
Locally, we remember Natalie Cole insisting on red carpets everywhere and Gladys Knight requiring a well-stocked trailer, then having her limousine drive stageside at the Arena, pick her up stageside after her performance stageside and leaving for her hotel without entering the trailer. Happily, a couple of children's homes had some wonderful delicacies the next day.
How do promoters handle this prima donna craziness? Some knuckle under, others simply cross out some of the outlandish demands and stand firm, while others negotiate for modifications. Agreements are generally reached.
Keith Brown is a public relations expert and former show promoter of the successful Heineken Startime series.
BY KEITH BROWN
Sunday, December 09, 2007
One of the big talking points on November 19 was the Observer story outlining some of the dressing room demands of 50 Cent, including champagne, fine china and silverware. Having been in the entertainment business for many years, the "who the hell does he think he is" and "do promoters put up with this crap?" reactions, prompted me to open up to the public, the weird underbelly of the business.
Busta Rhymes. in addition to Moet champagne, he requires Heineken, Red Stripe Beer and Guinness Stout, plus herb teas, honey, Hall's cough drops, fresh fruit, fresh orange and apple juices, cheese, lettuce and tomato tray, no pork or beef, 12 white towels with no logos and 12 ribbed condoms Thanks to the Smoking Gun website, we can now take you into the fantasy world of show business. Over the years, Smoking's journalists have compiled an exhaustive list of some of the wildest backstage requirements contained in the riders, which are actually pages of demands for everything, from food to sound protocols, and read "more like a spoiled child's fantasy world than really needed amenities".
Since 50 Cent's requirements were what triggered this article, let's kick this off with his requirements. Dinner for his entourage of 75 must include hot soup, salad bar with at least 10 items and five assorted dressings including light or non-fat varieties, two choices of entrees, two choices of fresh vegetables, wide choice of desserts. China and silverware are mandatory.
But listen to this? The dressing room demands for 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) include two bottles of Hennessy, Heineken in bottles, turkey/chicken deli tray, sliced cheese, a bucket of either KFC or Churches Chicken, 24 pieces of shrimp, 12 corn on the cob, herbal tea with honey and lemon, peanut butter, strawberry jelly, vitamin water, organic fruit juices, white bread, wheat bread, fruit platter with sliced and whole fruits, 12 white towels and a box of select Montecristos Cuban cigars.
By the way, this request asks promoters to violate Federal law which bars US citizens from importing or buying Cuban cigars.
Fellow rapper Busta Rhymes has not forgotten his Jamaican roots, as in addition to Moet champagne, he requires Heineken, Red Stripe Beer and Guinness Stout, plus herb teas, honey, Hall's cough drops, fresh fruit, fresh orange and apple juices, cheese, lettuce and tomato tray, no pork or beef, 12 white towels with no logos. and don't forget.12 ribbed condoms.
Busta's condom request is outdone by that of the pop/R&B duo Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse who call themselves Gnarls Barkley. They request a box of Magnum condoms (known to be 15 per cent larger than normal condoms. Their rider also requests an impressive amount of booze, including Hennessy, vodka and beer.
Hip hop stars Black Eyed Peas require promoters to ensure that they are provided with an experienced, professional English-speaking and sober monitor engineer (underline sober) for reasons that are not entirely clear. The Peas seem to be quite straight-laced as they have no alcohol requirements, but ask for Snapple. But just when we were about to say hooray for BEP, we note the request for fresh pants and undies for female member Fergie.
Let's stick with the ladies and look at the far from virginal Jennifer Lopez who wants her backstage lounge areas covered in white roses. The couches must also be white and so too the candles. She also requires a hairstylist and CD players to play tunes by artistes such as Macy Gray, Destiny's Child and hubby Marc Anthony.
Canada's star jazz crooner Diana Krall needs a yoga room "large enough to accommodate five people laying down". Her rider also emphasises that she is not comfortable with close-up camera angles. The only photo shot with which she is comfortable is one that is six inches below the shoulders and four inches above the head.
How's that for haughtiness?
Still want to know more about the desires of your favourite stars? Read on.
Red Hot Chili Peppers require a meditation room, pitted dates and six pairs of sports socks.
John Mayer requests four soft-headed toothbrushes, Krazy Glue, Gold Bond Powder and a copy of the New York Times.
For the resurgent Dixie Chicks, it's personal bathrooms, tee times to golf prior to the show and freshly cut flowers.
Eric "I Shot the Sheriff" Clapton, a table football freak, always requires a room for his travelling football table. Is that how he keeps his hands in tune for that great guitar playing?
Prince requires, among a host of other things, spiced cocoa tea, lavender and jasmine candles, Krispy Kreme donuts, rice milk, skim milk, organic non-salted white corn tortilla chips, home-made salsa and eggplant hummus.
The former artiste without a name also needs a doctor at all shows plus tables for fans to leave flowers and other tokens of love.
Janet Jackson is also a flower lover as she wants an arrangement of tulips, roses, gardenias and lilies in her dressing room, while our dear Aretha Franklin is taking good care of her pipes, as she insists that all air-conditioning vents must be turned off or taped shut to prevent any cold air from flowing into her dressing room. There must also be a cool mist dehumidifier along with silver tea service, silver flatware, tea, lemon, and honey and fresh fruits. Now we know where 50 Cent got the idea for silverware.
Country star Willie Nelson demands healthy goodies like grape seed oil, peanut oil, hazel nuts, organic cottage cheese, organic red grapes, butterfly cut organic free-range pork chops (wow), two gallons of distilled aloe vera juice, natural apple sauce and organic peaches.
Jamaica has to be in the thick of things, so Ziggy Marley makes the list. His rider asks for food of the highest quality, adding that hot food should be hot and cold food should be cold. Hot food should be served in chafing dishes and no plastic or paper plates are allowed. All meals should be sit down, catered meals and should not consist of takeouts or convenience type foods.
Food suggestions include tofu, mixed vegetables, chick peas, gluten, corn, brown rice, steamed spinach and cous cous. Fish must be deep sea and have scales. Fish must be well-seasoned and well done.
And speaking of fish, hip hopster Nelly has a distinct preference for baked salmon along with French fries, salad platter, fruit platter, assorted dressings, herbal tea, lemon and fruit juices. He wants neither eggs nor meat but inks in a gallon of milk.
Don't try to peep when Jimmy Buffett of Margaritaville fame is doing his sound check, because he won't perform if the doors are opened during his sound check. He's a lover of Jamaican coffee as his rider calls for one pound of choice Blue Mountain whole beans. He also demands one bottle of Chardonnay (opened) and one bottle of Merlot (opened, not iced). Jimmy's food list includes chicken drumsticks grilled with sauce, meatballs in tomato sauce, shish kebabs, chicken wings and mini quiches.
How could we forget Beyoncé? Jay Z's Cinderella who sang the American national anthem at Superbowl 2004 asked that her dressing room at Reliant Stadium be maintained at a temperature of 78 degrees. Her private bathroom had to be cleaned with disinfectant and antibacterial products before she arrived.
Her food requirements? Juicy baked chicken legs, wings and breast only, heavily seasoned with fresh garlic, season salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper, lightly seasoned green beans, steamed spinach and steamed garlic broccoli.
There are many about Mariah Carey's bizarre demands, so we peeked into her rider and saw a list including: Cristal champagne, Camus white wine, tea service for eight, air purifiers, air humidifiers, gold pretzels, seltzer water, sugarless gum, Ricola throat lozenges, grilled fish or shrimp, assorted freshly baked breads, stuffed pork chops, roasted turkey, wild rice, black beans, Italian, Mexican, Cajun, Thai, Indian and Greek cuisine.
Is all this something new? No way. So let's see what's what with the old stagers. The late great James Brown required a stretch limousine, black or white, 186 inches long and a model of the current year. He wanted an oxygen tent and mask on stage at all times and had to be accommodated in five-star hotels. His band members, vocalists and dancers had to be in four-star hotels with the dancers in separate hotels.
But while the Godfather of Soul took good care of his team, Kenny Rogers raised eyebrows when he asked for a five-gallon container of Kool Aid or fruit juice for his children's choir and a container of iced tea and pizza for his adult choir as against his own two-page list, which included broiled seafood, Chinese pepper steak, Japanese teriyaki steak or chicken, angel hair pasta with marinara sauce, fruit juices, various brands of beer, assorted candies and sunflower seeds.
Good Golly, Little Richard required a luxury air-conditioned motor home at all outside venues, while Tony Bennett, the man who loves to be close to his audience, insists that he be no more than six feet away from the fans. His tastes are quite simple - orange juice, fresh fruit, diet sodas and a deli platter, but he obviously wants undivided attention as he requests that there be no food service during his shows.
The late Frank Sinatra loved his booze, so for him it had to be Jack Daniels, Chivas Regal, Stoli vodka, Courvoisier, Beefeater gin, plus red and white wines. Added to that were 24 chilled jumbo shrimp, a platter of Nova Scotia salmon, three cans Campbell's chicken and rice soup, egg salad and chicken salad sandwiches, and spring water.
Locally, we remember Natalie Cole insisting on red carpets everywhere and Gladys Knight requiring a well-stocked trailer, then having her limousine drive stageside at the Arena, pick her up stageside after her performance stageside and leaving for her hotel without entering the trailer. Happily, a couple of children's homes had some wonderful delicacies the next day.
How do promoters handle this prima donna craziness? Some knuckle under, others simply cross out some of the outlandish demands and stand firm, while others negotiate for modifications. Agreements are generally reached.
Keith Brown is a public relations expert and former show promoter of the successful Heineken Startime series.
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