Before the lights go up and the crowd roars to life, there’s one backstage tradition that quietly sets the tone for the night: the tour rider. Think of it as the artist’s comfort blueprint—a list of personal requests that help performers feel at home, focused, and ready to give their all. Some riders include practical needs like specific lighting or food for dietary reasons, while others serve a deeper purpose. Van Halen’s famously strict “no brown M&Ms” clause, for example, wasn’t just a quirky demand—it was a clever way to ensure the venue was paying attention to every detail, including the critical ones related to stage safety.
But tour riders aren’t always about practicality. Sometimes they’re about vibe. They give artists a bit of familiarity in a different city every night, or even a sense of play. And occasionally, they offer fans a peek into the wonderful, weird worlds of their favorite stars. Here are 30 of the most fascinating, creative, and memorable rider requests from music history:
AC/DC
Known for their wild rock image, AC/DC’s rider asked for no alcohol in their dressing rooms during their 2008 U.S. tour. Instead, they preferred an assortment of English cheeses, crackers, and fun-sized candy bars.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé asks for her dressing room to be kept at a comfortable 78 degrees and that she be provided with hand-carved ice balls for her drinks. Her crew must wear only cotton clothing to avoid allergic reactions.
Britney Spears
When performing at the O2 in London in 2011, Britney requested a framed photo of Princess Diana, McDonald’s cheeseburgers without the buns, and a fish and chips dinner.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce’s tour rider includes two bags of Rold Gold pretzels and chicken soup with lots of broth. He also asks for a massage therapist and a manicurist capable of doing acrylic nails.
Cher
Cher’s rider includes a dedicated wig room, black solo cups, fresh lilies, and a very specific request that her pizza be perfectly hot and served exactly on time.
Deadmau5
The electronic music producer asks for one inflatable animal of at least 5 feet in height to be fully inflated and waiting in his dressing room.
Drake
Drake’s rider includes Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap, Pinot Grigio, pork-free meals, Dutch Master cigars, and Andis T-Outliner trimmers. He also brings his own speakers to make sure he gets the right vibe.
Eminem
At a festival in Northern Ireland, Eminem requested that a wooden koi pond be built backstage and stocked with exotic fish. He also asked for seedless watermelon and pickles.
Foo Fighters
Their rider has included jokes and drawings, such as a coloring book theme with a word search. They also requested ice recipes and asked that leftover food be donated to local shelters.
Gnarls Barkley
Their list included Swisher Sweets, Hennessy, Grey Goose, and athletic socks.
Hank Williams III
His rider once asked for a monkey, a half-gallon of milk, mustard and ketchup in squeezable bottles, cereal, Oreos, and a great white shark.
Iggy Pop
Iggy’s rider famously asked for a Bob Hope impersonator, 12 bottles of nice beer, enormous pizzas, playing cards, and “a USA Today article about obese people.”
Jack White
Jack once provided a guacamole recipe with specific slicing instructions. His rider included no bananas, a vintage-style couch, and specific temperature controls.
James Brown
At one point, the Godfather of Soul requested a ladies’ hair dryer.
Jay-Z
Jay-Z’s rider included a late model Maybach with tinted windows, peanut butter and jelly, and a selection of wines from the Bolgheri region of Italy.
Kanye West
Kanye asked for a barber’s chair, Carmex lip balm, and a driver who wears only 100% cotton. He’s also been known to request Versace towels.
Katy Perry
She requires that drivers do not talk to her and keep their eyes on the road. Her flowers must include no carnations, and her room must have pink or beige drapes.
Led Zeppelin
Zeppelin reportedly asked for ironing boards and irons at every venue. Whether they were for clothes or something else remains a mystery.
Lil Wayne
Weezy asked for a private jet, a police escort, and a hotel within a short distance from the venue. His snacks of choice include potato chips and Gatorade.
Mariah Carey
Mariah requested 20 white kittens and 100 doves for a London appearance. She also likes her dressing rooms to be decorated in pink and her toilet paper to match.
Metallica
The band loves bacon—so much that it must be available at every meal. They also require private bathrooms with dimmable lights and ask for their vegetarian crew members to be accommodated too.
Mick Jagger
Mick requests a brand-new mattress in every hotel room, but it must be slept on by someone else first—while the plastic wrapping stays on—to “break it in.”
M.I.A.
She requested female extras at every stop, who would join her onstage wearing burkas. She also asked for dried blueberries, olives, and Ketel One vodka.
Morrissey
Morrissey asked for a sapling between four and six feet tall in his dressing room on tour, reflecting his commitment to greenery and his vegan lifestyle.
Motley Crue
The Crue has asked for a boa constrictor, a sub-machine gun, creamy peanut butter, and a list of local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in case the night took a turn.
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy once requested a nose, ear, and throat doctor, as well as three tanks of oxygen backstage. His focus was on staying healthy during the show.
Paul McCartney
Paul’s rider requires no leather or faux leather furniture, and all backstage food must be vegetarian. He also requests leafy plants of specific heights.
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell once asked for belly dancers and crates of vodka and champagne. His rider included Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque and Bacardi rum for his guests.
Prince
Prince demanded that all items in his dressing room be covered in clear plastic wrap until he arrived. It was “absolutely necessary.”
Slayer
They once requested 100 goats for halal slaughter, yoga ball chairs, Go-Gurt, scented markers, and blood-proof umbrellas.
Steve Aoki
Aoki’s rider includes two medium cakes labeled “DIM MAK,” confetti cannons, and a dinghy boat. He’s also asked for coconut water, Cristal, and inflatable rafts.
Van Halen
They famously asked for M&Ms with all the brown ones removed—not out of vanity, but to make sure the promoter had read the full safety and stage specs in the contract.
