29 most bizarre celebrity tour demands

FROM dandruff shampoo to bendy straws and roses cut to precisely six inches to a framed photo of Princess Diana, there’s nothing these artists won’t request while on tour.

CELEBRITY riders are a curious thing.
They give a fascinating insight into the diva demands and bizarre habits of our most famous faces.
From dandruff shampoo to bendy straws and roses cut to precisely six inches to a framed photo of Princess Diana, there’s nothing these artists won’t request while on tour.

Here are just some of the weirdest and most fascinating celeb riders.

Nicki Minaj

Despite a bit of a diva rep, Nicki Minaj has some pretty simple requests: Spicy fried chicken wings, two space heaters, candles that smell like baked goods, three different flavours of chewing gum and a cheese platter.

Nicki Minaj’s has simple tastes.

Kanye West

The Smoking Gun nabbed a copy of Kanye West’s rider, and the man is serious about skincare: He requests two tubes of Carmex lip balm, one bar of L’Occitane soap, a bottle of Neutrogena dandruff shampoo, Neutrogena face scrub and Nivea Intensive Moisturizing Lotion. Additionally, if any driver under West’s employ wears any man-made fibres, Yeezus walks.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey’s riders request Cristal and bendy straws from which to sip it, as well as two air purifiers, an assistant to dispose of her gum, another assistant to help her on staircases and couches in dark colours with “no busy patterns.” Carey also requests her room be at about 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and filled with two dozen white roses and vanilla aromatherapy candles.

Cher

Cher reportedly requests an entire room just for her wigs. That sounds extravagant, but given their size, it’s pretty practical.

Madge requests flowers cut specifically to six inches, among a raft of other things.

Madonna

If InTouch is to be believed, Madonna requests a 200-person entourage that includes personal chefs, yoga instructors, 30 bodyguards and an on-site dry cleaner for her costumes, as well as vegan food (even though Madge isn’t vegan), 20 international phone lines and lilies and light pink or white roses cut to precisely 6 inches.

Jay Z

Jay Z requests that his transportation to and from venues be a black Maybach, but don’t expect him to drive it: He also asks for two bottles of $300 champagne and two $200 bottles of 2004 Sassicaia wine.

Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop and the Stooges are famous for their hilarious 28-page rider, which includes gems like a Bob Hope impersonator and “seven dwarfs, dressed up as those dwarfs out of that marvellous Walt Disney film about the woman who goes to sleep for a hundred years after biting a poisoned dwarf, or maybe pricking her finger on a rather sharp apple … or something. Taller people are acceptable, of course. It’s attitude, more than altitude, that’s important here. Don’t forget the pointy hats!”

Iggy Pop once wrote a rider to trump all riders.

Prince

Prince demands a doctor be present to inject him with B12 shots, as well as Yogi cocoa tea, jasmine and lavender scented candles, tables throughout the venue to collect gifts and flowers from fans, and that all food in his dressing room be wrapped in plastic wrap, to be unwrapped by the Purple One and the Purple One alone.

LL Cool J

VH1 reports that LL Cool J asks for two long-stem roses and a bottle of baby oil in his dressing room. Here’s hoping he also asks for a dutiful cleaning staff.

Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson requests Haribo gummi bears and a “bald, toothless hooker” in his rider, which the entire world is hoping is a joke.

Ne-Yo

Ne-Yo requests a bottle of Ketel One vodka … for cleaning. You do you, ‘Yo.

Adele

Adele could demand the world if she wanted to, but instead she asks for Marlboro Lights, candy bars, European lager beer and sandwiches without tomatoes. Additionally, the songstress requires that anyone receiving free tickets to her shows donate a minimum of $20 to Sands, a UK-based charity — and there are no exceptions to that rule.

Adele wants ciggies, beer and no tomato.

Coldplay

Coldplay doesn’t have any absurd requests, but they do have an adorable one: postcards to send home to their kids from each city.

Britney Spears

Britney Spears used to request comfort foods like fried chicken, Cheetos and Red Bull, but the Femme Fatale has gotten healthier over the years and now bans junk food from her dressing room. One request that remains the same? A framed photo of Princess Diana.

Beyonce

Beyoncé is a diva (hey!): She requests a dressing room that’s the size of those normally used for an entire sports team, as well as heavily seasoned baked chicken.

John Mayer

John Mayer’s rider is simple enough and focuses more on his pearly whites than anything: He asks for kids’ cereals, like Count Chocula or Cap’n Crunch, as well as four soft-head toothbrushes, a bottle of Listerine, two small tubes of mint-flavoured toothpaste (preferably Tom’s of Maine) and two packages of Altoids. Must be to counteract all that sugary cereal.

RiRi always has the munchies.

Rihanna

Rihanna must have the munchies on tour: Her requests include Oreos, Haribo gummies, Babybel cheese and Red Bull. She also requests plush, non-leather couches big enough for her to stretch out on, as well as animal print pillows with no sequins and freshly cleaned carpeting so she can walk around barefoot.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry has a 45-page rider that requests two cream-coloured egg chairs, one with a coordinating ottoman, as well as a refrigerator with a glass door, ornate French lamps and someone to wash and cut her fruit and vegetables … and no-one on staff is permitted to speak to her.

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera requests a masseur for her feet on the set of “The Voice.” Her other requests are pretty simple: Flintstone vitamins, Nesquik, dried cranberries, votive candles, soy cheese and an organic food spread prepared without plastic or styrofoam (due to her environmental concerns).

Foo Fighters

The Foo Fighters have simple, amusing requests in their tour rider, including vegetable soups, “because meaty soups make the roadies fart.”

Who would have thought Eminem likes koi so much?

Eminem

Eminem is a laid-back guy nowadays, which may explain why he requested a full koi pond for a recent performance in Ireland.

Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney bans any and all animal products from his dressing room and tour transportation (including leather seats in limos). Macca even refuses faux fur or fake animal prints in his presence.

Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige demands a brand new toilet seat for every room she uses in every city in which she performs.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande famously demands to only be shot from her left side.

Jennifer Lopez

For a brief cameo in a charity video, Jennifer Lopez requested white flowers (preferably roses or lilies), white chaise lounges, white chair covers, white candles, white drapes, white sheets and Cuban food.

Justin Bieber likes assorted sizes of plain white T-shirts provided, not that he wears them all that often.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber requests only simple items: herbal teas to keep his pipes in order, as well as Ritz Bits (both peanut butter and cheese), Swedish fish and assorted sizes of plain white T-shirts and low-rise socks. Oh, and also that no-one speak to him directly.

M.I.A.

M.I.A. often requests items that are, well, MIA: a pair of 20- to 25-year-old dancers in full burquas and cave-aged Gruyére cheese.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga’s rider is weird because, well, it’s Lady Gaga: In addition to a glam rock theme for her dressing room, Mother Monster requests all lavender bath products (both in scent and colour), as well as a mannequin with pink pubic hair.

Moby

Moby requests 10 pairs each of white cotton socks and white boxer shorts, allowing promoters to ensure he never has to buy his own underwear.

Dustin Diamond

At his stand-up comedy shows, former “Saved by the Bell” star Dustin Diamond demands that no-one in his presence call him “Screech.”

Originally published as 29 most bizarre celebrity tour demands