We all know demanding people in our day to day life. The person who MUST have a certain coffee cup from the company stash. The one who can’t STAND if the office manager doesn’t buy a certain creamer. That guy who complains to anyone who can hear if he has to park somewhere other than his “usual” spot.
Those people can be total buzzkills.
Well, guess what. Some of our celebrities can be demanding too. But this is what it takes to get them on the stage, so managers and reps and venue personnel the world over meet their demands and enjoy their brush with fame. (Or they don’t. That’s totally possible.)
Check out 29 outrageous celebrity tour demands! So. Many. Snacks. (And so. many. towels.)
Miley Cyrus
Sigh. Once upon a time all she wanted backstage was Guitar Hero and Frosted Flakes because she didn’t want to stop rocking. There’s really no telling the myriad ways her demands have grown as she’s gotten increasingly more…out there.
Pharrell Williams
(Getty) Pharrell Williams once requested a troupe of belly dancers. Guess that’s why he was so damn happy. (Badum CHHHHH…)
Kanye West
(Getty) Long before Kanye West was Kim Kardashian’s baby daddy, his tour rider held the demand that his dressing suite be entirely white, floor to ceiling. Now he’s added an $8,000 bed (EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLAR BED) for North, as well as the tot’s own personal chef to make her favorite meals with organic foods.
Taylor Swift
Among some of Taylor Swift’s very first tour demands were: edamame (which she noted came from the frozen aisle of the grocery store), Starbucks grandes, and Ben & Jerry’s. Throw in some Ugg boots and it just doesn’t get much more basic than T.Swift.
Kid Rock
(Getty) Kid Rock is a simple man, really. His request? Packs of Hanes or Fruit of the Loom underwear, white one-pocket tees, white tank tops, and white socks.
Gwen Stefani
The No Doubt front-woman, solo artist, mom of three, and judge of The Voice *used to* request “bright white rooms,” 30 bottles of water, 10 white towels, 4 white candles (all the same scent), and a pesticide-free buffet. (Are you sensing a trend here with all the requests for white everything?)
Pitbull
(Getty) Pitbull may have repped Budweiser on stage, but behind the scenes the “beer of champions” was nowhere on his list. Corona was king, followed by 3 bottles of Ketel One vodka and 1 bottle each of Patron, Hennessy, and a Moet varietal.
Christina Aguilera
We’re pretty sure Christina Aguilera’s demands have changed slightly over the years. The most recent reports reveal she wants no styrofoam or plastic involved with her food preparation, Flintstones vitamins, Carnation Instant Breakfast, and a side of Nesquick.
Jennifer Lopez
(Getty) J. Lo isn’t called “La Diva Latina” for nothing. She’s always had a crazy tour rider, but given the fact that she’s one of the hardest working women in showbiz, she deserves it. Among her requests are white flowers, tablecloths, curtains, candles, and couches, low-watt bulbs. The whackiest of all is that she demands her coffee be stirred in a counter-clockwise direction.
Sean Combs
(Getty) The artist formerly known as P.Diddy has one of the longest and most impressive tour riders in the business. He’s there to party as much as he is to perform. He wants 204 towels, 20 bars of soap, 2 bottles Hennessy, 2 bottles Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, 2 bottles of Veuve Clicquot, and 1 bottle each of Dom Perignon and Grey Goose. He ALSO wants a boombox, white flowers, cheddar cheese, sour cream and onion chips, SweeTarts, and a $300,000 bulletproof Maybach.
DMX
In contrast to P.Diddy, DMX’s requests were simple. Three boxes of condoms and a gallon of Hennessy.
Cher
(Getty) In her heyday, Cher could’ve commanded absolutely anything she wanted. What did she ask for? A separate room for her wigs. But let’s be real. Her wigs and headpieces were (and are) so large the average person could probably get lost in them. A separate room is probably necessary.
Elton John
(Getty) Elton John has some very specific floral requests. The flowers must be fresh and arrangements cannot include mums, lilies, carnations, or daisies. He also asks for 74 fresh towels.
David Hasselhoff
(Getty) Best known in America for his roles on Knight Rider and Baywatch, David Hasselhoff is sort of washed up here. The Hoff is a very, very big deal in Germany. Like, for real. What did he ask for? A life-size cut-out…of himself.
Britney Spears
(Getty) Britney Spears has never been known for her smart and healthy dietary choices. One need look no further than her backstage requests for proof. Froot Loops, Cap’n Crunch, Pop Tarts, Gatorade, Doritos, bunless In-n-Out Burgers, and up to four pounds of potato salad are what she requires. That sort of explains the 24/7 life coach. AND maybe the 200 fresh towels. #Barf
Michael Buble
(Getty) Michael Buble is pretty easy to please. As a diehard hockey fan, his only request is a puck from the local team wherever he’s performing.
Jay Z
(Getty) This might have been before he was a family man, but Jay Z wanted a gentlemen’s club vibe backstage, complete with a full-time, on-call cigar roller for the entire duration of his tours.
Beyonce
(Getty) Beyonce’s backstage requests range from normal to…well…a toilet freshly scrubbed with disinfectant. Aside from that she wants Pepsi products, Honey Nut Cheerios, ginger root, and a 2-man loveseat.
Barbra Streisand
(Getty) You may not know this, but Barbra Streisand has a rose named after her. That’s probably because when she was on tour she demanded that her dressing room toilet be scattered with rose petals.
Marilyn Manson
(Getty) For all of his creepy stage theatrics and weird lyrics, Marilyn Manson is actually a pretty chill guy backstage. And by chill we mean he wants the air-conditioner blasting as cold as it will go, Haribo gummi bears (as if there are any other kind), Doritos, microwave popcorn, and a bottle of absinthe to wash it all down.
James Brown
(Getty) James Brown had some of the more disturbing requests back in the day. He wanted 2 girls under the age of 21 and a ladies’ hair dryer.
The Rolling Stones
(Getty) The Rolling Stones, as a group, decided on shepherd’s pie and paintbrushes (????) for their backstage delights. They also wanted a pool table, a TV capable of broadcasting cricket matches, and a toilet. On wheels.
Prince
(Getty) Prince, one of the least scandalous and most sexual artists of all times, has but one request backstage. Keep all his food covered in clear plastic wrap.
Motley Crue
(Getty) Motley Crue’s tour requests are, well, a bit motley. They want mayonnaise, Grey Poupon, creamy peanut butter, a 12-foot long boa constrictor (because 11 feet isn’t long enough??), a sub-machine gun, annnnnnd the schedule for all the local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne has been all over the place throughout his career. From crazy and always high to trying to maintain his sobriety and health. That’s where his latest tour requests come from. He wanted 3 oxygen tanks and a “real” Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor on site to administer B12 shots.
Metallica
(Getty Images) Metallica wanted bacon. That’s it. Just bacon.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have one of the most ethereal requests we’ve seen. They need a medication room–it cannot be blue–aromatherapy candles, fresh ginger root, fresh papaya juice, and 24 1-liter bottles of glacier water from either Hawaii or Australia.
Slash
Slash, once upon a time part of Guns n Roses, had his own requests independent of those of the band. He likes square melons, 7 types of cheeses, six lamps, a rug, and 2 bear shaped pots of honey waiting for him backstage. Until 2010 he also requested his room be all black, decorated only with red and white roses.
Coldplay
When Coldplay goes on tour, their lists are simple. And sweet. They want vodka and Red bull, cotton socks, and various snacks, but they also want pre-stamped postcards to send sweet notes home to their families. Awww!