27 Popular Musicians And The Food Requests They Had For The Dressing Room

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Fame may be a fickle mistress, especially in the music business. But for those talented (or lucky) enough to reach a certain level, it comes with all sorts of ego-boosting benefits: Crowds in their thousands singing your lyrics and screaming your name... Who could resist? Maintaining that popularity means touring, and musicians who hit the road quickly discover the enormous power that lies in the pages of the backstage rider.

The bigger their fame, the bigger this document, which lays out — sometimes in minute detail — everything drink, snack, and prepared foodstuff required to keep a band or artist happy before and after a show. As Van Halen's now-legendary demand for no brown M&Ms backstage proved, ignoring a contract rider can be an expensive mistake. From the specifics of a fruit platter to the particular types of bread artists will and will not eat, let's run down the dressing room food requests from these popular musicians.

The rockers have toured thousands of times since their early 1980s arrival and know how to take care of themselves. Their rider requested a large urn of chicken noodle soup — homemade and low fat — accompanied by a loaf of both French and Italian bread, be served in the artists' dressing room. 

Catering for Bon Jovi didn't just mean the band. Up to 90 people needed to be fed and not all of them ate meat. That's why the group's paperwork also included the instruction for all vegetarian meals to be made with as much "care and attention" as everything else.

In 2024, rock fans were devastated when Aerosmith retired from touring after more than 50 years, but venue organizers probably breathed a sigh of relief. The band's backstage food demands included fresh ears of corn cooked for no more than three minutes, 15 pounds of chilled, organic sliced carrots, and absolutely no Wonder Bread. 

Among the "necessities" demanded by Steven Tyler and his hard-rocking pals? A full, formal tea service — with strainer (despite demanding British tea bags) — as well as china cups, bowls, and plates.

In 2009, Blondie's Debbie Harry was in her mid-60s, but you would never guess it from her (100% liquid) dressing room requirements, which included one liter of Grey Goose vodka and Cakebread Cellars wines. The hospitality room was the place for solid food, if you were hungry for smoked salmon or a full, fresh roasted chicken. The latter, combined with some of that vodka, could make for an interesting soup-infused cocktail.

The band also demanded bananas among their fresh, gourmet-quality ripe fruit and — importantly — a good juicing machine. Presumably it would help wash down the medium tin of Beluga caviar, spread on slices cut from the requested single loaf of whole grain or wheat bread.

As a performer, Elton John regularly brought the house down, but his tantrums are almost as legendary. Woe betide anyone who ignored his rider's demands for Diet Coke in cans rather than bottles, and tried to serve cold cuts, despite their all-caps ban. 

The veteran star also required a basket of fresh, uncut fruit, and lots of bottles of Evian and San Pellegrino-branded water. Nobody could expect Elton to bring along a kettle to brew his requested English Breakfast tea, so the supply of one is also included in the fine print, alongside 88 pounds of ice.

Being The Boss comes with many perks, including getting whatever food you want sent to your dressing room. For a gig in 2002, that meant Stonyfield non-fat yogurts (but "NO" lemon ones), a basket of fresh fruit including blueberries, strawberries, and bananas, and four cinnamon bagels. 

Nor did Springsteen have to share that food: His children chowed down on tater tots, chicken fingers, and a single DiGiorno pizza. Saxophonist Clarence Clemons' had one very specific request: A freshly roasted whole chicken in a box should be in his room at 9:45 p.m. Perhaps he enjoyed it with some champagne?

"He lived on a diet of cocaine and milk," documentary-maker Alan Yentob said about David Bowie in the 1970s, per the Daily Mail. Neither (thankfully) were among the relatively modest backstage requirements when he toured in later years, though they didn't include much food either. 

Among Bowie's specific requests were fruit such as mangoes, oranges, and apples, as well as voice-soothing ingredients honey and lemons, and a 12-cup coffee maker. The band accompanying the star also got fruit but more drinks, including Gatorade and French wines.

Backstage staff have to be on their toes when Stevie Nicks comes to town. A half-hour before the sound check (if there was one), enough hors d'oeuvres, including Chinese and Mexican foods, shrimp, and ribs to feed 20 people had to be in her hospitality room, and topped up while she was on stage.

Nicks' requirements also stretched to a long list of drinks, including a bottle each of cognac and vodka, plus French red wine and numerous beers. Anyone feeling peckish could only fill up on a large fruit salad, fresh fruit, and two and a half pounds of nuts. 

The "I Will Always Love You" singer may have been a global megastar, but when it came to what she ate on tour, Whitney Houston kept it real. In 2004, while wowing crowds in Southeast Asia, her management requested she be served sweet and sour chicken or shrimp, crab legs, or shrimp cocktail. (Personally, we hopt it was served in an ice bowl.)

Houston also loved a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (presumably after hitting all those high notes) though she did have a specific requirement: They had to be made with Welch's grape jelly. Tomato soup and sandwiches in wheat or white bread, filled with turkey breast and cheese, were also on the rider menu. 

Tiny but mighty musician Prince had a sweet tooth, but it (and any real food) was nowhere in sight during his 2004 Musicology tour. The star kept hunger at bay with a pot of hummus and a jar of salsa, with single bags of Jensen's Orchard brand veggie chips and tortilla chips for dipping. 

Prince also required a tray of sliced fruit and one bag of trail mix, alongside a huge selection of drinks, including six bottles of water at room temperature. The New Power Generation band tucked into fruit, vegetable, and cheese trays, with lots of energy drinks for the men.

She's got a no-nonsense attitude on stage and off, so it's no surprise that Adele's backstage requirements were very specific. In 2011, they did not include citrus fruit, either in her fruit platter or, oddly, in her individually wrapped, freshly made sandwiches. The singer also nixed any chili, vinegar, and tomatoes from her food. 

Although fresh fruit (and a packet of cigarettes, complete with lighter) also made it to Adele's dressing room list, that wasn't her only food request. She also asked that her tour bus be stocked with a variety of fun-sized chocolate bars.

Just because you're punk doesn't mean you can't be sophisticated, as Patti Smith proved during a 1978 tour. Buttered bread rolls with jam kept everyone going during the day, but before hitting the stage, she wanted attractively-presented, freshly cut meats (packaged types were a big no-no) and imported cheeses.

As for bread? No mass-produced fare if you please. Only hard rolls, French, or Italian bread would do. Interestingly, Smith's food rider also required the venue host to provide a hot evening meal for the crew, including a vegetarian alternative.

This legendary band had their ups and downs, but they shared a love of hot hors d'oeuvres served in chafing dishes. Pot stickers, beef kabobs, chicken wings, and vegetarian options were among the foods requested, while a small bowl of white — sans red — pistachio nuts ensured everyone paid attention to the details.

Alongside a very precise 25 pieces of boiled and peeled shrimp, the band also asked for two bags of plain and one bag of peanut M&Ms (all colors presumably were included), a large bag of ridged potato chips, and a jumbo pack of Freedent spearmint gum. 

Ozzy Osbourne was the much-loved Prince of Darkness onstage. Off it, all he wanted was a cup of British tea, a fresh cream cheese bagel or four, and maybe a salmon or chicken dinner after the show, according to a 2001 "Ozzfest" rider. 

Bandmate Tommy Iommi requested a dinner of fish and lightly steamed veggies before and after each performance, while Geezer Butler and Bill Ward asked for eggless pasta with tofu and mushrooms. The Osbourne clan were catered for too, with cartons of organic soup, Häagen-Dazs ice cream, and bite-sized candy bars, alongside lots of bottled water and soda.

Back in 2010, when he'd just learned the word "swag" and was still flicking his hair, Justin Bieber's youth showed in his dressing room food requests. Alongside the deli, fruit, and vegetable platters, a single container of mixed nuts, and one packet of potato chips, was a request for Swedish Fish or Big Foots when he was in Canada. Aww. 

Biebs was heavily into bread, too. His rider included two loaves each of whole wheat and sliced white to be placed in his dressing room. Presumably once done singing, he would make his own sandwiches from those meat and veggie platters.

Putting on a world tour is a "Crazy" task, but meeting Britney Spears' dressing room food requests? Well that's a long way from the "Circus" we might imagine. The singer's far-from "Toxic" demands stretched to a tuna salad, made only using albacore tuna, eggs, relish, and Hellmann's mayonnaise. 

Snacking on a single bag each of Cool Ranch and WOW Doritos hopefully left Spears feeling "Stronger," and she could nibble on the requested fresh fruit, veggie, and deli platters "Till the World Ends," or maybe just until it was time to "Get Back" in the tour bus and move on to the next venue.

You don't get to be Queen B without your every command being obeyed to the letter, and so it went with her backstage food requirements. The star was partial to the leg, breast, and wings of a baked chicken, heavy on the cayenne pepper and seasoned with fresh garlic, salt, and black pepper. 

Served with veggies including steamed garlic broccoli, and she was a happy camper, but Beyoncé also had a turkey and cheese deli tray to nibble on, as well as a veggie tray with lettuce, tomatoes, and dip. As for soft drinks, thanks to her contract with PepsiCo, it and Diet Snapple were the only ones allowed.

She may have a quirky image but if a 2011 rider is anything to go by, Katy Perry is serious when it comes to what she eats on tour. Only organic, properly sanitized fruit and vegetables were permitted for her fruit bowl and platter, while Finn, Kavli, and Waa brands made up her approved assortment of pita bread and crackers.

Unsweetened, dried apples and pears, hummus with "minimum" oil, baked potato chips, a bag of Newman's Own pretzels, and a bag of the honey mustard and onion kind from Snyder's of Hanover were also on Perry's food list, washed down with British tea brands Twinings and PG Tips. 

In 2010, Lady Gaga was wowing her fans with her "Monster Ball" tour. But when the star retreated to her dressing room, comfort food was what she wanted. That included warm bowls of soup from everyday brands including Health Valley or Amy's, alongside plain, non-fat Greek yogurt, and frozen fruit to make into smoothies (the venue had to supply the blender). 

Small veggie, deli, and plates of cheeses that didn't smell or sweat were also among the food requests, alongside sliced turkey or chicken on whole wheat crackers. Not quirky enough for the meat dress-wearing singer? She also wanted a serving of Yves veggie hotdogs that would be eaten using toothpicks.

The British band lives up to its frosty name, at least when it came to the beer and white wine they demanded in their dressing room. Don't even think about leaving them any chardonnay or a single drop of American lager. At least they were less fussy about their food.

Coldplay required three meals a day while on tour, including homemade soup for lunch and a three-course dinner, and that's before they get backstage. There, the trio expected to find fresh fruit, including cantaloupe melon and strawberries (all year round?), an array of "nibbles," and a bottle of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce each.

You've got to hand it to record-breaking artist Taylor Swift. Back in 2008, the 19-year-old leaned into what she loved to eat when putting together her tour rider. It included three boxes of Kraft mac and cheese, a pint each of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream and Chocolate Brownie frozen yogurt, as well as a bag of Twizzlers red licorice. 

There was a smattering of healthy food too, including advice to look in the frozen section for her edamame, a request for an avocado, and a jar of mild Pace picante sauce, perfect for dipping her preferred Tostitos tortilla chips into.

A year after her bestie Taylor was on the road, Selena Gomez was also on tour. She was adamant in her rider that a pound of turkey breast, one ripe avocado, and half a pound each of American and pepper jack cheeses were not turned into a platter, but remained in their original packaging.

It turns out there was a good reason: She didn't want to upset the vegetarian band members. That did not apply to her requested fruit and veg platters, but anyone who brought Wonder Bread backstage would regret it — Gomez's rider specified whole wheat or white bread, but a strict avoidance of the aforementioned brand.

There were four members of the band touring in 2006, yet the catering requirements ran to 50 items, on 16 of which were food related. Brandon Flowers and his pals loved their carb-based snacks, including Jacobs' cheese crackers and PB&Js made with white bread, creamy Jif peanut butter, and strawberry jam.

The quartet chowed down on six fresh avocados, as well as deli meat, and cheese including Brie, fresh fruit yogurts, and the ever-present veggie tray. The Killers also had a sweet tooth: A tube of Jaffa cakes and various chocolate snacks, including Snickers and KitKat, were also required backstage.

You'd expect someone as old school as Ol' Blue Eyes to have a classy food setup backstage, and he didn't disappoint. His rider called for 24 chilled jumbo shrimp, a platter of Nova Scotia salmon and hors d'oeuvres, as well as three cans of Campbell's chicken and rice soup to be ready in his dressing room.

If that (or the three dozen throat soothing candies) didn't take the edge off performing, six sandwiches, including egg salad and turkey, a fruit platter, preferably with watermelon, and a cheese selection and crackers, as well as a mini bag of Tootsie Rolls, would help satisfy Sinatra.

Classical music isn't the only thing that sets Luciano Pavarotti apart in this list. His food requirements didn't cover his dressing room, but rather his hotel accommodation which had to provide a luxurious, home-away-from-home feeling. In the kitchen he wanted roast beef and grilled chicken, as well as four plain and four flavored yogurts, a selection of cheeses, and 10 potatoes.

It didn't stop there. Pavarotti also required a large basket each of whole fruit and vegetables, with accompanying fresh herbs, and a range of various breads. Throw in red wine and balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and a big salt box for cooking, and you'd have a happy tenor.

Two out of three might not have been bad for Meat Loaf, but it was a brave venue that didn't go through his backstage food requirements with a fine tooth comb. The hefty, health-conscious list included 100% multigrain bread (Ezekiel or Vogel's brands were fine), Canola Harvest margarine, a box of Ak-Mak crackers, and several low salt and low fat items.

The rider also specified Meat Loaf wanted dairy-free cheese alternative cheddar slices, as well as roast pork and beef tenderloin, served hot in a chafing tray. His small veggie platter could not include peppers or onions, and his steamed broccoli had to be served crisp, not soggy.

It didn't take much to make Pharrell Williams "Happy," though a 2015 rider did feature a three-page list of recipe suggestions for keeping the artist and his crew fed. Williams was certainly a fan of fish, and suggestions included black cod and wild king salmon. He preferred them cooked "well" and in a pan, though there's no information about what to do with the skin. 

Cooks who put noodles in his chicken and vegetable soup would make him, well, unhappy. Also among his dressing room food requests were "sensible portions" of ranch flavor veggie straws, a box of Milla wafers, gluten-free bread and crackers, a bag of Dirty potato chips, and a bag of Goldfish.

Mimi is a diva with a capital "D" but when it comes to her dressing room food demands, they're almost a let down. Her rider called for a bowl of presumably whole fruit, including apples, peaches, bananas, grapes, and oranges, as well as a cheese platter with crackers, a separate fruit platter, and a box of English tea. 

For a document that is so focused on details such as the exact number of leafy plants and what color the furniture in her dressing room should be (busy patterns were an absolute no-no), Mariah's dressing room food was — dare we say — dull?