There are always rumors about what goes on backstage just before celebrities perform for thousands of people. What is it that they need to mentally and emotionally prepare for facing those kinds of crowds? Comfort food? Sweet-smelling roses?
These celebs and their crazy backstage requests prove to us that with fame, comes the ability to make some totally outrageous demands! Read on to find out just how crazy these requests can get…
Mariah Carey
When this ultimate diva performs, she makes sure to go all out. Take, for example, her demand before she performed in London for Christmas: she requested to be surrounded by "20 white kittens and 100 white doves."
No kittens for you
As you can imagine, this request was hastily denied in the most British and polite way possible. They explained in a letter to the singer: "We did manage to source the doves that we were going to release into the sky, but the kittens proved terribly difficult. In the end, it was made clear that for health and safety..."
Let’s hope she appreciated that they even tried to comply with these demands!
Britney Spears
Spears’s performance could be one of the reasons of Macdonald’s popularity. The star demands endless Macdonald cheeseburgers to be readily available for her and her crew. (How do I get myself in on this crew?)
Fast food is key
JOHN SHEARER PHOTOGRAPHY/instagram
But this is not her only demand, Spears also requires some sentimental objects to create her backstage atmosphere, including the framed photograph of the late Princess Diana that she requested for her 2011 show ta the London 02 Arena.
What the relevance of Princess Diana to Britney’s performing abilities are is quite unclear, but it is a touching gesture nonetheless!
Kanye West
Everything this singing mogul does he does in the extreme. He has pushed his music to new boundaries, married arguably the most desirable woman in the world, and harassed Taylor swift in front of everyone. So, it comes as little surprise that his backstage requests are as extreme as everything else in his life.
Cotton is king
On an Australian tour, Kanye demanded that his driver must wear a 100% cotton suit and must avoid “man-made fibers”. He also requested only Versace towels to wipe his sweat while performing. And then there is the slushy machine he requested to make the two most important slushy flavors: Grey goose & lemonade and Hennessy & Coca-Cola.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez may not be as low-key and low-maintenance as she presents herself judging by the theme of caps locks on her rider demand list.
Ice ice baby
From the demand that the beverages, be “ICE COLD!!!” to requiring they make sure that the food items are “KEPT IN CONTAINER!!!” it is clear she doesn’t tolerate backstage mess-ups
Although we have to admit her list of foods and drinks make the mouth water.
Rihanna
Riri can Take a Bow for not being all that crazy in the backstage demands department. Although her room backstage looks like the most delicious buffet you can get, including a variety of Cheetos (regular and hot), Oreos, Golden Grahams cereal, Cup Noodles, red and white wine, vodka, soda, Frappuccino’s, and garlic olives.
Mood and Food
About her demands before she performs she recently told Ellen that she goes by the fact that, “You never know what mood you’re gonna be in.” For her, we guess the mood veers from hungry, to really hungry.
Sir Elton John
Comfort seems to be the number one priority for Sir Elton John. But I guess when you’ve been in the business as long as he has, comfort is more appealing than the glitz and glam. He spares no expenses, demanding a six-foot sofa, a love seat and a large flower arraignment waiting for him backstage.
The Rocket Man
He also has some detailed and rather specific food requests. Diet coke must be in cans, the fruit must be uncut, milk must be two percent. You can see that Sir Elton John is a man who knows exactly what he wants.
Beyoncé
I guess being the queen of the music industry allows you to have some over-the-top backstage demands. Queen B requests that her dressing room is at a constant 78 degrees.
Then there are the other items on the request list including 4 new white towels in the bathroom (2 face & 2 body), steamed garlic broccoli, lightly seasoned green beans, and lightly seasoned steamed spinach.
Dry is the way to go
But some of her more random desires to prepare for her performance is cayenne pepper, rose-scented candles and ‘heavily seasoned’ chicken legs… because - yum. Honestly, all this prep is more than worth it to get to see the fierce Bey strut her stuff on stage.
KISS
The experience of going to a KISS performance is something you will never forget. This Rock N Roll band is known for getting the crowd caught up in the craze of the music, so what exactly do these guys request backstage to get them in the headspace that allows for such intense performances?
Healthy rock
Their list of goodies that they request is a long one, from caramel rice cakes, 8 boxes of Kleenex, fresh pasta with marinara, alfredo, and oil and garlic, fresh imported parmesan cheese and a pot of decaf coffee. But the strangest thing: there is no alcohol on their rider list! Could these guys possibly be performing sober?
Coldplay
These guys definitely are not the sober-performance type. When it comes to their backstage alcohol requests, Coldplay does not hold back. There is vodka, red wine, white wine (but NOT chardonnay!), lagers, the list goes on!
Cute request
But then comes the most un-rock’n’roll, (but definitely the cutest) request of all, Coldplay band members request a postcard from each place they perform at. They do so in order to send back to their children as souvenirs. If that isn’t adorable I don’t know what is.
Cher
Cher’s habit of calming pre-performance jitter includes chilling out backstage and watching cable, which seems to us like the best way for anyone to get a calm state of mind.
But then comes her other backstage requests.
First, there is the fact that she demands to be provided with only black cups to drink from, a room for her masseuse, and of course- a full room dedicated to storing her wigs!
Room for my hair
Honestly, thinking about some of the extravagant wigs she uses throughout her performances, this one kind of makes sense (at least more sense than only black cups).
Will Ferrell
Only funny guy Will Ferrell can get away with asking for things like an electric scooter, a painted rainbow on wheels and a 15-foot fake tree. Believe it or not, these were the very items he requests on his promotional comedy tour doe ‘Semi-Pro’.
Sounds legit
While we are almost positive he was pulling yet another one of his pranks, the question that has stayed on our minds is how does anyone fit a 15-foot fake tree and have room to prepare backstage!
Paul McCartney
When you are as legendary as the former Beatles star Paul McCartney, you have earned the right to request whatever it is you desire for your backstage comfort level. But we must admit- growing your own forest backstage is verging on insane!
Make like a tree and leave
The singer requires some very specific foliage for his room backstage, including 6 leafy floor plants and absolutely no tree trunks Casablanca lilies all-round, pink and white roses, and freesia flowers!
David Bowie
The world mourned the loss of a star when English singer and songwriter passed away in 2016. Just looking at his backstage request list helps give us a glimpse at his character.
Coffee Bowie
Firstly, who knew Bowie was a coffee fan? The singer used to demand coffee machines, mugs, and all things coffee-related at every concert. He also seems to have one of the smallest appetites around, with a fruit bowl being the only food on the list! (maybe that’s how he kept his figure). Bowie, you are missed.
Nine Inch Nails (NIN)
NIN is very articulate about how important their juicing habits are to the band members. They demand a good few number of things that everything is perfectly set up for their juicer, they add in caps lock “LEAVE SPACE FOR THE JUICER”. Who knew this industrial band hopped on to the juice-craze bandwagon.
Nine inch juice
They are also specific about their table being equipped with the finest, with “linen napkins, china plates, “bowels” (we hope this is a typo) cups, and real silverware”. Talk about a bunch of divas.
OutKast
These hip hop icons are also all about dining wear, they demand linen napkins and proper china, so they can eat their food in style. Although it seems strange to demand fancy silverware to eat pecan candies, lemon-filled Krispy Kreme’s, KFC barbecue chips, and mini Kit Kats…
Shake it
But when it comes to comfort, they have it right demanding soft toilet paper backstage. Seems OutKast’s Andre 3000 and Big Boi are all about comfort so that they can get on stage and shake it like a Polaroid picture.
Snoop Dogg
You may have the wrong impression of Snoop Dogg, but just look at his backstage requests and you will be refreshed. Unlike all the other stars, it seems Snoop’s team is adamant to be polite and understanding while making backstage demands.
Polite demands
They write ‘dinner suggestions’ instead of demands, and explain that they are looking for the staff ‘for stability and support’ on their taxing tour. Their polite and understanding phrasing make it just that much easier to swallow some of their crazy requests, including the most vital: a PlayStation.
Jay-Z
“Good quality” peanut butter and jelly and a clean bucket of ice are some of the rapper mogul’s very reasonable request. It is refreshing to see how, even being one of the most bankable and famous rappers around, he keeps his requests modest.
Drinks on the house
Of course, we are not talking about the list of alcohol which includes include beers, tequila, champagne, vodka, but that is nothing new and almost expected for pre-show boozing.
Lady Gaga
Mama Monster knows how to make her backstage room the ultimate happy place, she requests that a large space is set aside at every place she performs to make space for a smoothie station. A smoothie before a kick-ass performance? Sign me up.
I love to bath
But it doesn’t end there, Gaga also requests that she have a wide variety of bath products on hand, all must be lavender, and 28 cold water bottles and 28 bottles at room temperature. But craziest of all- she demands to have a “mannequin with pink pubic hair”… yeah we don’t get it either’.
Iggy Pop
Read this actual quote from Iggy Pop’s list of backstage demands: “Somebody dressed as Bob Hope doing fantastic Bob Hope impersonations and telling all those hilarious Bob Hope jokes about golf and Hollywood and Bing Crosby. Oh God, I wish I’d been alive in those days so that Bob Hope could have come and entertained me in some World War 2 hell-hole before I went off and got shot. What joy they must have experienced…”
Funny but true
We can only assume that it is all one big joke, and admire Iggy Pop for his… unique humor!
Lindsay Lohan
Although she was once a rising star, Lohan these days is more of a laughing stock with her crazy antics and bizarre behavior. A perfect example of just how out of touch she can be is when a Russian talk show wanted to sit with Lohan and chat about her life. She agreed, but on condition that a list of some very crazy demands was met.
I want the Isle of Crimea
The demands included a private jet with a hairstylist, makeup artist, and manicurist. But it doesn’t stop there, she also wanted a 1-year Russian visa, a Ritz-Carlton penthouse, and a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. As you can imagine, the interview never happened.
Adele
Although she has a voice that demands to be worshipped, Adele manages to keep her diva in check judging by her relatively normal backstage requests. Her demands include chicken salad sandwiches, Marlboro Lights, and the "best quality" red wine.
Organic honey is a no-no
Then there is the part that is a bit stranger, she also bans organic honey (who would even think of bringing organic honey?) and demands that there are six metal teaspoons in her dressing room.
Mary J. Blige
Hygiene is clearly the number one priority for this diva. She demands that there be a brand-new toilet seat installed in every one of her dressing rooms during her 2006 tour.
Although that may have been the craziest and most expensive on her lists of demands, it by no means stopped there.
I deserve this
She went on to request a wide variety of objects including Rec Vines licorice, scented Aveda candles invert specific flavors: namely Madagascar, eucalyptus, and rainforest.
Rod Stewart
Rod Steward has earned his right to request whatever he wants to ensure his comfort backstage. When you’ve been in the business successfully for that long, you deserve whatever it is you need. Stewart claims that his main demand for backstage is a large table in his dressing room.
Choo Choo
Why a large table you may ask- well the singer is known for his obsession with model trains and he needs space for their construction! Rumor has it he also demands standby oxygen because… well… I guess you can never have enough oxygen?
Van Halen
Van Halen is one performer who takes backstage requests to a whole new level.
He actually has it written in his contract that a bowl of M&M’s is provided backstage, but wait for the catch, the exact wording reads “M&M’s(WARNING: ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN ONES)”.
Can't remember
What happens if one stray brown one if found? Rumor has it if this is the case, there is sufficient legal ground for Halen to cancel his show.
Christina Aguilera
She is a diva, she is proud of it, and we have to admit, we kind of love her for it. Only a talent at the level of Aguilera could demand a police escort since she just isn’t down for “delays due to traffic”.
Food for thought
Her food requests can make any girl hungry in an instant. We’re talking Soy cheese and Oreos, Flintstones chewable and votive candles, Nesquick and dried cranberries. Not to mention an organic smorgasbord! I’m hungry just thinking about it.
Steve Aoki
I know he is kind of a big shot, but Steve Aoki’s list just has too much ego written all over it for my liking. If you’re a promoter for this DJ, you better be prepared for some prima donna requests.
Dress for music
On the list there are 3 large V-neck t-shirts, promoter paid for a meal from a restaurant serving organic-based serving local foods (because it’s not like he earns enough to pay), grass-fed meat, non-refined sugars, non-bleached flours, and 1/8 of local weed.
Eminem
The only real extravagant demand on this iconic rapper’s backstage request list is “Large fresh jumbo shrimps with cocktail sauce and plenty of lemons” which honestly sounds more than delicious.
Feed me
Other than that, it is really surprising and refreshing to see how low maintenance Eminem is with his rider list. As long as he has access to some food, some drinks, some fruit and weights for his pre-show exercise routine, he is as happy as can be.
Justin Bieber
When it comes to Justin Bieber, his backstage requests are about as confusing as his relationship status with Selena Gomez.
The Biebs demands multiple packs of white athletic specks and white t-shirts. Sounds semi-normal until you hear he wants these clothing items in multiple sizes!
I love steam
The ‘baby’ star also asks that a professional iron and ironing board be n hand as well as a quality steamer. Perhaps he is running a clothing line backstage without any of us knowing?
Katy Perry
Her backstage food fetish is as simple as they come, all she asks for is freeze-dried strawberries and Santa Margarita Pinot! Seems reasonable enough…
but move from the food requests and things start getting extravagant.
More flowers, less food
The Teenage Dream singer requests an arraignment of pink fresh flowers, white and purple hydrangeas, pink & white roses and peonies but absolutely no carnations.
Who knew she could be so specific with her flower requests! Her backstage room but seriously look like a teenage dream and she must step on stage smelling amazing.
50 Cent
When you see the backstage demand list for 50 Cent, it is hard to imagine he was ever a kid on the streets of Queens, watching over his back. Nowadays, his main concern seems to be that there are exactly 24 pieces of shrimp waiting for him.
Cold shrimps!
And he is adamant to put on the list, not once, but twice the “SHRIMP MUST BE KEPT COLD”. The boy from the streets becomes the boy who eats shrimp, drinks herbal tea, and sips on champagne.
DJ Pauly D
It is crazy to think you can go from walking around drunk on the cast of the infamous Jersey Shore, to becoming a booming DJ that seems to consider himself part of the A-list celeb crowd (judging by his ridiculously long dressing room requests).
I'm the DJ
First comes his seeming paranoia about his own safety, it is as if he thinks he is royalty. A direct quote goes “Under no circumstances will TALENT be allowed in any public area unaccompanied by security.”
Pauly D is the “TALENT” in question here then there is the food and drinks, including Champaign that will not be consumed by the performer, but used “to spray crowd” what a generous soul!
Lil Wayne
Although the booze requirement for rapper Lil Wayne is expected, from the rose, liters of Grey Goose, to the patron and vodka, it seems the rapper is taking full advantage of his chart-topping position to be as demanding as it gets.
Lil' demands
Among his other requests is being put up in a “Presidential Suite" of a "5-star hotel." His room must be at least 1000 square feet, and the living room and bedroom have to be separated by a door.
Prince
He was a legend for the music he made and cult-like following he earned through his career. But it seems the purple rain singer was one of those artists that need their creature comforts (and a lot of them) before hitting the stage to perform in front of the crowds.
Prince or king?
Starting from his weird need to hire builders and festival staff who were required to paint the dressing room purple and deck it out with purple tables, chairs, and wall hangings. Then there is the M&M machine and oxygen bar he was adamant on having at his shows… seems the rather short singer made up for his height with a rather long list of demands!
Slayer
