The Ever-Popular Crazy Concert Rider Demand
The concert rider is that part of the contract between a promoter and an artist that details what needs to be provided to the artist before, during and after a show. This covers the mundane (electrical requirements, catering for the crew, etc.) to the weirdly wonderful things that a performer needs in the dressing room.
For example, Beyonce insists on red toilet paper while the Foo Fighters have a thing for stinky cheese. The Telegraph picks up on this theme with stories of Madonna’s need for fresh toilet seats, Mariah Carey’s used gum assistant and Marilyn Manson’s “bald-headed toothless hooker.”
What about Kanye West?
Kanye is known for his outrageous statements, so it is hardly surprising that his rider reportedly includes some equally outrageous demands. Apparently the rapper demands imported Versace towels on hand at all times, and that his drivers wear clothes made from 100 percent cotton. According to the Daily Mail, Mr Kim Kardashian also demanded that his dressing room carpet was ironed by an assistant because it was “too bumpy”.
Continue reading the Telegraph article here. There’s a fantastic collection of backstage riders available at The Smoking Gun.