Australia’s summer tour season is just starting to kick off, with Sir Paul McCartney returning to the country for the first time in almost 25 years (trust me, I’ve been counting).
According to Perth Now, site crew preparing for McCartney’s December 2nd show at Perth’s NIB Stadium have been told they will be provided free catering on site. The catch? Staff must abide McCartney’s strict request for a vegan rider, with workers banned from eating meat on site.
It’s not the first time McCartney has imposed a meat ban at his live shows, it has been reported he has threatened not to perform unless show organisers confirmed no meat would be eaten backstage.
But the singer’s meat ban is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to crazy celebrity rider demands.
From Kanye West’s list of absolutely necessary backstage beauty products to Mariah Carey’s demand for 20 white kittens (yes, really…), here’s a look back at some of the most ridiculous things celebs have (reportedly) demanded backstage.
1. Beyoncé
Queen Bey is often described as one of the easiest artists to work with… but her rider says otherwise. According to Huffington Post, Beyonce’s dressing room must be kept at 25.5 degrees and Bey requests a brand new toilet seat for every bathroom she uses. As for pre-show snacks, Beyonce asks for baked chicken “HEAVILY SEASONED” and strictly Pepsi products only. You do you, Bey.
2. One Direction
According to Elle, on their 2015 On the Road Again tour, 1D asked that their backstage area be stocked with local beer, KFC and homemade desserts including fruit tarts, ice cream, and profiteroles (a favourite of Niall Horan). Promoters were also asked to provide a ping-pong table and other games for the group, according to an allegedly official document released on Smoking Gun.