LOU REED’S CATERING RIDER
I am a picky eater. But, I’m not famous so I can’t make ridiculous requests. For instance, Taleb Kweli has to have 6 sugarfree red bulls, 1 bottle of patron, 1 bottle of jack and 1 large bottle of Dr. Bronner Peppermint Castile Soap. I know because a worked an event where I took care of his whole crew. (One of his vocalists walked in and said, “Who gets the soap this time? I guess I’ll take it, my man loves this stuff!)
Here is Lou Reed’s rider for when he performs.
As a caterer, I find this as an exciting challenge. However, as a layperson, I find it way too Linda Evangelista-ly. Here are some just outright silly backstage requests:
Guns N’ Roses……….1 order of Fettucini Alfredo
Kiss……………………..6 caramel rice cakes
Aerosmith……………..corn on the cob, 3 fresh ears, cooked 3 minutes only
ZZ Top………………….1 can American squeeze cheese
Tina Turner……………1 pint of chocolate milk
(I won’t include Britney’s, that’s too easy.)
The most interesting ones happen to be bands I heart. Snoop just requests fried food. Yawn. Fried what? Make it interesting!
Note: The list of backstage requests comes from “Schott’s Food & Drink Miscellany“, my most favoritist book in the whole wide world. I bought the Strand at Union Square out of all their copies one year so I could bless my worthy friends with them. It’s AMAZING. So much useless (foods Homer says “Mmmmmm” to) and useful (how to ask for the check in Prague) and just plain AMAZING knowledge about food and drink. Get it.
You should notify Lou’s agent that he misspelled ‘asparagus.’
And while you have him on the line, tell him he’s an asshole.
Bonus:
Axel Rose’s rider–which is separate from the band’s–requests over 100lbs of ice and 40lbs of chopped carrots (he likes smoothies) AND a 6-pack of at least a dozen different types of beer (even though he is a recovering addict who does not drink alcohol).