Backstage Bites: From Van Halen’s Brown M&M’s to Jack White’s Guacamole

One of the perks of being a rock star is the rider, the contract that stipulates what food, drink, and other goodies will be available to the performers and crew at a certain venue. The most notorious backstage snacks are, of course, Van Halen’s M&M’s. And the latest? Jack White’s now-infamous chunky guacamole.

Guac-gate, the Jackamole incident, call it what you will, kicked off when the University of Oklahoma’s student newspaper posted White’s rider a few days before he was scheduled to play at the school last Monday. The document was so specific it even included a recipe for homemade guacamole (we have it below) and a strict “no bananas” clause. (“Seriously. We don’t want to see bananas anywhere in the building,” wrote White’s management, Monotone Inc., at the top of the rider’s meal requirements.) Neither White nor Monotone were pleased that the information went public.

“Contrary to what some believe, Jack doesn’t write the rider nor make demands about his favorite snacks that must be in his dressing room,” said Monotone in a statement entitled “Holy Guacamole.” “We’re not even sure he likes guacamole but we do know that the folks who work hard to put on the show do enjoy it.”

Photo: Getty Images/ Kevin Mazur

Say what you want about White, but someone is making sure he and his team eat well on the road. In addition to the spicy guac, there’s vanilla almond milk, 2 percent milk, yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit for breakfast. A “hot lunch” is preferred, but sandwiches, salad, and soup are acceptable. And a “hot” dinner option, approved in advance by White’s production crew, is a must. Post-performance, White himself gets a New York strip steak, medium with no sauce, and clean, steamed veggies on the side. The dish must be prepared and delivered just before the show ends.

Van Halen’s famous rider from the rockers’ 1982 world tour included a “Munchies” section: “M&M’s (WARNING: ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN ONES).” The list also included potato chips, nuts, assorted cheeses, and four cases of 16-ounce cans of Schlitz Malt Liquor. Today, the band insists the M&M’s directive had more to do with making sure the tour promoters were paying attention to every detail—from snacks to security to ticket sales—and less to do with rock-n-roll privilege.

When director Jon Paley heard the Van Halen story on a podcast, he started searching for other riders online, which led to the video series “No Brown M&M’s.” Directed by the Clubhouse collective, the short clips detail the food requested by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Britney Spears, Lou Reed, and, yes, Van Halen. Music fans, said Paley, are obsessed with these contractual details because they provide a glimpse at a performer’s perceived (or real) preferences, quirks, and obsessions. “Rock stars are so removed from day-to-day people that when the curtain is pulled back, it reveals their personality,” he said.

While most rockers are known for ingesting substances that are less than healthy, their nutritious on-tour food demands might come as a surprise. The late Lou Reed, one artist who’s taken a few walks on the wild side, required in his rider a plate of blueberries, cherries, and cantaloupe. He also wanted walnuts, almonds, egg whites, radishes, hummus, and local, organic whitefish. Nothing containing sugar was allowed.

Britney Spears, however, could have taken a few tips from old Lou. Her rider included boxes of Fruit Loops and Cap’n Crunch, assorted candy bars, a bowl of Cool Ranch Doritos, and 100 prunes. That might explain all the costume changes.

And then there was Frank Sinatra’s old-school classic: one bottle Stoli, one bottle Jack Daniels, one bottle Courvoisier, one bottle Chivas, one bottle Beefeater Gin, three cans of Campbell’s chicken with rice soup, one carton of Camels, and 12 boxes of Luden’s cough drops. Who would you rather hang with after the show?

If you want to take a shot at Jack White’s guacamole, here’s the recipe as copied from the rider. Be careful, though. Serrano peppers are hotter than jalapeños. Four of them make for one spicy guac.

Jack White’s Guacamole Recipe

8 large, ripe Haas avocados (cut in half the long way, remove the pit—save the pits—and dice into large cubes with a butter knife. 3 or 4 slits down, 3 or 4 slits across. You’ll scoop out the chunks with a spoon, careful to maintain the avocado in fairly large chunks.)
4 vine-ripened tomatoes (diced)
½ yellow onion (finely chopped)
1 full bunch of cilantro (chopped)
4 Serrano peppers (deveined and chopped)
1 lime
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, careful not to mush the avocados too much. We want it chunky. Once properly mixed and tested, add the pits into the guacamole and even out the top with a spoon or spatula. Add ½ lime to the top layer so you cover most of the surface with the juice. (The pits will keep it from browning prematurely). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until served. Please don’t make it too early before it’s served. We’d love to have it around 5 p.m.

More ways to dig into avocados:

Seven new ways to love the avocado

How to keep avocados and guac green (not brown!) 

Steak-and-avocado Caesar salad for the win

What do you think of the Jackamole recipe? Too spicy? Not hot enough? Just right?