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2009 Tour Rider Revealed

VAN HALEN TOUR NECESSITIES INCLUDE WINE, A STUDY HALL...AND SPACE!


While Van Halen no longer demands the provision of strippers and controlled substances backstage, the band's most recent concert rider still contains a few gems.

The document covers Van Halen's 2008 US tour, which concluded about five months ago. For probably the first time in rock history, the Van Halen rider specified that a "study room" be set up backstage for a musician and his tutor (in this case, bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, who was 16 when the tour launched).

Each band member got his own dressing room, according to the rider, which notes that lead singer David Lee Roth's abode had to be free of any floor covering since, "Mr. Roth practices martial arts in his dressing room, and in order to do this there can be no rugs or carpeting of any sort." Additionally, Diamond Dave's dwelling "SHOULD BE AS FAR AWAY FROM" dressing rooms occupied by bandmates Wolfgang, Alex, and Eddie Van Halen (as possible). The rider does not explain why Roth needed the separation, but considering his rocky history with the band, space is likely a good thing.

While no alcohol is stocked in the individual dressing rooms (it's all Red Bull, Gatorade, fresh fruit, and Japanese Apple Pears), Eddie's onstage cooler contained "mini bottles" of "Gallo Twin Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (red & white label, red cap)." A four-pack of the low-rent Gallo libation retails for $4.99.



HERE'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE OFFICIAL VAN HALEN 2009 TOUR RIDER


PART III - DRESSING ROOMS


DAVID LEE ROTH


15 (Fifteen) Sugar Free Red Bull
4 (Four) Red Bull
24 (Twenty-Four) Bottled Water - NOT EVIAN - 20 room temp/4 on ice
1 (One) Container Fat Free Cottage Cheese - leave sealed in container
1 (One) six-pack individual Mott's Apple Sauce
2 (Two) Bananas
2 (Two) Red Apples
2 (Two) sleeves 16 oz. Solo cups
1 (One) bucket clean ice


EDDIE VAN HALEN


18 (Eighteen) bottles of water - 12 room temp/6 on ice
6 (Six) bottles Gatorade - RED ONLY
6 (Six) Red Bull
1 (One) Bag Tortilla Chips
1 (One) Bag FRESH salsa
2 (Two) sleeves 16 oz. Solo cups
1 (One) coffee maker


ALEX VAN HALEN


24 (Twenty-Four) bottles of water - 12 room temp/12 on ice
4 (Four) Red Bull
6(Six) Gatorade - LEMON/LIME ONLY
ORGANIC WHOLE FRUIT Do Not Cut The Fruit
FUJI Apples, Celery - (4 Large Bundles), Kale, Carrots (5 lbs. each) and Garlic
3 (Three) Lemons - sliced
2(Two) Seedless Watermelons - sliced
1 (One) Small Bag Starbucks French Roast coffee
3 (Three) Peanut Butter PowerBars
1 (One) box Harvest Valley Granola Bars (Oats & Honey)
1 (One) bowl of FRESH salsa
1 (One) small box of toothpicks
Cutting Board
Cutting Knife
2 (Two) 16 oz. Solo cups
1 (One) Coffee Maker


WOLFGANG VAN HALEN


12 (Twelve) bottles of water - all on ice
6 (Six) any flavor EXCEPT YELLOW
4 (Four) Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper
4 (Four) Diet Dr. Vernon's Ginger Soda
4 (Four) Diet Sprite
2 (Two) ICB or Barq's Root Beer (bottles)
ORGANIC WHOLE FRUIT Do NOT cut the fruit
2 (Two) Bananas
2 (Two) Red Delicious Apples
2 (Two) Japenese Apple Pears
1 (One) bag Tortilla Chips
1 (One) bowl FRESH salsa
1 (One) bowl guacamole
1 (One) box chewey Granola Bars - assorted with 25% less sugar
1 (One) Take Five candy bar
2 (Two) sleeves 16.oz. Solo cups
1 (One) coffee maker


story - www.thesmokinggun.com
photo - www.triplejaysus.com Story & Photo - Rolling Stone