These Artists Have Demanded Some Pretty Weird Things

You know an artist has officially reached legendary status when they can make absolutely ridiculous requests and still have people scrambling to make it happen.

The gold standard will always be Van Halen, who famously demanded a bowl of M&Ms with all the brown ones removed at every tour stop. It sounded insane, but it was actually a test to see if venues were paying attention to their contract. Still, it opened the door for a lot of… creativity.

Over the years, plenty of artists have taken full advantage of that power, and some of their requests are equal parts hilarious and unhinged.

Weird Al Yankovic: Unsurprisingly, he kept things on brand. For years, he asked for one “garish” Hawaiian shirt at every appearance. Eventually, even Weird Al had to admit he had too many and retired the request.

Cher: She likes her wigs treated like the stars they are. She reportedly requests an entirely separate room just to store them. Considering how iconic her hair looks have been over the decades, this one almost feels reasonable.

Jennifer Lopez: J-Lo is all about vibes. She prefers an all-white dressing room, complete with white candles, couches, tables, and flowers. The goal is to keep her mind and spirit calm, which is probably easier when nothing clashes.

Rihanna: She requests a plush, animal print rug so she can walk around barefoot. If you are going to be a global superstar, you might as well be comfortable.

Justin Timberlake: He takes cleanliness very seriously. He has reportedly requested that doorknobs be sanitized every two hours. That one feels less diva and more mildly anxious, but still very specific.

Beyoncé: She likes her dressing room set to exactly 78 degrees and wants well-seasoned chicken. Honestly, the temperature request alone probably causes the most stress.

Selena Gomez: This one’s a little awkward. After her breakup with Justin Bieber in 2014, she asked that anyone on her team named Justin go by a different name. Fair is fair.

Jay-Z: He once requested seven dressing rooms during a 2009 tour, along with high-quality peanut butter and jelly. Even billionaires still crave comfort food.

Britney Spears: When she played London in 2011, her requests included McDonald’s cheeseburgers without the buns, 100 figs and prunes, toothpaste, fish and chips, and a framed photo of Princess Diana. That list feels like it tells a story we are not fully prepared to unpack.

And then there is Metallica, who in 2004 simply asked for bacon with every meal. No symbolism. No explanation. Just bacon.

The takeaway here is simple. Fame does not make people normal. It just gives them the confidence to ask for exactly what they want, no matter how weird it sounds.

(You can see even more weird rock star requests at Buzzfeed.)