Beatles 1965 contract rider stipulates drum platform for Ringo, no segregated audiences

In more recent years, rock bands have demanded lavish, ridiculous things in their performance riders, right down to what color M&Ms are served in the dressing room.

What did the Beatles want? Clean towels, four cots, and ice cooler and TV. Plus a drum platform for Ringo and at least 150 cops for security. Plus, they refused to play for segregated audiences, still sometimes a concern in mid 60s America. Pretty cool.

All this info comes from an actual copy of the contract on auction here.

1 comment:

  1. The "no brown M&Ms" rider clause is much mocked over the years, but the reality makes a lot of sense. Short version: it was a test to indicate how closely the venue paid attention to everything else in the rider, including safety issues. Speaking as a former roadie myself, can we please retire the myth?

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