Wine unplugged: what bands request before the show
What do Diana Krall and Sammy Hagar have in common? Not a lot from a musical perspective, that’s for sure. But both the performers have detailed wine requests built into their show contracts.
Krall, the jazz vocalist, presents a long list of acceptable producers of mostly red wine as detailed on thesmokinggun.com. Wines on “the Diana Krall wine list” are mostly robust reds such as Shafer, Paul Hobbs, Ridge, d’Arenberg, Castano, Pesquera, and Allegrini but also includes intriguing choices in Failla and Edmunds St. John. The skinflint show manager would, of course, get her some Ravenswood since that is also on her list. She also requires a can of Nestle’s Good Start baby formula, which may be a chaser of the Ravenswood–or for her then seven-month-old twins, touring with her. (Check out her other demands, including a private yoga room and a dressing room free of bleachy smell!)
The former Van Halen star, Hagar, is less specific in his rider.
Sammy Hagar is a wine connoisseur. Please select good bottles. We are requesting one bottle of red and one bottle of white. Red wine (between $30 and $100):
1st choice: bottle of French or Californian Pinot Noir
2nd choice: Italian Barolo
3rd choice: Merlo [sic] or Cabernet Sauvignon from California
White wines ($18 to $30)
1st choice: Californian or European Pinot Blanc
2nd choice: Californian or European Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonney [sic]
As stage drinks, he also requests 16 cold Mexican beers (Corona or Pacifico), 2 quarts of green Gatorade, and three cans of Dr. Pepper–in stage left cooler only!
For more performers such as Coldplay, Elton John, U2, Foo Fighters, and more, click through to Jamie Goode’s wineanorak, where I first read about these contracts being available on The Smoking Gun. Find out who specifically requested Mouton Cadet!
Which wines would you put in your performance rider?
On January 7th, 2009 at 2:29 pm ,kevin keith wrote:
I wish I hadn’t been so green to wine when I was playing clubs. My wine was simple Tennessee Sour Mash back then. If I was playing now, I’d probably do what I heard Mick Jagger does – Chateau Lynch Bages! Or maybe I’d have some Prager or Brundlmayer along with the sushi I’d have on the backstage spread.
On January 8th, 2009 at 5:11 am ,Vino da Burde - » Bon Jovi vuole il Mouton Cadet, meno male che Diana Krall beve Isole e Olena! E voi che vino vi portate in tournèe con la band? wrote:
[…] ci sono più le rockstar di una volta, pare…leggendo Tyler e seguendo i link dal suo blog si scoprono vizi enoici di cantanti e band più o meno famose. E se […]
On January 8th, 2009 at 7:26 am ,1WineDude wrote:
As a part-time musician *and* a wine buff, I find it difficult to keep a good balance when performing, meaning that I don’t mind a drink or two, but I certainly want to be sober for my performance.
That’s why in my riders I always request Diana Krall lying on top of Sammy Hagar’s cooler.
On January 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am ,WineWench wrote:
Does no one else find the Hagar one a bit silly? If you claim yourself to be a “connoisseur” would you really be as vague as “California pinot noir”? There’s plenty of shit in that category, even at his requested price point. Same with the vague whites on the list. BTW, his Cabo Wabo tequila is terrible!!
On January 8th, 2009 at 12:54 pm ,Robert Larsen wrote:
My friend, Ziggy the Wine Gal, here in Sonoma County, CA served as the sommelier to Journey for their tour in 2008 and, from what she tells me, they drank really well. Kosta Browne Pinot at one show, Davis Family Zin at another. Personally, I’d go for a great German Riesling before the show and finish with an outlandish Grenache or Malbec afterward, but I’m a borderline dork…
On January 8th, 2009 at 2:15 pm ,The Wine Gal wrote:
Wine and Music! My two favorite thangs… Yes, JOURNEY enjoyed some amazing wines during their 2008 World Tour. Robert- while I won’t call you a cork-dork you can rest assured when JOURNEY toured in Germany they not only enjoyed some fab Rieslings but some great Spätburgunder’s as well! Of course, many limited production and cult wines were enjoyed, like RockAway, Williams Selyem and the Kosta Browne & Davis Family Vineyards that were mentioned, but also, a wide range of wines over the course of their entire tour included lots of Champagne & Sparkling Wine as well as fun selections of regional artisan wines specific to their concert locations. Like “Divo” from Bodegas Ricardo Benito when in Madrid. Goose Watch, Diamond and Wölffer Estate, Pinot Gris when in New York.
In the later part of 2008 when HEART and CHEAP TRICK were on the bill with JOURNEY it was fun for me to talk and pour wine with those bands too as they also enjoy great vino. It’s no secret now that rock-n-roll and wine are a lively duet. That’s wine unplugged……
On January 12th, 2009 at 4:53 pm ,Arthur wrote:
Absinthe, proper glasses and a large absinthe fountain.
No brown M&Ms.
On January 12th, 2009 at 9:00 pm ,Dylan wrote:
This is a neat find, Tyler. For some reason wine never crossed my mind as appearing in, at face value, usually absurd lists I’ve heard of in the past.