| January 6th, 2006 06:37 AM |
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| Ten Thousand Motels |
What the Stones require to roll on
Thursday, January 05, 2006
OregonLive.com
Our boy Mick -- excuse me, that would be the "1st VIP" -- required a full-size refrigerator and freezer, a master bedroom with blackout drapes and an exercise room that "must face south."
The "2nd VIP" -- and I'm thinking Keith Richards, as they surely listed members of the band in order of importance -- demanded six packs of Marlboro Reds, five milk-chocolate Cadbury bars ("No Nuts") and "6 trashcans, 12 ashtrays, 4 boxes of tissues & 8 luggage stands."
Not seven luggage stands, mind you, but eight.
And the "3rd VIP" -- in Bill Wyman's absence, who else but Charlie Watts? -- set his priorities in caps: "ALL ALCOHOL MUST BE REMOVED FROM SUITE. EMPTY ALL MINI-BARS OF ALCOHOL BEFORE ARRIVAL. DO NOT REFILL MINI BARS "
At long last, then, we discover why the Rolling Stones can't get no satisfaction: The world's greatest rock 'n' roll band is awfully doggone picky.
As the Stones prepared to play the Rose Garden in November, the band's advance planners, Paige Kevan and Courtney Rousso, fired off a five-page rider to area hotels, listing the Stones' special needs while they were in Portland.
Because the Stones ended up at the Heathman, I can only assume Stephen Galvan, director of sales and marketing, met those demands like a pro.
Five pages? "That's nothing. I've seen band riders that are 35 pages long," Galvan said, noting the "requests" are a starting point for negotiations designed to maximize the pleasure of the band, the rep of the event planners and the sanity of the hotel.
The hotel's Grand Suite, for example, wasn't outfitted totally to Jagger's liking. "A full-size refrigerator?" Galvan said. "What does that cost? Can I get it through the door? What the hell do I do with it afterwards?"
But for the most part, the Heathman adopted the attitude of the Fleur-de-Lis club in "L.A. Confidential": "Whatever you desire."
The Stones' desires aren't all that outrageous, especially when compared with the 200 backstage wish lists -- including those of rock legends Eric Clapton and Ashlee Simpson -- parked at thesmokinggun.com.
But the band rider captures the earnest and eccentric precision of what the Stones require to feel at home after some 40 years on the road. A few highlights (and I quote): 1st VIP:
Two bathrooms.
Master bedroom must have blackout drapes, allowing no penetration of light into the room whatsoever. We will furnish special photographic blackout paper to be taped to the windows (Ms. Rousso will supervise this upon her arrival).
Large distilled water bottles -- enough to fill 3 humidifiers for length of stay.
2 pints Haagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche Ice Cream.
2 pints high-end Chocolate Ice Cream (NOT Haagen-Dazs); Godiva or equivalent.
Four containers of White Rice milk. 2nd VIP:
4 chicken breast sandwiches on WHITE bread, individually wrapped in clear plastic; mustard, mayo on side.
2 bottles Pinot Grigio wine, medium price, and 1 bottle dry red wine.
2 Stolichnaya Vodka, 1000 ml bottles.
Bedroom TV must have a DVD & multi-standard VCR (Samsung is suggested) connected to it. Both DVD & VCR must come with working & checked remote controls (fresh batteries). Should have explicit instructions on operation (prefer original manuals). 3rd VIP:
Two vases of fresh flowers: white Casablanca lilies and freesias.
Assorted fresh, ripe, organic fruit.
Assorted unsalted organic nuts: walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts.
6 packs Marlboro Light cigarettes.
Steve Duin: 503-221-8597; [email protected]; 1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
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| January 6th, 2006 06:41 AM |
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| Jumacfly |
3rd VIP: Ronnie?? |
| January 6th, 2006 06:37 PM |
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| Bloozehound |
sup with Keef ?
No cases of Jack, vodka, sunkist and a candy dish full of ye-yo |
| January 6th, 2006 07:37 PM |
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| Riffhard |
Whoever wrote this article is a clueless yahoo. 3rd VIP Charlie,"in Bill Wyman's absence"?! In Bill's absence?!?! WTF? Chaz was ALWAYS the important member of the rhythm section. Hell,according Keith,Charlie is the most important member of the band. That's debatable of course,but still,c'mon now!
Also it is more than a little obvious that VIP #3 is Ronnie because of the no alcohol clause in the rider.
Riffy |
| January 8th, 2006 06:36 AM |
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| corgi37 |
Charlie is so classy he probably doesnt have a rider, hence Ronnie at #3. |
| January 8th, 2006 02:27 PM |
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| JaggerLips |
LOL!!!
VIP 3 is definitely Ronnie Wood! |
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