When the Rolling Stones first started touring decades ago, the drink of choice for band and crew was probably a bit stronger than a cup of joe. But these days, coffee seems to be the favorite.
"They basically live off of coffee," says Noel Keyes of Corsair Coffee Roasters, one of several Wichita companies that is catering to the crew and, most likely, the stars, too.
So far, Keyes has three coffee stations at Wichita State University, where Sunday's concert is scheduled, "that are basically going nonstop to keep up with their coffee consumption."
"When the band comes to town, we're going to set up an espresso station with a coffee bar," he says. "That's basically for the band, and I guess their assistants."
Go Wild Seafood is supplying fish and its Happy Cow beef. It's not clear how much of the fish might be for the health-conscious band.
One arena general manager who hosted the Stones earlier this year says their list of demands isn't on par with some bands that demand things like 19 bowls of M&M's -- with all the blue ones taken out.
"You're going to be real disappointed," says the manager, who prefers not to be named.
"They were real low maintenance," he says. "I know from talking to the people who picked up the groceries, it was pretty normal."
The Stones will have their own traveling caterer, Peter McGoran, who has been inquiring about the availability of British food in Wichita.
Local chefs and caterers are involved, too, such as Dennis Wyatt, who prepares food for the Wichita school district but also is known as caterer to the rock stars.
Deb Reves of Kansas City often caters shows for Live Nation, the promoter of this show.
She hired Corsair and Go Wild ("The lovely fish people," she says). She's also using Ray Sales Co. for dish and linen rentals, Cirus for water and Pepsi to supply refrigerators.
About 40 members of the crew are staying in 25 rooms at the Hyatt Regency Wichita.
"Beyond that," says Hyatt general manager Jeff Pace, "I can't confirm or deny."
There's no word on where the Stones might stay or whether they're even staying the night here.
There are hundreds of people involved in preparing the show.
"It's like a war zone down there, except it's an organized war zone," says one person.
But it's not quite the crazy party atmosphere that the Stones once generated.
"They save all their energy for the stage," says the out-of-state arena manager.
"It's surprising how much energy they have, and they sing all those old songs like it's the first time.
"They're not just phoning it in," he says. "They really lay it out there. It's all business now."
[Edited by Ten Thousand Motels]
28th September 2006 12:39 PM
Ten Thousand Motels
Coffee is great stuff.
My faves...in no particular order (except #1)
1. nicotine
2. caffeine
3. alcohol
28th September 2006 04:36 PM
sammy davis jr.
"The health concious band"...? Maybe Mick, but the rest of 'em- no way. By the way, why does Ronnie have such a hard-on for organic food? Is it strictly because it "saved" his wife? I mean between his liver and his lungs, food is the last thing that's gonna help him.
The Stones will have their own traveling caterer, Peter McGoran, who has been inquiring about the availability of British food in Wichita.
McGoran's job is to make sure no British food gets anywhere near the stadium. As the saying goes, those who think the British have no sense of humor have never tried their food.
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