Pop stars' unbelievable backstage riders

Secret backstage requests from all your favourite musicians. Pictures: Henry Hargreaves Source: Supplied

FROM Beyonce to Sinatra: Fried chicken to iced cheese. Check out the outrageous backstage requests from music's biggest names.

Riders, often outrageously demanded by celebrities, are lists of items requested by musicians for themselves and their entourage while on tour.

Items can be anything from food and drink, musical equipment, even decoration of dressing rooms.

You won’t be surprised to guess that when it comes to the demands of some of music’s biggest names, there’s no item too far fetched.

Demands for everything from Gummi bears to condoms, royal portraits to M&Ms (with absolutely no brown ones) barely raise an eyebrow.

Henry Hargreaves has staged a set of images depicting the demands of these superstars.

Frank Sinatra: One bottle each: Absolute, Jack Daniels, Chivas Regal, Courvoisier, Beefeater Gin, white wine, red wine. Twenty-four chilled jumbo shrimp, Life Savers, cough drops. Picture: Henry Hargreaves Source: Supplied

The Kiwi-native photographer who has been based in Brooklyn since 2001 worked with his food and props stylist Caitlin Levin to create these stunning and insightful images.

Brittney Spears: Fish and chips, McDonalds cheeseburgers without the buns, 100 prunes and figs, a framed photo of Princess Diana. Picture: Henry Hargreaves Source: Supplied

We spoke to Hargreaves about this food-based project and why people are so fascinated about the secret lives of their favourite celebrities:

"Tastes say so much about a person. I like the way people’s taste in food can represent a person."

Rihanna: Hard-boiled eggs, turkey bacon, turkey sausage, at any time throughout the day. Please be prepared! Picture: Henry Hargreaves Source: Supplied

Using food as a commonality between the regular person and celebrity Hargreaves is able to tie a link between our lives and the lives of our favourite stars.

"I was a waiter and bar tender when I was younger. I could almost pick what someone was going to order before they ordered.

Van Halen: Herring in sour cream, large tube of KY jelly, M&M's (Warning: absolutely no brown ones). Picture: Henry Hargreaves Source: Supplied

"I love the way that food can be a common denominator, you can connect with someone over a shared love of food."

The most shocking items on the list?

"While no one item was in itself shocking, it was surprising to read shock-rocker Marilyn Manson wanted Gummi Bears backstage.

Marilyn Manson: Gummi bears. Picture: Henry Hargreaves Source: Supplied

"The saddest was Britney Spears and her request for a portrait of princess Diana. There's something that’s quite empty about that."

Hargreaves' favourite requests came from band Axl Rose and Frank Sinatra but noted that Jagger demands a TV connection so he can watch the cricket. Gotta love that.

Scroll down to see the rest.

Images used with the kind permission of the artist.

See more of his work here.

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