The Small Print
Contracts in today’s modern world can be exhausting to read. It is likely that even if read, without the necessary training, it is possible that it may not be clear. There is an urban myth during Van Halen’s heyday that their contracts included reference to brown M&M’s and on discovering some David Lee Roth trashed the dressing room “a little bit”.
Not one to stand in the way of a good story he let it ride for many years. Touted as a Rockstar misdemeanour and excess.
The reality was a very different story.
Having learned the hard way that the kit they were using was challenging to set up and handle leading to complications costing them dearly. By adding the clause “no brown M&M’s backstage” they were able to quickly establish if the promotor had read the contract rider, which contained the safety requirements, the presence of the brown M&M’s was a signal to thoroughly check the set-up.
Hear David Lee Roth in his own words on YouTube.