Excess All Areas: A Lighthearted Look at the Demands and Idiosyncrasies of Rock Icons on Tour

Three of my greatest passions in life are music, food and Champagne and this book brings all of those together beautifully! In fact it inspired me to start writing my own band rider just for fun on Facebook with my friends.I love the illustrations that go with the riders too. I'm going to buy further copies for music/food loving friends too as I think it will make a wonderful Christmas present....other bonus is it is easy to wrap... ;-)

The urban myths are true. Rock groups make a lot of demands on venues. The less well known, the more idiotic, it seems. This collection of a hundred or so riders to performance contracts spells it out.Most want tea (this is the UK), followed by orange juice, water, and alcohol. Lots of alcohol. Often rare vintages of wine and the most expensive champagnes. And cigarettes. Cartons of them. It is encouraging that many, if not most, specify veggies and some vegetarian sandwiches and meals. But that’s not what we want to see. We want to see the stupidity. There’s plenty.-Public Enemy requires all food to be kosher or halal, then specifies a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, fish, meats, and cheeses. This is some other kind of kosher I’m less familiar with.-Busta Rhymes is adamant there be no beef or pork in his dressing room or catering room. However two boxes of condoms are required. A different cut of beef, it seems.-Amy Winehouse required a sign on her dressing room door: Only Big Boys Can Enter-Many specify high quality meals and linen napkins for the band and crew, (and specifically no fast food) but one actually contracts for six cans of Chef Boyardee ravioli and cans of Campbell’s Chunky soups. Another prefers six hot dogs in a jar.Things can get bizarre, as in ice with no straight edges, a Furby, a whip (not plastic), a rhesus monkey skeleton, and a .38 special with six rounds of ammunition. Some specify graffiti on the walls from the previous concert, and some specify the walls be clean, presumably for them. Reef requires four stamped local postcards, presumably to show Mum where they’ve been and that they’re still alive. A lot of bands ask for socks, usually tube socks, multiple pairs. Mum would be pleased.The clear winner for me was The Stereophonics, which had to have an “ass-shaped piñata filled with Cuban cigars and dark chocolate Cacique rum liqueurs and one box of indoor fireworks, a local strippergram and a hedge trimmer.” People should not be allowed to have that much fun.Finally, some acts got over themselves:-Elvis asked for ten soft drinks and four cups of water-The Beatles asked for a black and white television set and a few Cokes.Excess All Areas is delightfully illustrated and artfully laid out. The artwork helps immeasurably, as the text consists entirely of long shopping lists. The pages are all different pastels, with a coiled border. The portraits are funky rock and go perfectly with the book. Not exactly an earth-shaking exposé, but an eyeopener on how the other half live. While they can.David Wineberg

Great seller and a witty book by my dear friend Sue.

Good fun and great illustrations.My kinda book, short, punchy pieces and easy to pick up and put down. A handy stocking filer? Roll on volume 2!

A fab funky book. Great for the coffee table!

PURCHASED THIS BOOK FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENT LOVED IT SO MUCH WENT OUT AND BOUGHT ANOTHER FGOR MYSELF. A GREAT BOOK TO DISCUSS AROUND THE TABLE. ILLUSTRATIONS ARE AWESOME, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOK.IF YOUR STUCK ON WHAT TO BUY SOMEBODY THEN THEY'LL LOVE THIS A PERFECT GIFT

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!! No coffee table should be seen without one.. If you ever wondered what crazy rock n rollers did back stage (in between the groupies and class A's) then this book is a must. It's very revealing, funny and surprising. The illustrations of all the 'stars' and 'rock gods' are truly genius - worth buying the book for these alone! Good for almost all ages over 12, but a must for anyone born in the 60's or 70's. Great for presents!

What a fab book. I never knew bands backstage demands were called "riders" never mind the array of items ordered! So entertaining and enlightening. I may need to adopt a few riders for myself. I liked it so much I bought a 2nd one as a gift for my sister. Funky layout with fantastic graphics too. A must read for anyone (not just music lovers).