Van Halen’s rider from their 1982 Hide Your Sheep Tour in support of Diver Down is pretty standard at first glance; how many people on the crew need to be fed, dietary restrictions (2 vegetarian or Chinese meals after every show for two band members), who pays for what – but it’s the band’s famed “no brown M&Ms” clause that still raises eyebrows and earns a scoff from people more than 3 decades later.

We laugh at the demand, but looking back, it was genius. Find out why, here.

Photo Credit: Fin Costello/Redferns