People are bound to have personal preferences when it comes to food, but where exactly should you draw the line? While you may raise your eyebrows at diners who demand that their tomatoes not make contact with their steak, these requests seem almost reasonable when compared to the demands of showbiz’s finest.

In the name of research – and morbid curiosity – we searched the web for the most notorious backstage riders (a term used to describe a set of requests or demands that form part of a performer’s contract). From strict coffee-stirring guidelines to blatant esperidoeidiphobia – the actual fear of citrus fruits – here are twelve bizarre backstage food demands.

1. Jack White

Jack White’s very special guacamole recipe specifies that each avocado be sliced three to four slits down, three to four across, and finally, cut into cubes with a butter knife. The guacamole is also to be served around 5pm. While White has since claimed his request was an elaborate joke by his tour manager, his infamous guacamole recipe lives on.

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2. Jennifer Lopez

Perhaps her most famous demand is that her coffee be stirred anticlockwise. No exceptions. Rumour has it she can taste the difference.

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3. Mick Jagger

He can’t get no satisfaction without a shepherd’s pie and a bottle of HP sauce.

4. Adele

Adele has a strict ban on organic honey and citrus fruit, asking instead for individually wrapped sandwiches and a bottle of quality red wine. A small selection of fresh fruit is allowed, but please, no citrus. You have been warned.

5. Prince

Prince insists that all food items be wrapped in clear plastic film, to be unwrapped by him only.

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6. Van Halen

The band always asks for a bowl of M&Ms candy, with the brown ones removed. It’s not as ridiculous as it sounds though; this demand was established as a way to make sure the organisers at the venue pay attention to the specifics in the contract. That way, if the brown M&Ms fail to make an appearance, the band will know there’s a possibility serious technical or safety issues have been overlooked as well.

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7. Katy Perry

The list includes freeze-dried strawberries, baked blue-corn tortilla chips, a bowl of organic apples, fresh-cut crudités with ranch dip, a jar of salsa, and honey mustard and onion pretzels. Good form, Katy Perry. Good form.

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8. Alicia Keys

This songstress is pretty specific about her backstage food needs, which include room-temperature Evian water, chocolate almond milk, three cans of chunky tuna, 10 Nutri-Grain bars, instant oatmeal, and three menus from local seafood and Italian restaurants.

9. Beyoncé

Queen B demands a sizeable serving of chicken “heavily seasoned” with fresh garlic, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper. When it comes to beverages, the star can only be seen with Pepsi products due to a contractual agreement.

10. Kanye West

While the list isn’t as outrageous as you may have anticipated, the man sure appreciates his sauce. When inviting Kanye over, make sure to provide one tub of plain yoghurt, a bowl of assorted nuts, salted Sunkist pistachio nuts (sans red colouring), Caribbean-style hot sauce, Tabasco sauce, and a bar full of liquor including Hennessey, Sky Vodka, Absolut Vodka, Patron Silver and Heineken.

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11. Mariah Carey

In addition to a steady supply of fried chicken and sugarless gum, Mariah Carey likes to keep her mini bar stocked with Opus One Cabernet Sauvignon, three bottles of chardonnay, Coke, Diet Coke, protein drinks, Pellegrino, Figi water, and melon-flavoured Gatorade.

12. Taylor Swift

It’s reasonable to assume the sweet pop star has a sweet tooth. On her 2008 tour, she requested a pint of Ben & Jerry’s chocolate-chip cookie dough ice cream, a pint of chocolate brownie frozen yoghurt, Twizzlers red licorice, and a large order of Starbucks grande iced caramel lattes. An interesting addition is one avocado with a stick of butter.

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