Nine Inch Nails 2025 tour rider
Nine Inch Nails’ tour rider recently surfaced online, and it shows how far Trent Reznor has come in the last 30 years. NIN are currently on their ‘Peel It Back’ North American tour, with Josh Freese back on drums. While 30 years ago an NIN dressing room was likely full of drugs and debauchery, it’s now a family friendly environment with healthy food.
NIN ask for a small bowl/plate of sliced lemons, a small organic fruit basket with bananas, Granny Smith apples, and fija/gala apples. These are in the ‘Solitude’ category.
The ‘Band Room’ requests to have a call bowl of organic sliced limes, a small organic fruit basket with bananas, grapes, and fresh local fruit, a gourmet cheese platter plate, and a basket of organic assorted fruits and veggies and juices.
There’s also a ‘Friends and Family’ room that requests one assorted organic fruit basket and one organic veggie tray tray with dipping ranch and hummus.
Other Rock Band’s Tour Riders
While Nine Inch Nails have embraced a more balanced backstage setup, they’re hardly alone. Rock riders have always been a fascinating window into how artists live on the road — and how much things change once the chaos of youth gives way to longevity.
Take Foo Fighters. Their 2011 tour rider, which leaked online, showed Dave Grohl’s sense of humor. Alongside practical requests like “good strong coffee,” the band demanded “stinky cheese (NOT just regular old cheddar, be adventurous)” and plenty of vegetarian options. Grohl even scribbled in jokes, reminding promoters that “no fat-free chips” should appear anywhere near the band.
Meanwhile, Pearl Jam have long used their riders to push sustainability. Their 2010 rider emphasized cutting down on plastic, calling for “no disposable water bottles” and urging venues to provide local, organic produce whenever possible. Eddie Vedder’s specific asks included Kombucha and throat-soothing teas.
Metallica’s backstage needs have been just as revealing. Their 2017 “WorldWired” rider included hearty fare like pork chops, bacon, and freshly baked bread.
Rock and roll bands fortunately are becoming healthier than they were in the past so we can continue to enjoy them on the road for years to come.
