What did Van Halen have against brown M&M's?

Hello friends!

I planned to take a short break from Curious Minds, but then had another idea!

Remember when TV shows had re-runs in the summer? Was that universal – or just a US thing?

Back in the days before the VCR (and then TiVo, streaming, etc), TV seasons ended in May and then picked up with new episodes in September.

And inbetween, the TV networks gave us re-runs of the season that had just ended.

It was your chance to see that episode of Cheers you might have missed earlier in the year!

So I thought this was a good chance to update some stories that you might have missed. And I get to test out this new audio feature, in case you prefer to listen to the articles.

First up is the story that kicked off this newsletter back in February 2020.

Have you ever heard the story about Van Halen insisting on only having brown M&M’s backstage?

Van Halen were huge stars in the 1980s, and this story is often told as an example of Hollywood excess.

Bu what was the backstory?

I was curious.

In 1982, rock band Van Halen kicked off their most ambitious tour to-date.

It was the biggest production most audiences and promoters had ever seen, and the band detailed their requirements for the show in a whopping 53-page contract rider.

The rider set out the venue’s responsibilities ‘in great detail’ – from sound and lighting to security and catering – to ensure the show ran smoothly.

But buried on page 40, among the requests for Country Time lemonade and three bean salad, was something unusual, written in all caps:

M&M’s (WARNING: ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN ONES)

Except from Van Halen’s rider in 1982

For years, this request was seen as another obnoxious demand from a self-indulgent rock band – but it turns out there is more to the story.

Van Halen’s 1982 tour was just like the band – big, loud, and over the top.

The equipment for the production filled nine 18-wheeler trucks – three times more than the standard at the time.

And, as lead singer David Lee Roth recounted, Van Halen was the first band to take huge concert productions into third-level markets.

Some of these venues had no idea how to handle such a large production, and didn’t understand how crucial some of the band’s requirements were.

David Lee Roth always knew how to make an entrance

In the early shows, there were many technical errors.

Sometimes the girders couldn’t support the weight, or the flooring would sink in – and in some venues, the band’s gear wouldn’t even fit through the doors.

They needed a quick way to determine if the venue had complied with their specifications, and came up with a creative way to ensure their technical and safety needs were met:

Brown M&M’s.

When the band arrived at a venue, they could hop off the bus and check the candy. If they saw brown M&M’s, they knew they needed to check the entire stage setup. Some errors could ruin the show – but others were potentially life-threatening.

Van Halen’s requirements weren’t just about snacks – they were about safety.

So how did the band’s request for brown M&M’s become so misunderstood?

Roth detailed one show in Colorado where ‘the folks took the contract rather kinda casual.’

When he found brown M&M’s backstage, he promptly trashed the dressing room. The staff hadn’t followed other specifications in the contract, and the band’s stage rigging sank into the arena’s new floor, causing $80,000 worth of damage.

“It came out in the press that I discovered brown M&M’s and did $85,000 worth of damage backstage,” Roth said.

“Who am I to get in the way of a good rumor?”

And there you have it…

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How Can I Help?

I’ll keep saying it: Communication matters.

How much?

Well, recent research found that communication is the most in-demand soft skill employers are looking for today.

And good news, friends… If you want to improve your communication (and get all the good things that come with that), I’m your gal.

So many companies could reap so benefits – from performance and culture to retention and engagement – by improving their communication.

So, if you know someone who could benefit from some help (as even the most seasoned leaders do), please get in touch and check out my website for more information.

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And if you see any communication examples (the good, the bad, and the ugly) that you think are worth analyzing or sharing, please send them my way!

Stay Curious!

-Beth

This is me (really writing and drinking coffee).