Easy Rider: PJ’s tour time must-haves, circa 1992

(Click to enlarge the scan above)

It was the spring of 1992 and PJ was on the road. As Ten went gold, PJ did what all new headliners do, they put together a rider: a note explaining all the goodies a concert promoter or venue is obligated to provide for the band at each show. Shorter than the 1998 and 2003 riders another site has featured, the half-page 1992 rider TFT recently unearthed is a simple list indeed. Let’s take a closer look.

Back then, Eddie and the boys cooled off after their sweaty, rafter-climbing shows with piping hot espresso. Years of working in a Seattle coffee shop behind him, Jeff wasn’t so tired of java after all. Stone, meanwhile, didn’t insist on only brown M&Ms like Van Halen once did, but he did have black licorice on hand, though the healthy popcorn snacks seem more his style. And leave it to PJ to specify their after show pizzas should be vegetarian. EV needed herbal tea for his throat, too bad they had to ask for the pot of water to go with it lest some schmuck claim they only asked for the tea itself.

And even such a short rider opens itself to questions. The beer on the list is de riguer, but a six pack of Diet Pepsi? Does asking for only a dozen cookies mean some guy pulled only 12 Chips Ahoys out of the bag and kept the rest? Who was curled up with the sour cream and onion chips? And did the guys make like Scooby and Shaggy and hook up some PB & J sandwiches for the bus ride? Notice the PB & J ingredients have been on the rider ever since, as has the hummus and vegetable plate.

By 1998, they asked for 30 pieces of fruit, but in 1992, 15 was sufficient – apparently they didn’t have their tour smoothie maker yet. Pearl Jam was one of the hardest rocking new bands around in 1992, but their rider has always been in touch with its sensitive side.

Here’s a transcription of the entire 1992 rider:

PEARL JAM TOUR RIDER

6 1/2 gallons assorted “real” fruit juice (apple, cranberry, grape, orange, grapefruit)

12 pack premium beer (after show)

2 gallons of purified water

6 bottles of sparkling water

6 pack of Diet Pepsi

6 pack of 7Up

1 large mixed vegetable plate

15 assorted servings of fruit (apples, oranges, grapes, grapefruit, bananas)

Assorted cheeses and crackers

Loaf of whole grain and sourdough bread

Peanut butter and raspberry jam

2 cans of mixed nuts

1 bag of Smartfood popcorn

1 bag of sour cream or onion potato chips

Hummus and other vegetarian dips and spreads

1 large bag of plain tortilla chips

1 large medium salsa

2 large vegetarian pizzas (after show)

1 pot of strong coffee (espresso)

1 pot of hot water

Assorted teas (herbal)

1 dozen chocolate chip cookies

1 pack, black licorice

1 dozen soft, Greek-style pita breads.

Tagged as: 1992, Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam Live