A long-lost 20-page document from 1991, outlining Frank Sinatra’s dressing room requests for a canceled show in Ohio, has recently gone viral online. The paper lists 37 specific backstage demands made during his Diamond Jubilee World Tour, which celebrated both his 75th birthday and 50 years in show business.
Florida concert promoter Tom Brady, not the football player, discovered the old rider in his files and shared it with Far Out magazine. Brady had planned to host Sinatra’s 1991 concert in Toledo, Ohio, but the show never happened. He kept the paperwork for more than thirty years before deciding to release it.
The detail in the document is surprising because Sinatra reportedly spent only about 20 minutes in his dressing room. Still, his list shows how carefully he prepared for performances, even at age 75.
Life on Tour in 1991
Sinatra’s Diamond Jubilee World Tour began in December 1990 near his hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey. During the next year, he performed 73 shows in 17 countries, a demanding schedule for someone well into his seventies. Tickets for these concerts cost between $35 and $75, and each event featured his band plus opening acts like Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, who themselves only asked for simple things like coffee and water.
Among Sinatra’s personal requests was a private phone line, which was a rare luxury in 1991 before cell phones were common. He wanted a direct connection separate from the venue’s system, so he could make private calls to his team, family, or business partners. This detail shows how much control and influence he had backstage.
The rider listed 37 exact items Sinatra wanted in his dressing room. These included an upright piano for last-minute rehearsals, six boxes of tissues, packs of Camel non-filter cigarettes, and Campbell’s chicken and rice soup served in a crockpot with porcelain bowls. The list reflected his desire for comfort and routine while traveling across the globe.
A Taste for Candy, Cigarettes, and Whiskey
One of the most talked-about parts of the list involves Sinatra’s sweet tooth. He specifically requested 24 rolls of cherry Life Savers, 12 boxes of Luden’s cough drops in cherry and honey flavors, and a bag of miniature Tootsie Rolls. The candies weren’t just for fun, they helped soothe his throat and protect his famous voice. Sinatra even took some of his favorite sweets to the grave, along with a pack of his beloved Camel non-filter cigarettes.
Speaking of cigarettes, the rider’s inclusion of about 200 of them feels very outdated today, when smoking is banned in most indoor venues. But in Sinatra’s time, this was completely normal. Photos from the era show him often performing with a cigarette in hand, capturing the glamorous but smoky atmosphere of mid-20th-century entertainment.
His drink of choice was Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, which he lovingly called “the nectar of the gods.” He was so devoted to the brand that he flew a Jack Daniel’s flag at his home and gave branded jackets to friends. His drink order was always precise, served with ice and a splash of water, just the way he liked it.
Another mystery on the list puzzled fans: Sinatra asked that all sodas be served at 75%. Nobody is certain what that meant. Some guess it referred to partial carbonation or the amount poured, while others think it meant the drinks should be slightly flat, as Sinatra preferred his soda less fizzy.
Then and Now: Celebrity Riders Through Time
Compared to the extravagant requests of modern stars, Sinatra’s list seems modest. Today, performers like Beyoncé ask for carefully controlled room temperatures and custom-made ice balls, Mary J. Blige requests new toilet seats at every venue, and Kanye West reportedly wants a barber’s chair backstage. Sinatra’s demands, in contrast, focused mostly on his health, comfort, and ability to perform at his best.
Social media users who discovered the 1991 rider found it surprisingly reasonable, many even called it “wholesome.” People appreciated how practical the list felt, more like a shopping list than a list of celebrity luxuries. Many also loved debating the meaning behind the “75% soda” rule.
Experts said Sinatra’s attention to detail fit right into a long tradition of backstage riders, which include both personal requests and technical requirements. Famous examples include Van Halen’s rule about removing brown M&Ms to test venue attention to detail. For Sinatra, the careful planning underscored his professionalism and the standards that shaped future touring practices.
Since the early 1990s, riders have changed dramatically. They now come in two parts, technical needs (for lighting, sound, and security) and hospitality (for food and comfort). Many modern versions also consider sustainability, dietary restrictions, and digital convenience. What once arrived as faxed paperwork in thick folders can now be shared instantly online.
The rediscovery of Sinatra’s old list has also inspired curiosity about what other historical documents might still be hidden in archives and storage rooms. Collections like The Smoking Gun have already published hundreds of similar items, each offering a small peek into the daily lives of famous performers.
In the end, Sinatra’s 37 backstage demands remind us that even global superstars rely on personal comforts and small rituals to perform their best. Behind the lights and glamour was a hardworking artist who cared deeply about his craft, his health, and a touch of familiar luxury, proof that success often depends on small, steady habits rather than grand indulgence.
Sources:
Far Out Magazine, “The 12 ridiculous requests on Frank Sinatra’s rider”, 2025
Parade, “Frank Sinatra’s Resurfaced Dressing Room Rider Reveals Unusual Backstage Demands”, 2025-09-27
AOL, “Frank Sinatra’s Resurfaced Dressing Room Rider Has Social Media Questioning One Odd Request”, 2025-09-27
Forbes, “Sneak Peek At Frank Sinatra’s Dressing Room Demands”, 2017-01-19
Evening Standard, “Celebrity rider requests: The funniest and most extravagant backstage demands”, 2019-01-26
Facebook (History Feels), “Frank Sinatra’s Dressing Room Requests”, 2025-09-19