Back in the 1980’s when Van Halen was the absolute shit, they toured the world’s arenas with one infamous clause in their “Chinese phonebook-sized” contract: on no account were there to be any brown M&M’s backstage. If any were discovered amidst the arranged bowls of brightly coloured candies, the band would exit the building (or more likely trash the dressing room) and still be legally entitled to their full pay. Pop culture chalked such weirditude up to the typical excesses of a glam band (tight vinyl slacks and tassels can do weird things to a man’s brain), but the truth is actually way more interesting…

TAKE ANOTHER BREAK