Van Halen's No-Brown M&M's Clause: A Strategic Move for Safety and Attention to Detail
Mars, the maker of M&M's, is set to relaunch the candy in August to celebrate its 85th anniversary. The new version will be made without artificial dyes, but this change will result in the removal of brown and blue M&M's from the lineup. While Mars was able to find natural sources for red and yellow coloring, replicating blue and brown proved to be more challenging and expensive. The use of spirulina extract, a blue-green algae, as a natural dye has caused production issues and increased costs for the company.
The decision to eliminate brown and blue M&M's may disappoint some fans of the candy, but it would have been welcomed by the rock band Van Halen. The band famously included a clause in their tour rider that required all brown M&M's to be removed from backstage areas. This seemingly eccentric demand was actually a clever test to ensure that promoters had thoroughly read and followed the band's contract, especially regarding safety requirements for their elaborate stage setup.
Van Halen's use of the no-brown M&M's clause was a strategic move to prevent potential disasters caused by oversight or negligence on the part of promoters. By checking for the presence of brown M&M's backstage, the band could quickly determine if the promoters had paid attention to the important details outlined in their contract. Failure to comply with this seemingly trivial request could result in the band taking drastic measures to emphasize the importance of adhering to their contractual agreements.