> The had exacting specs for some of their pyrotechnics ... and their electrical gear (amps and so on), and possibly the sheer weight of everything they'd be b

> The had exacting specs for some of their pyrotechnics ... and their electrical gear (amps and so on), and possibly the sheer weight of everything they'd be bringing on to the stage, and the simple fact that, at the time that rider was drawn up, Van Halen was playing venues that had never had a serious rock band of their kind before and were likely to be unprepared to the point of putting the fans at risk of being killed, which has happened a few times (that Whitesnake concert is the most recent, I believe).