CONVERGE‘s Nate Newton recently wrote up an article on the history of tour food.
“I like food/ Food tastes good.” In 1981 the Descendents unknowingly wrote a lyrical masterpiece and, unwittingly, my mantra. Yeah, that’s right, I like food… a fuckin’ lot. It’s a miracle that I’m not morbidly obese, or haven’t died of a heart attack or diabetes because I love to stuff comestibles in my face hole so goddamn much.
I’ve spent the last 20-plus years of my life in hardcore bands and been fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time travelling around the world playing music. This has led to some truly great meals that I will remember the rest of my life, like eating fresh mussels in a tiny restaurant on the beach in Pinnarella, Italy, fresh unpasteurized cheese in New Zealand, and pancakes at Glo’s in Seattle.
Throughout those many years on the road I also experienced the opposite end of the spectrum, and bad meals occurred far more often than the life-changing ones. You always hear music industry types talk about how the internet changed everything, how it took the power away from the major labels and put it in the hands of the fans and the artists. But what they don’t talk about is how it changed being on the road, and more specifically how it changed eating on tour. With Yelp, Urbanspoon, and food blogs, all you need to do is touch the screen of your iPhone and up pops a list of all the best places to eat, wherever you are. Most kids who are now just entering into the world of touring are unaware of just how grim things used to be.
So for those of you never travelled without your beloved iPhone, I offer you a small glimpse into the Stone Age: the history of tour food.
Go here to read the rest of the Vice feature.
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