Stars' Journey: Touring Via Bus

Touring is a lucrative endeavour for celebrities, from supermodels to singers and pro golfers. Stars often opt to travel by bus, which is cost-effective and convenient, providing a home base and a place to unwind between appearances. These tour buses are modified to include homely comforts and unique touches, with sections for lounging, sleeping, cooking, and socialising. Celebrities work with specialised companies to create luxurious mobile living spaces, with features like leather couches, state-of-the-art kitchens, and even upstairs lounges. The customisations and amenities on celebrity tour buses offer a glimpse into the extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous.

Celebrities' unique touches on their tour buses

Celebrities often work with top interior designers to create a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, resulting in mobile homes that rival five-star hotels. Here are some unique touches that celebrities add to their tour buses:

Custom Interiors

The interiors of celebrity tour buses are designed to reflect the star's personality and preferences. Plush leather seating is a common feature, providing both luxury and a sense of home. Some celebrities opt for simple and sweet lounges, while others go for more luxurious touches like Tommy Lee's $25,000 leather-upholstered couches.

High-Tech Entertainment Systems

Entertainment is a priority for celebrities on the road. State-of-the-art entertainment systems, including surround sound and 4K ultra-high-definition TVs, are often installed throughout the bus. John Legend's bus even has an iPad connected to the bus's server, allowing him to control lighting, temperature, and entertainment options.

Personalized Bedrooms and Bathrooms

The bedroom and bathroom areas are modified to provide maximum comfort and privacy. Some celebrities opt for king-sized beds with luxury bedding, custom closets, and spa-like bathrooms with rainfall showers. Others, like John Madden, include a queen bed and a full bathroom.

Gourmet Kitchens and Dining Areas

Many celebrities prioritise a fully equipped kitchen on their tour buses. These kitchens often include professional-grade appliances, expansive counter space, and built-in coffee machines. Brad Pitt's mobile kitchen stands out with its full-size refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, counter space, and dishwasher.

Mobile Recording Studios

For musicians, a tour bus doubles as a mobile recording studio, allowing them to work on new music while on the road. These studios are equipped with high-quality microphones, speakers, and comfortable seating for long recording sessions. Hunter Hayes, for example, has finished 20-30 demos while travelling.

Security and Privacy Features

Security and privacy are crucial for celebrities. Their tour buses are often modified with advanced security systems, surveillance cameras, blackout curtains, and soundproof walls.

Outdoor Entertainment Spaces

Some celebrities enjoy spending time outdoors and entertaining guests. Their tour buses may include outdoor entertainment areas with lounge seating, dining tables, and even kitchens.

Custom Paint Jobs and Exteriors

The exterior of a celebrity tour bus reflects their personal style. Custom paint jobs range from sleek, minimalist designs to bold and colourful patterns. Custom graphics or logos are also added to make the bus instantly recognisable.

The four basic sections of a tour bus

Tour buses, also known as sleeper buses, are commonly used by stars to travel between performances. These buses are designed to be a home away from home, providing comfort and convenience for entertainers on the road. While the specific features and layouts can vary, tour buses typically have four basic sections:

• Front Lounge: This area serves as a living room and is great for socialising. It usually includes comfortable seating, such as leather couches, and entertainment systems like large TVs and sound systems. It may also have a "master control" for the entire bus, allowing for adjustments to lighting, temperature, and entertainment.
• Kitchen or Kitchenette: While some tour buses have full kitchens with appliances like stoves, ovens, and refrigerators, others may only have a kitchenette with basic amenities such as a coffee maker, electric kettle, and a mini-fridge.
• Bunk Area: The bunk area provides sleeping quarters for the band or entourage. Each bunk typically has its own mini television, privacy curtains, and individual controls for lighting and air conditioning. Some buses even offer larger "condo bunks" for added comfort.
• Back Lounge: This area is often a "wild card" and can be customised to suit the star's needs. It may include a private bedroom, bathroom with a shower, and additional amenities like a walk-in closet or vanity area. Some stars also use this space for creative pursuits, such as recording studios or practice spaces.

These four sections allow stars to have a functional and comfortable space while travelling between performances, providing a "home base" that offers relaxation and a sense of familiarity.

The front lounge and its features

The front lounge of a celebrity tour bus is the section that functions as a living room, and it's often the most impressive part of the vehicle. It's where stars can socialise with band members, host friends and family, and unwind between appearances.

A typical front lounge can seat about 10 people and has a homely feel. It usually features couches on either side, one of which may be placed on a slide mechanism that adds up to 60 square feet of space when the bus is parked. Celebrities like Tommy Lee opt for leather-upholstered couches, with each sofa costing $25,000.

The front lounge may also include a "master control" for the entire bus. John Legend's bus, for example, has an iPad connected to the server, allowing him to control lighting, temperature, and entertainment options. It also provides access to a vast movie library.

Large TVs are a must-have in the front lounge. Heidi Klum's bus features a 46-inch screen, while Mariah Carey's has three 60-inch TVs and an additional screen behind her makeup mirror.

Powerful sound systems are also common in the front lounges of celebrity tour buses. The Eli Young Band's bus, for instance, has a 12-speaker system for enjoying music on the road and during after-parties.

The back lounge and its features

The back lounge is, well, at the back of the bus. It's a little smaller, so it's a bit more private. This is where the cool kids hang out, or the 420 enthusiasts, or those who need to make a phone call, or the party animals, or those who need peace and quiet. It's a versatile space, and each tour group defines it differently. On some tours, it's the ONLY place I'll hang out, and on others, it's just a storage space for personal items and there's no room to sit.

The back lounge is also where you'll find some of the most unique modifications that celebrities make to their tour buses. For the most part, celebrities keep the back lounge as their private bed area, but it's more than just a bedroom. Travis Barker's master bed folds up into the wall, creating the perfect private space for practicing his drums. Laura Bell Bundy had a dance studio built into her back lounge, complete with a full-length mirror and a ballet bar. Ashley Monroe's back lounge has been dubbed a "girls-only zone," where she and her girlfriends can get ready for shows together and stay secluded from the rest of her band.

Hunter Hayes has a full recording studio in the back of his bus, where he's finished 20-30 demos while on the road. But our favourite back lounge belongs to Jeff Dunham—he has a full workshop in the back of his bus where he can construct and repair his puppets while on the road.

The cost of celebrity tour buses

Travelling by bus is the most cost-effective way for celebrities to get around. However, the cost of renting a celebrity tour bus is not for the faint-hearted.

The cost of renting a tour bus is not openly available information. However, we can get an idea of how much celebrities are willing to spend on their tour buses by looking at the modifications they make to their mobile homes.

Celebrities tend to put a unique touch on their buses, with some touches more outrageous than others. From leather couches to over-the-top back lounges, state-of-the-art kitchens, and even upstairs lounges, celebrities certainly know how to get creative when it comes to building a unique "home away from home".

For example, Tommy Lee’s coach features a cozy front lounge with two leather-upholstered couches costing $25,000 each. Mariah Carey's mobile castle features three 60-inch TVs plus an extra screen hidden behind her makeup mirror.

John Legend has an iPad connected to his bus’s server for controlling light settings, changing the television and music, and adjusting the air temperature. He also has a plush queen-sized bed that slides out at the push of a button.

But the most extravagant celebrity tour bus award has to go to Mariah Carey. The top of her bus expands to an entire second story, with a marble staircase connecting the two floors. The second floor has a mobile dance club with a 35-foot rounded couch that can seat up to 30 people, facing two more 60-inch TVs. All of the over-the-top amenities in this luxurious mobile tour home, which includes more than two tons of marble and stone, bring the cost to a staggering $1.8 million.

So, while travelling by tour bus may be the most cost-effective way for celebrities to get around, creating a luxurious "home away from home" certainly comes with a hefty price tag.

Frequently asked questions