Oh, Madonna. With more important celebrities like Justin Timberlake and Amy Winehouse grabbing headlines over their demanding backstage riders, we'd just about forgotten that you're the reigning Queen of Eccentricity.

Which is why we were (almost) surprised by reports that Madge was a royal pain in the ass during the Live Earth concert. Yep, not to be outdone by relative newcomers' demands of anti-gas tablets and enough alcohol to satisfy a small army, Madonna is said to given some strict (and borderline crazy) edicts to the members of the press.

Writes The Mirror (UK):

Before being ushered into the Queen of Pop's presence at Wembley on Saturday, interviewers were instructed by minions:

Eye contact must be maintained at all times;

Never look down to check notes - all questions must be memorised or the interview will be terminated.

The extraordinary edict was the backstage talking point at Live Earth. One American TV source told us: "It's intimidating enough interviewing Madonna, because she's so intense, but when we were given these weird orders it was even worse.

"We thought her people were just joking. But it soon became apparent that they were deadly serious."

Meanwhile, would-be interviewers were also forbidden to ask about anything of interest (including "[her] husband Guy Ritchie, her controversial Kaballah religion and their recent adoption of Malawian baby David") nor were they allowed to pose any questions that in any way encapsulated the phrase "are you out of your fucking mind?"