The Oral History of The Rihanna 150: A #777 Tour Survival Story

IT WAS ONLY, INCREDIBLY, A WEEK AGO.

Rihanna’s 777 Tour: A seven-day excursion with seven shows in seven days in seven countries, beginning on November 14th, and ending on the 21st. One of the more ambitious publicity stunts in recent pop music history, to be sure. Rihanna, along with her entourage and publicity team, would board a Delta Boeing 777 twinjet along a group of die-hard fans (#RihannaNavy). There also happened to be 150 journalists, representing 82 countries. The guests would arrive on the morning of Wednesday, November 14th at LAX, and board the plane.

And yet: Theory and execution, especially where pop stars are concerned, can deviate wildly from one another. In less than a week, the journalists would be emotionally distressed wrecks, producing a scene that seemingly resembled less Almost Famous as it did Argo.

Only those on the plane will ever truly understand, and they're no doubt tired of talking about it. And they did, in fact, talk about it. So much, in fact, that they've provided the world a comprehensive composite of the series of events that culminated with the plane landing in Newark, New Jersey this morning, and streaming out a number of journalists looking as though they'd returned from that flight in The Langoliers.

What happened? How did it happen? And who was the guy who ran down the aisle naked, and what's with his harmonica?

This is the true story of Rihanna's 777 Tour, from the words of the journalists who lived through it.

[Ed. Some Tweets have been edited for readability and brevity, as people in the process of losing their minds also, as a side-effect, tend to lose their ability to speak and/or Tweet coherently.]

Everyone is listed with his or her press relationship to the 777 Tour.

Elliott Wilson (@ElliottWilson) - Rap Radar
Julieanne Smolinski (@BoobsRadley) - PopDust
Soo-Young Kim (@SooeyPooey) - Complex Magazine
J. Escobedo Shepherd (@Jawnita) - SPIN Magazine
Erika Ramirez (@3rika) - Billboard Magazine
Jeff Rosenthal (@itsthereal) - Rolling Stone
Maud Deitch (@MaudDeitch) - MTV
Mary H.K. Choi (@choitotheworld) - MTV
Jason Newman (@JasonRNewman) - Fuse TV
Tim Dormer (@TimDormer) - Nova FM (Australia)

Venue: El Plaza Condesa

And so it begins: Rihanna’s 777 Tour— a seven day excursion with seven shows in seven days in seven countries beginning on Nov. 14. What started as a dream turned into one of the biggest events in entertainment history. Rihanna—along with her entourage and publicity team—would board a Boeing 777 twinjet along a group of die-hard fans (#RihannaNavy). There also happened to be 150 journalists, representing 82 countries. All guests would arrive on the morning of Wednesday Nov. 14 at LAX to board the plane. The excitement among the gathered media was palpable:

Maud Deitch: One week, one plane, 150 journalists. This is about when people stop being polite, and start getting real. Real World: Rihanna 777 Tour.

Mary H.K. Choi: Everybody on this junket looks vaguely familiar and you're fairly certain some dudes are wearing makeup.

Jeff Rosenthal: WE ARE HAVING A LOT OF FUN. We are in our fourth parking lot.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Got on a bus. Got off the bus. Got back on the bus.

The plane was boarded by the gathered journalists. There, they started to find their bounty:

Tim Dormer: Boarded 777 tour plane and we have goodies! Rhi Rhi socks, headphones, t shirt, fragrance and more!

J. Escobedo Shepherd: We found the plane! It's really happening.

Julieanne Smolinski: Getting on the 777! Deciding who to eat first in an "Alive" situation. The Rolling Stone guys look protein rich!

Erika Ramirez: Going to start taking photos of people taking photos of themselves. starting with the Perez Hilton look alike.

Jeff Rosenthal: Hey Erika, when Rihanna says hi to everybody, I dare you to hide under a blanket.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Everyone's trying too hard to out-Instagram each other to think about boning.

Julieanne Smolinski: Journalists from dozens of countries on this trip but the French have already won the sideburns competition. Step it up, America.

Elliott Wilson: Waitin on Rih Rih. Mexico!

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Style alert, [Rihanna's publicist and Senior Vice-President of Media Gabe Tesoriero] is wearing Toms and a desert camo jacket.

Julieanne Smolinski: They're passing out lunch on the plane. Got a vegetarian meal even though I eat meat. It’s called being unapologetic. Wonder how soon before the flight attendants are sick of me asking for cake.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Ill flight attendant looking like "mature" Sal from Mad Men.

Speculations arose that Rihanna would fly alongside the 777 jet in her own plane but much to everyone’s surprise, RiRi made her way onto the plane, and in true superstar form, produced champagne bottles and greeted her gathered passengers.

Jeff Rosenthal: I'm on a plane with Rihanna.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Here is what Rihanna smells like: baby powder, magic, musk of unicorn.

Tim Dormer: WOW Rihanna just boarded the plane and walked past me. 'Welcome to da motherfucking 777 tour' is what she had to say!

Soo-Young Kim: Oh my gahhh RiRi is so beautiful guys!

J. Escobedo Shepherd: THIS WHOLE PLANE SMELLS LIKE REB'L FLEUR.

Erika Ramirez: "Who's ready for Mexico? Who's ready for tequila?" Rihanna said.

Julieanne Smolinski: "This feels like a movie! And I'm the president!" said Rihanna, who incidentally smells amazing.

Tim Dormer: Rihanna just announced over plane intercom that everyone on board 777 tour plane gets a diamond!

J. Escobedo Shepherd: She's been on this plane 15 mins, gone on the flight attendant mic twice. Gabe just walked by in the aisle with a glass of wine and hi-fived me.

Julieanne Smolinski: The plane is going bonkers. I think a German guy fainted.

Soo-Young Kim: First stop, Mexico City. K bai!

Rihanna’s 777 Tour was now in motion—Destination: Mexico City, where she would take the stage at El Plaza Condesa. The flight, which is just under four hours, was one of the shorter legs of the trip. But everyone was too excited to think about time, yet. The pop star was pouring Ace of Spades and Cognac during the entire flight. Fans and press were ecstatic, touching down in Mexico.

Julieanne Smolinski: Landed in Mexico! Rihanna walked up and down the aisles serving champagne and cognac. Best air hostess ever.

Tim Dormer: Touchdown Mexico! EPIC flight. Rihanna was pouring expensive whiskey into my mouth while we listened to her new album Unapologetic!

J. Escobedo Shepherd: IN DF. Survived leg 1, like four people on this flight are sober including me, believe it or not.

Erika Ramirez: I’m in fucking Mexico.

Jeff Rosenthal: Rihanna spilled champagne all over my seat and said "por favor" to pander to Mexican fans.

Elliott Wilson: Rih Rih got hits, ya bish!

And then, the first performance:

Tim Dormer: First show of 777 tour. Mexico city, amazing!

Soo-Young Kim: The baddest bitch has hit the stage.

Erika Ramirez: A lot of crotch grabbing and we're barely on the second song "Birthday Cake". Love it. All cameras in the air to catch Rih Rih sing Breezy's part of the remix.

Tim Dormer: 1 a.m. in Mexico, haven't had a taco, about to fly to Toronto this shit is crazy! Rihanna played an amazing first show, what's next! It’s not all diamonds, I'm at an airport in Mexico and it’s 1:30 a.m., not going to see a bed till 6 a.m. in Toronto.

Julieanne Smolinski: Our driver in Mexico City is playing "One Headlight" and it's oddly poignant. We may be a little tired.

Tim Dormer: So tired and all she wants to do is drink.

Just another four and a half hour plane ride, and everyone will be watching Rihanna’s second show of the tour, in Toronto.

CLICK HERE FOR DAY TWO: TORONTO, REB'L FLEUR AND GABE'S MUSTACHE

Venue: Danforth Music Hall

Who cares about sleep when you’re traveling with Rihanna? Not many. Yet. After flying from Los Angeles to Mexico City for Rihanna’s first show of the tour, the 777 jet took off Canada-way. This time around, a notable passenger—Rihanna—was nowhere to be seen on the flight. This was yet to be a factor in the proceedings.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: We are on a strict plane schedule so there hasn't been much time for going outside of venues, unfortunately.

Elliott Wilson: Bye Mex-ico! On an airplane to Toronto, ya bish!

Tim Dormer: Today Toronto. My new best friend is sleeping tablets.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Warped thru Bermuda wormhole chartered by RocNation, currently recuperating in Canadian iron lung.

Maud Deitch: Oh Canada, I love you.

Elliott Wilson: Woke up in Toronto. Round 2! Let's go!

Soo-Young Kim: Just landed in Toronto. Everyone on the Rihanna Plane looks like a zombie!

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Death knell, body is revolting, also I feel insane. Jetlag + lung infection + sleep deprivation but I have a bottle of reb'l fleur!

Mary H.K. Choi: I am keeping this free bottle of reb'l fleur! You leave me ALONE! There are also socks with her face on them!

Erika Ramirez: I've had Rihanna songs in my head since last night's concert. AH! SHE'S TAKING OVER and I’m making Jeff Rosenthal tell me to stop as I sing along.

After landing via red-eye in Toronto, delays forced the 300-plus crew to move almost directly to the show at the Danforth Music Hall leaving them little to no time to eat a full meal, nap, or meander around the city. Some were excited about Canadian snacks, others, not so much. Speculations hovered that Toronto’s very own Drake would show up at the performance, which the crew was on their way to.

Jason Newman: In Toronto for the 777 Tour, curling is on TV on what I can only imagine is The Stereotype Channel.

Tim Dormer: This shit is just crazy! On the bus on the way to next show, freezing my nuts off in Toronto!

Mary H.K. Choi: I just ate so many wine gums and not nearly enough anything else.

Tim Dormer: Canadian salmon sashimi for dinner! Toronto is freezing!

Maud Deitch: Absolutely gutted that the hotel shop doesn't have all dressed chips. Is that not a thing they have in Ontario? Ended up with BBQ crispers which taste off. Sigh. Poutine is happening though, definitely.

Erika Ramirez: Expected to hear more speculation of Drake showing up at tonight's show but newp.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: CBC News on the TV speculating that Dreezballz might show up at the RiRi show tonight.

Erika Ramirez: Been a bit quiet: writing and wandering the Sheraton hotel to get first and maybe only meal of the day.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: OMG GABE SHAVED THE STACHE! WHO ARE ANY OF US REALLY?

Gabe and his fallen mustache may have been an early indicator of what was to come, as the second performance of the tour began.

Elliott Wilson: Show.

Soo-Young Kim: Toronto venue security is making sure everyone is in their assigned seats.

Elliott Wilson: Toronto where y'all at? Rihanna hittin stage in a few!

Maud Deitch: Toronto is so ready.

Soo-Young Kim: Toronto loves T-Pain.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: We are all non-conflict diamonds in Rihanna's eyes.

Erika Ramirez: Dear Toronto navy, I don't understand why you just won't dance to "Bandz a Make Her Dance."

Julieanne Smolinski: Shown: sweet lasers. Not visible: Rihanna's smoking hot drummer.

Soo-Young Kim: FYI Rihanna ties everything around her waist. Trend still strong.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: JUST A HUNCH but when Ri sat down for beginning of "Man Down" I was like MAYBE IT'S JETLAG?

Erika Ramirez: Rih seems a baby bit tuckered. Or jet-lagged?

J. Escobedo Shepherd: This chick Ri just did a vogue runway turn, then did a shot of some style of booze.

Elliott Wilson: Suck her cockiness T Dot.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Way less audience members iPad recording this Toronto show than in DF. Mexico City gets theirs.

Elliott Wilson: Rih City, bitch!

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Best thing about Ri is she has no choreo, just freestyle dances, so sometimes fucks it up and laughs at herself and it's super cute.

Elliott Wilson: She found love in a hopeless place, son.

Soo-Young Kim: Confirmation: the confusing lyrics to "only girl in the world" IS "hot bride" after all.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: She just asked Jen for another drink, might be slightly twistado? Still wearing heels I trip on just looking at. "Diamonds" now.

Soo-Young Kim: I need an Adam Selman bra in my life.

Erika Ramirez: Reminder to self: learn moves from "Where Have You Been?"

Soo-Young Kim: Umbrella is forever.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Gabe is in a jovial mood.

Was he? Everyone did in fact make it to the show, Rihanna nailed her set, and he was able to get everyone back on the bus back to the airport in time.

Erika Ramirez: Minutes into the bus ride from the venue to the airport and "Crew Love" starts playing.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: One thing about this trip is food is like, a Jesus face in a pizza. We're gonna start crossbowing each other to get it soon.

Tim Dormer: 2 down, 5 to go!

Elliott Wilson: Next stop: Stockholm Sweden. 8 hour flight!

J. Escobedo Shepherd: "It's gonna be party time on the plane tonight" -anonymous official source. 8 hours to Stockholm!

Maud Deitch: Off to Stockholm. 8 hours on Air Rihanna are bound to be a wild ride.

Elliott Wilson: Lift off!

Two shows down, and the crew is back on board. Yet: Eight hours, 300-plus people, and cranky journalists who haven’t seen sunlight or had hot food in 48 hours. The Rihanna navy? They’re fine. Their commander? Yet to be seen on the plane since LAX.

CLICK HERE FOR DAY THREE: STOCKHOLM, DELIRIUM, AND APOCALYPSE TALK

Venue: Berns Salonger

Eight hours from Toronto to Europe, and signs of wear were beginning to surface. What was the longest flight of the tour thus far started to produce a certain measure of anxiety.

Erika Ramirez: Wow, 3 p.m. here. Just hopped on the bus straight from the plane and of course Elliott Wilson is already turnt up.

Elliott Wilson: Wheels down! Stockholm. Muthafuckin Sweden.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: I puked up my first ever 5 hour energy drink last night.

Elliott Wilson: Jet Life.

Tim Dormer: What's Sweden famous for besides Ikea and ABBA? 3rd stop Stockholm here we come baby! Three more sleeps until Unapologetic!

Jeff Rosenthal: I miss sleep, Internet and not having Rihanna songs stuck in my head.

Jason Newman: For the first time in my life, I had to Google "What time is it?"

Maud Deitch: I've completely lost all sense of time, am living in a fugue state beyond jetlag.

Elliott Wilson: We out chea.

Mary H.K. Choi: We are in Stockholm! It's dark at 4 p.m. We feel crazy. J. Escobedo Shepherd can't stop talking about the Mayan apocalypse. VERY REASSURING.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Sweating profusely in Stockholm, got 3 hours of plane sleep, sitting on a bus in pitch dark at 4 p.m. Beginning stages of Lord of the Flies.

Jason Newman: It's a sad day. Or night. Or whatever day it is.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: We are definitely going to kill each other at some point, sparked by delirium and food.

Maud Deitch: Gabe will protect us.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: This might permanently alter my sanity, clearly "rock star" is a job I wouldn't acclimate to very well travelwise.

According to J. Escobedo Shepherd, Gabe speaks up: “At this point, it's just survival tactics" which sends others into sheer panic. Questions were asked:

Mary H.K. Choi: What if the world ended but we didn't know because we were on the plane? What if only we were left?

And then, the hunger pangs truly kicked in.

Soo-Young Kim: Everything's closed at the airport.

CLICK HERE FOR DAY FOUR: PARIS, HUNGER PANGS, AND RIHANNA'S LACK OF PANTS

Venue: Le Trianon

Up early, the crew heads out of their hotel for the brief two hour flight to Paris. Tonight, Rihanna will perform at Le Trianon, a historical landmark and renovated theatre in the heart of Paris. The journalists may even get a few minutes to sightsee, or so they hope.

Elliott Wilson: Barely up! Off to Paris.

Maud Deitch: So excited about going to Paris that I feel on the verge of crying uncontrollably out of joy.

Erika Ramirez: I think I just fell asleep sitting up & while eating breakfast.

Jeff Rosenthal: Are we dead?

Erika Ramirez: No. Yes.

Elliott Wilson: Team fuck sleep.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Swedish radio is playing MC Hammer "U Can't Touch This." America, where is the love?

Erika Ramirez: Don't think Gabe is a morning person.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Got some powerful swedish cough drops, strepsils in honung + citron.

Erika Ramirez: Just fell asleep for a sec and rammed my head into the seat in front of me.

Jeff Rosenthal: Bus two's prom is gonna be so awesome. It's gonna have an underwater theme.

Elliott Wilson: Lift off.

After two and a half hours in flight, the crew lands and grabs their luggage. They have one hour to explore Paris and the time is ticking—some are looking for a quick bite, while others try to shop around.

Soo-Young Kim: Hi Paris. Nice to see you again.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: HEY PARIS RIHANNA'S PLANE IS IN YOU

Elliott Wilson: Cause of all the commotion.

Maud Deitch: THE PLANE HAS LANDED IN PARIS WATCH OUT EVERYONE. We're fully acclimated to Rihanna Plane life and now we're READY.

Elliott Wilson: Coffee to champagne.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: We have eaten and are relatively docile but baggage claim 24 at DeGaulle is like a White House presser w/o the president. You could cut the thirst with a knife.

Erika Ramirez: Have a new level of respect for touring artists.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Somehow became Gabe's official luggage watcher.

Erika Ramirez: For a second I forgot this ends on Tuesday.

Elliott Wilson: Necole Bitchie tried to take Rih Rih's seat. But I ain't one to gossip.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: My luggage wishes to inhale the fumes of luggage that has been in the proximity of rihanna's luggage

Maud Deitch: Just put up a blog post while sitting on the floor of the DeGaulles baggage claim.

Tim Dormer: You know you've been sitting on too many planes in tight jeans when you have excess sweat rubbing pimples on your bum.

Erika Ramirez: One hour to get lost and found in Paris.

Maud Deitch: Where in Paris can I get some cheap (sub $100) sneaker wedges? That's the look but also disposable.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Think I'm hungry cause heavy shade emitting from my veins but also this Aus chick is talking to Flip about meeting "exotic" ppl through traveling. She was like, "I am determined to have a mixed race baby."

Elliott Wilson: When you're on the road and you get to eat, it's like a victory. Don't know how you rap niggas do it. Must be the drugs. Ha!

J. Escobedo Shepherd: We just had 30 mins to power-eat at a French buffet for 55 euros a person.

Tim Dormer: Decided to have a dry night for once this week and check out some sights in Paris. Oh and French people still suck.

An hour quickly passes and the crew must get ready for the fourth show. They are, as it were, 'In The Club,' where reality quickly starts to devolve into...something else:

Mary H.K. Choi: There's a panda at the club in Paris.

Erika Ramirez: Rih Rih ain't wearing any pants esta noche.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Smallest club yet in Paris, feel like maybe 1000 people? She's really going for vibez of intimacy (and legs, damn girl.)

Erika Ramirez: I wouldn't EVER wear pants if I had those legs.

Elliott Wilson: The floor is shakin.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: I have never seen any musician 7 times except for those I was dating. Does that mean I am dating Rihanna?

Elliott Wilson: After the Rih Rih show is the afterparty!

Post-show, Rihanna doesn't refuse another afterparty. This time, she brings out some extra special guests for the event.

Elliott Wilson: DJ playin "Niggas In Paris" in Paris! Of course.

Tim Dormer: Some famous peeps popping up in Rihanna’s crew.

Elliott Wilson: Rihanna just walked in with Puff, Cassie and Pharrell. Here comes Akon.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: HEY! I'm on a midnight bus in Paris going ‘ratchthursday.’

Julieanne Smolinski: 3 a.m. in Paris. In a robe, writing about French mosh pit etiquette. Hey, other lazy kids who questioned the value of algebra classes: WE WON!

And they did win, for now. A fantastic show, a star-studded afterparty, a robe to relax in? How could they complain? But soon enough, they would embark on the most intense journey of the 777 Tour thus far—the voyage from Paris to Berlin.

CLICK HERE FOR DAY FIVE: BERLIN, GABE'S SCENT AND A HARMONICA

Venue: E-Werk

Day Five couldn’t come soon enough: The journalists have been without sunlight for nearly a week. From the plane, to the venue, to the bus, back to the plane, this group is truly getting a taste of the rockstar lifestyle. Next up was E-Werk, a techno club, previously an electrical substation. The psychological wear of the past few days now began to manifest itself in full:

Elliott Wilson: Can't stop. Won't stop. Show 5!

Tim Dormer: I just got full on molested by security at Paris airport. Like we're talking full pat down and around the corner!

Maud Deitch: Back in plane jail on the runway at CDG.

Erika Ramirez: Now that we're on the plane I need to take my pants off.

Mary H.K. Choi: I feel like Gabe's suitcases are just filled with sunglasses and cologne. Do you think Gabe's ever been self conscious in his life?

Maud Deitch: Desperate to find out what makes Gabe smell so amazing.

Jeff Rosenthal: Rolling Stone asked me to go see Rihanna tour around the world. Barely seen Rihanna; barely seen the world.

Elliott Wilson: Fly higher than weather.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: We are in hermetically sealed hellzone.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: [Rihanna] Navy is recapping last night's afterparty w/Sean Diddy, long lost uncle Akon. I thought I hallucinated him.

Julieanne Smolinski: Remember when we quickly saw daylight today? That was cool.

Maud Deitch: The only thing that would be interesting at this point is if like, Chris Brown showed up or we all died.

Little did Maud know...

J. Escobedo Shepherd: I'm so done with everybody on this plane and their stupid laughing.

Maud Deitch: This Australian motherfucker with the harmonica on the plane is about to get murked.

Julieanne Smolinski: Tensions running high on the Rihannairplane. We go from stuck on the plane to stuck on a bus to stuck in a venue. One dude is literally playing a harmonica.

Elliott Wilson: Wheels down! Berlin, ya bish!

Maud Deitch: Berlin smells like Christmas trees and its so awesome.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: German food sucks balls.

As the group arrives at the venue, it becomes apparent that it will be the exact same show they've seen four times, already. The crew knows Rihanna’s entire stage routine—same dances, same songs. Breaking points begin to emerge. The minutae is beginning to matter:

Jeff Rosenthal: This Rihanna show right now in Berlin is in a former Jewish detention center. Cool. Very cool. Feeling very safe.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: The shows are great, but they are the same every city. The plane makes me want to kill myself.

Jeff Rosenthal: Don't worry, we're already dead.

Erika Ramirez: It's tiring and the low amount of time we get with her has become frustrating.

Jeff Rosenthal: I know that dance, every dance, and each and every word to her speech about how (enter city name here) is special.

Maud Deitch: I love "Stay" the most. Still not sick of these songs.

Erika Ramirez: Jeff Rosenthal has kept me sane by being insane with me.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Berlin gives the least shit about the "Take Care" interlude, are you surprised? SYNCOPATION, BISHES! Also, American "EDM" interludes sound contextually basic as fuck in Europe.

Tim Dormer: 1:30 a.m. BERLIN finished No. 5 in steamy old prison across road from where Hitler died. Not even joking.

Erika Ramirez: Why isn't there an Omarion plane? I'd go on that shit next week.

Eager to leave Berlin, the crew boards the jet yet again—headed to London, at this point. Yet: They’re behind schedule. No one has a hotel room. A lack of sunlight, cooked meals, and horizontal sleep is about to exact consequences.

CLICK HERE FOR DAY SIX: LONDON, MUTINY AND A STREAKER ON THE PLANE

Venue: Kentish Town Forum

With everything running behind schedule, the crew finally embarks on their last European leg of the tour—London’s Kentish Town Forum. Insanity ensues.

Jason Newman: Leaving Berlin and it's bedlam. An anti-party cacophony of delirium.

Maud Deitch: I'm taking bets on what time we'll actually leave for London? My money is on 4:45 AM.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: I am so exhausted and we don't have a hotel and we're like 5-7 hours behind schedule in every city and I don't remember my life "pre."

Tim Dormer: It's quickly become evident everyone hates the [Australians on the plane]. Either they are struggling for content or I am really annoying!

Mary H.K. Choi: I just need to see some fucking daylight.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: I am definitely an insane person.

Mary H.K. Choi: Some of us are called 'wardens' now.

Soo-Young Kim: When can I get some vitamin D?

Jeff Rosenthal: I'm not dead. My brain is.

Erika Ramirez: Friends: if you're concerned for our health & sanity (now or for later down the line), meet us at JFK Tuesday morning with food, water and hugs.

Jeff Rosenthal: Please God make this end.

Soo-Young Kim: I want to cry.

Julieanne Smolinski: We ate a guy from MuchMusic alive. He yelled "CHOKE ON EM! ALSO WATCH MUCHMUSIC!"

Elliott Wilson: On our way to London.

Soo-Young Kim: A revolution is happening.

Mary H.K. Choi: I don't remember your face. It's getting so dark. And cold. Plus hives. So very many hives. I will eat the Australians first.

And then, for lack of a better technical term: Shit went down.

Jason Newman: So yeah, the 777 Tour plane staged a revolution against Rihanna on flight between Berlin and London.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: THE MUTINY FINALLY HAPPENED on [the Berlin to Londone flight]. People chanting "RIHANNA! SAVE OUR JOBS!" WE ALL COLLECTIVELY LOST IT AT THE SAME TIME.

Jason Newman: Crowd chanted "Just one quote!," "I need a headline!" and "Occupy 777."

Mary H.K. Choi: There is no quiet car.

Elliott Wilson: Mutiny!

Mary H.K. Choi: We should start a fight club.

Tim Dormer: My clothes fell off.

The Australians have cracked. But the plane was thankful for laughter; their spirits had risen and they revolted—shouting, cheering, laughing as one.

Jason Newman: Aussie journo stripped naked and ran around the plane.

ElliottWilson: Australian dude butt naked streaked.

Mary H.K. Choi: The Australian with the harmonica STREAKED the plane as the press corp chanted.

Elliott Wilson: Tim "TMZ" Dormer.

Maud Deitch: I have such mixed feelings regarding the Australian motherfucker [with] the harmonica. He just streaked on the plane and it was just the most.

Jeff Rosenthal: That thing where everyone starts screaming for Rihanna to leave her panic room on the plane and she doesn't come out but it's the best.

Elliott Wilson: We need headlines.

Jeff Rosenthal: You guys have NO idea. Memories.

Erika Ramirez: ... And after the chanting, streaking and singing Rihanna still didn't come out. Overheard: "Bitch, I know you hear us."

Jeff Rosenthal: "Hi Rihanna"—Royce Da 5'9; no one on this trip.

Jason Newman: Who's starting the sleep check?

Erika Ramirez: Overheard: "Calm them down with alcohol."

Elliott Wilson: It's serious business when Steve Bartels breaks out the D'usse to soothe the savage beasts. What more can I say?

Mary H.K. Choi: We just lost Internet.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: I might actually want you to pray for a crash, like putting maimed horses out of our misery.

Short of the guy manning the Israeli Defense Force's social media presence, at this moment, Gabe Tesoriero officially became the most embattled publicist in the world. This is what sociologists refer to as "Stockholm Syndrome":

Maud Deitch: WE LOVE YOU GABE!!

And yet, the truth is out there:

Mary H.K. Choi: “Some day, before we die, I’ll tell you my version of the story,” Gabe T said.

The group landed in London:

Elliott Wilson: Wheels down! London.

Tim Dormer: I think I’ve almost emptied this plane of all the Grey Goose available.

Maud Deitch: I haven't slept in over 24 hours, but it's ok because time stopped on [the second day]. London gets to see all of our craziest selves.

Elliott Wilson: I could tell you about Rihanna Plane but that would be a long story.

Erika Ramirez: Wednesday feels so far away.

Jeff Rosenthal: It's not that we've been kept on buses and planes and not allowed to get food or air or sleep or anything.

Tim Dormer: At least now when you Google my name doesn't just come up with 'the guy who pashed Ke$ha'. Can now add nudist to the list.

Erika Ramirez: Need ‘We Survived the 777 Tour’ shirts by mañana.

Maud Deitch: Feeling like the British version of Eloise in this hotel right now.

Tim Dormer: I think I'm just your average Aussie guy who likes to have fun, sometimes with my clothes off.

Erika Ramirez: Mi hungry.

Some journalists went to get their nails done, others scarfed down British food, and others scurried back to their hotel for the WiFi. Two shows left, and the crew couldn’t be happier. The light at the end of the tunnel started to emerge:

Tim Dormer: Scared to think what I'll do next.

Elliott Wilson: Everything's gonna Rih alright.

Tim Dormer: Word from Rihanna’s entourage is she's impressed with my nudie run, no word yet if she will accept my challenge for a dual streak!

Jason Newman: Forgot what city we were in until "Cockney Rhyming Slang" was category on game show.

Julieanne Smolinski: English food: so weird, right?

Elliott Wilson: Hotel wifi is Speedy Gonzales. All is forgiven.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: LDN winning for cutest people in the clurb, but not on the street. Sorry streetwalking people of London.

And another show started. Someone else started to show signs of wear as well, now:

Erika Ramirez: "Why is the track off from the band?" on "Where Have You Been?"

Soo-Young Kim: Noticed Rihanna started singing "Where Have You Been" one beat early and dreaded what would come...Track kicked in and she had to start over.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: I just started laughing and crying at the same time.

Erika Ramirez: Is she tips?

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Soooo wavy on British cough syrup tho.

Erika Ramirez: Overheard: "I don't know if I'm drunk. I have no idea if I'm drunk."

Elliott Wilson: And a young girl just passed out by the bar.

J. Escobedo Shepherd: Oh shit LDN gonna riot when they realize she's not actually doing "Take Care." SOLIDARITY THO!

Erika Ramirez: Please escort the dude with the umbrella out.

Elliott Wilson: I'm gonna stick it out to the end.

Would he, though?

CLICK HERE FOR DAY SEVEN: NEW YORK CITY, TEARS AND RIRI APPEARS