Blur’s Damon Albarn has shared that he does not agree with Bob Dylan’s mobile phone ban from his upcoming tour.
The discussion arose following the folk-rock icon announcing details of an upcoming UK tour, which will see him play a total of 10 shows across the country this winter.
It was also confirmed that a phone ban would be implemented on all dates, and attendees would be made to switch off their phones and place them into a Yondr pouch that would be locked by staff at the venue.
Visitors then keep the pouch throughout the gig, however, it can only be re-opened either at the end of the show or if they try to leave the building beforehand.
Now, in a new interview with BBC, Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn has shared his opposition to the approach, and said that he thinks fans having phones adds to the atmosphere of live performances.
“If you start banning things where does it end? I think you’ve just got to turn up and do your thing,” he told the outlet. “People won’t want to be on their phone if you’re engaging with them correctly.”
He also went on to reflect on his huge summer shows at Wembley Stadium with Blur last year, and said that the Sunday gig was their favourite-ever performance. This, he said, was aided by fans with phones creating such a strong atmosphere.
The pouches have been used in schools across the US since 2014 in a bid to stop students from being distracted by them during lessons, and various artists have used them throughout their live shows in recent years.
Jack White of White Stripes, for instance, embarked upon a phone-free tour in 2022. “We think you’ll enjoy looking up from your gadgets for a little while and experience music and our shared love of it IN PERSON,” a statement read at the time.
“Upon arrival at the venue, all phones and other photo or video-capturing gizmos will be secured in a Yondr pouch that will be unlocked at the end of the show. You keep your pouch-secured phone on you during the show and, if needed, can unlock your phone at any time in a designated Yondr Phone Zone located in the lobby or concourse.”
Placebo also played some phone-free intimate gigs that year, and called on their audiences to “be in the moment”.
Other artists including Guns N’ Roses, Childish Gambino, Tool, Alicia Keys, The Lumineers and more have all tried out the system of banning phones at shows too in a bid to have audiences engage more with their set.
As for Dylan’s tour, the legendary singer-songwriter is due to bring his ongoing ‘Rough And Rowdy Ways’ shows to the UK in November. He’ll play 10 gigs throughout the month, kicking off with a performance at BIC Windsor Hall in Bournemouth (November 1).
From there, he’ll play at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena (3), Edinburgh’s Usher Hall (5, 6), Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena (8) and Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall (9, 10), before concluding with three gigs at Royal Albert Hall in London on November 12, 13 and 14. Visit here for tickets.
As mentioned earlier, phone-use will be prohibited – as it was in his 2022 shows – and the tour is in partnership with Yondr.
The announcement of the live shows came shortly after Dylan announced ‘The 1974 Live Recordings’, an extensive new box set featuring previously unreleased live performances and newly-mixed recordings. Before then, the music icon kicked off the ‘Outlaw Music Festival Tour’ with a typically unpredictable setlist of ’50s blues and country covers and deep cuts.
As for Albarn, it was reported yesterday (July 18) that the Britpop icon had been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Exeter. It took place just a day after Albarn joined his Blur bandmates for the London premiere of their brand new documentary, Blur: To The End.
Directed by Transgressive Records founder Toby L, the film follows the reunion of Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, the recording of their 2023 comeback album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’.
It received its official London premiere on Tuesday (July 16) and is released in cinemas today (July 19).
The project will also be followed by their concert film of the Wembley gigs: Blur: Live at Wembley Stadium. A live album will be released on July 26, before the film arrives in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on September 6.