After announcing his first UK tour in over five years, Bob Dylan has banned smartphones from his upcoming shows.
The 81-year-old music veteran disclosed that in order to fully appreciate his Rough and Rowdy Ways performance, audiences will be required to place their electronic gadgets in specially-designed pouches.
The "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" hitmaker will perform four nights at London's renowned Palladium from October 19 to 24 before touring the nation's venues. Concertgoers will be asked to place their into a Yondr container, which is then locked in a manner similar to apparel store security tags.
Phones remain in the owner's hands but are inaccessible.
The individual must return to the "lock and unloc" station and then proceed to the 'phone access zone' in order to use the phone.
American comedians Dave Chappelle and Hannibal Buress, among others, have utilized the lockable bags since the product's introduction.
Chappelle once told CBS that devices have become such a distraction during his shows that he has instituted a "no cellphone" policy.
Yondr bags are now required at all of Chappelle's performances.
Bob will appear at Motorpoint Arena Cardiff in South Wales on October 26, followed by two nights at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow, Scotland on October 30 and 31 to conclude his tour.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 15th.
The last time the musician performed on British soil was at BST Hyde Park in London in 2019 alongside Neil Young.
His last tour, titled "Never Ending Tour," occurred more than five years ago.
The folk singer resumed his current world tour in the United States in March, after having to postpone the concerts in 2020 due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
The official announcement read, "'To all our fans: In the interest of public health and safety and after many attempts to try and reschedule these shows for a workable timeframe this year, it is with deep regret that we announce the US Bob Dylan shows originally scheduled for June/July are cancelled."
"We hope to be back out on the road at the earliest possible time once we are confident that it is safe for both fans and concert staff. Please contact your point of purchase for all information on refunds," it concluded.
The tour is in support of Lay Lady Lay's renowned 2020 new album Rough and Rowdy Ways, his first original studio album since 2012's 'Tempest'.
This month, a re-recording of Bob Dylan's 1963 mega-hit Blowin' In The Wind sold at auction for a staggering $1.78 million.
Bob Dylan became the most prominent figure in American folk music and the leader of the baby boomer counterculture during the first half of the 1960s due to the political themes prevalent in much of his early work.
During this time, Dylan made sure to acknowledge his folk roots and frequently cited his influences, Woody Guthrie being his greatest folk idol.
As his own career bloomed, he grew less reliant on cover songs and the inspiration of other performers. In 1965, Dylan famously transitioned from folk to rock by adopting an electric guitar and a more rock-oriented sound. As he entered the burgeoning British invasion era rock music scene, he was famously critical of his rivals, and he remained so for decades.
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