Damon Albarn disagrees with Bob Dylan over mobile phone gig ban

Alicia Keys, Childish Gambino, Guns N Roses and the Lumineers have also tried out the system.

Arguments against the use of locked pouches at gigs include frustration at longer entry and exit queues, a desire to check in with babysitters and a fear of not having a phone if a major incident happened, particularly after the Manchester Arena attack.

As for Bob Dylan, on the Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan track I Shall Be Free, he sang; “Well, my telephone rang, it would not stop.”

But the only explanation given for his use of Yondr pouches, is on the press release for his tour, which simply says it will “make the occasion even more unique”.

Albarn was speaking ahead of the cinema release of a new Blur documentary To the End, which is a behind-the-scenes look at the band preparing for last summer’s shows at Wembley Stadium.

The concert footage shows thousands of fans holding their lit-up mobile phones aloft, as the band play their hit Tender, doing the job once reserved for a cigarette lighter.

Albarn said the Sunday-night show was the best gig they have ever played, and mobile phones played their part in creating the atmosphere.