Pineapples banned by Reading and Leeds Festivals

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The band was nominated for this year's Mercury Prize for its album How To Be A Human Being

Pineapples have appeared on a list of items banned from this year's Reading and Leeds Festivals, alongside fireworks and weapons.

Organisers said it was because fans of Oxford band Glass Animals bring hundreds of the fruit to its gigs, in a nod to song Pork Soda which includes the lyrics "pineapples are in my head".

Drummer Joe Seaward said it would be a "challenge" to get in with pineapples.

"Anyone who wasn't bringing a pineapple definitely is now," he said.

"It's fruitist. Watermelons are fine, but not pineapples?"

Image caption, Fans dressed up as pineapples at the band's Glastonbury performance

When the group performed at Glastonbury in June the stage was decorated with pineapples and some fans came dressed as the exotic fruit.

Other items banned from the festivals include weapons, fireworks, drones and glass.

Where did the pineapple lyrics come from?

Frontman Dave Bayley said he overheard a conversation once between a homeless man and someone else on the street in which he thought the speaker said: "Pineapples are in my head."

In retrospect he believes he misheard, but he liked the idea, which stuck with him and decided to include it in the song Pork Soda as a nod to the street scene environment.

Source: Paste music magazine

A spokesman for Reading and Leeds Festivals said: "Organisers were a little concerned about hundreds of pineapples turning up on site so decided to ask fans not to bring them along."

He added: "The tongue may be slightly in cheek on this one."

The list of items banned from the arena include:

  • gas cannisters
  • animals - other than registered hearing or guide dogs
  • items that may be considered as weapons
  • paper lanterns
  • fireworks or flares
  • large bags (bigger than A4 size)
  • pineapples

The BBC has asked the organisers if they have specific safety concerns about the fruit.

The annual festival will run between 25 and 27 August.

Three other times bands inspired bizarre tributes:

Image source, Getty Images/ BBC

  • Rapper Mike D from the Beastie Boys popularised the wearing of VW badges as fashion accessories after sporting one on a long chain for the release of Fight For Your Right To Party in 1987
  • The Smiths released This Charming Man in 1983 and the music video featured lead singer Morrissey swinging a bunch of flowers. Fans caught on and started throwing gladioli on stage during live performances
  • During the early stages of Beatlemania the Fab Four were often pelted with jelly babies on stage because the lead guitarist George Harrison once mentioned in an interview that he was partial to the squishy, brightly-coloured confectionery

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