Chris Rock will ban mobile phones on his Australian tour in June

CHRIS Rock is returning to Australia and will use a new mobile locking device at his stand-up gigs. Full tour details and ticket sales.

COMEDIAN Chris Rock will tour Australia in June — and will use technology to lock mobile phones during the show.

Rock’s Total Blackout tour will be his first visit down under in nine years.

Rock, who hosted the Oscars last year and in 2005, will perform his stand up show at Perth Arena on June 23, Brisbane Entertainment Centre on June 24, Hisense Arena in Melbourne on June 26 and Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on June 28.

Chris is ready to Rock you again. Picture: Kevin Winter

Fans have been pre-warned to only buy tickets through Ticketek not reseller sites.

The comedian will also be one of the first to implement the Yondr pouch which allows ticket holders keep their phones with them, but they are unable to use them during the show.

The award-winning comedian Chris Rock will do his stand-up show in all state capital cities bar Adelaide and Hobart. Picture: Bill Waugh

All phones and smart watches will need to be put in Yondr pouches upon arrival, with the pouches unlocked at the end of the show.

Unlocking stations will be situated in the lobby if punters need to unlock their phones during the show.

Yondr pouches have become popular in the US, especially with comedians, to stop people texting during performances or filming them on their phones.

Rock’s Australian promoter Paul Dainty said the comedian is one of the first major acts to use the new technology in this country.

“It’s becoming very common in the US, especially with comedians, and it means people don’t film the jokes and put them online.”

Yondr states on their website “We think smartphones have incredible utility, but not in every setting. In some situations, they have become a distraction and a crutch — cutting people off from each other and their immediate surroundings.

“Yondr has a simple purpose: to show people how powerful a moment can be when we aren’t focused on documenting or broadcasting it.”

An example of how a mobile is placed inside the lockable Yondr pouch. Picture: Wall Street Journal

Tickets for Chris Rock’s tour go on sale on Friday March 24 at midday, with prices between $71 and $145.

Originally published as Chris Rock will ban mobile phones on his Australian tour in June