If you’ve been to a Coldplay show in the last year, you’ve probably seen the lovely, sparkling wristbands they’ve been handing out to their crowds. However, they’re finding dramatic holes in their pocket when the fans keep the devices and go home.

“Most of the money we’re earning on the tour is put into the wristbands. We have to figure out how to keep it going without going broke,” says Martin. “Because it’s a crucial part of the concert.”

Turin's Olympic Stadium looking very twinkly just now… A http://t.co/mAZ03LiQ—
Coldplay (@coldplay) May 24, 2012

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin told the Sun that while the band entertained the idea of collecting the wristbands, which can be given out in excesses of 40,000 at huge shows, the liability that comes with pre-worn wristbands may prove to cost more than the wristbands themselves.

“You have to clean everything in case someone picks up herpes or TB,” Martin said. “Our lawyers told us we’d get sued, and having been sued a few times we’re not keen on that.”

While most bands make most of their money on touring, Coldplay is actually losing money on their flashy, sparkling wristbands.

Martin, who also says that he doesn’t mind cell phones at concerts when fans are recording the performances on their phones but thinks they aren’t “enjoying the music” if they’re texting, knows the wristbands are “self-indulgent.”

“But we love the way it looks when there are 15,000 or 40,000 or however many people with all those lights on them,” explains Martin. “The technology is still very experimental.”

-Nadia Noir, KROQ/Los Angeles