Ash Wanted Darwin Deez Collaboration at Reading Festival

Ash have revealed they are massive Darwin Deez fans -- and planned to get him on stage with them when they headlined the Festival Republic stage at Reading Festival.

Frontman Tim Wheeler tells Spinner, "I saw him and he was f---ing amazing. Love him. I might try and get him onstage with us. Do a little dance routine."

The band have made something of a feature of having guests join them onstage, having been joined at Reading previously by Har Mar Superstar and people in 'Star Wars' costumes.

The Irish rockers are currently featuring Bloc Party's Russell Lissack on guitar and said that he'd fitted right in -- hardly surprising when he used to run the band's fanclub.

But drummer Rick McMurray jokes, "He never sweats. Even when the gig's like a sauna. He's like Robocop."

The band also said that hundreds of people were unable to get in the tent to see them at the sister festival at Leeds and that the gig had been "amazing, just amazing."

Drummer Rick McMurray says, "The tent was absolutely rammed, there were hundreds of people outside being turned away because they couldn't get it. We were a bit nervous beforehand because we were up against Arcade Fire, who we love, we were like, f---, how's this going to go down.

"But when we mentioned it onstage, people starting booing Arcade Fire! It's nice after all these years, people have still got such a passion for the band."

McMurray jokes that this year's appearance marked their eighth Reading performance, but that they weren't going to stop until they were in double figures.

Wheeler also insists that playing in a tent at the festival was just as good as being on the Main Stage.

He says, "There's something great about playing to the masses on the main stage, but it's equally as good to be honest, playing to a jam-packed tent. It's hardcore fans there too."

McMurray interrupts, "It's like doing a fart in a confined space, it's a lot more intense!"