Chrissie Hynde condemns fans filming concerts on phones: “It reminds me of monkeys wanking”
The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde has hit out at fans who record concerts on their phones, claiming “it reminds me of monkeys wanking in full view of the people standing around their enclosure.”
Hynde took to social media on June 2nd to share a letter with her followers about her confusion with concertgoers who pay good money to attend shows only to view it through a screen.
She began, “Hi All! Question: What is it with people and their phones? Why do people have to know how many steps they take every day? What difference does it make? But my real question is: why do people have to film or take pictures at concerts or museums? Why???”
Hynde then explained that she recently had dinner with Emmylou Harris on the day before the singer-songwriter performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, revealing, “Our conversation naturally turned to people on their phones at concerts.”
She added, “This is a subject that comes up every time I meet any artist. It’s become like an unpleasant fug hanging over the head of all artists.”
Hynde then highlighted Bob Dylan’s no-phone policy and voiced her anger at fans who disobey his request, stating, “People will still sneak in a camera or a phone. It’s like a weird compulsion that people can’t control.”
The rock icon continued, “It reminds me of monkeys wanking in full view of the people standing around their enclosure.. and frankly, in that case, people deserve to be wanked at because monkeys should not be in an enclosure in the first place.. however, an artist on a stage?”
From an artist’s perspective, Hynde laid out why they hate to be filmed, telling her followers, “If you’ve ever had a mosquito buzzing around your head when you’re trying to go to sleep, you will get a vague idea of what it’s like to have people filming your show or taking photos while you’re on stage.”
Ironically, after having this conversation with Harris, Hynde’s view of her show at the Royal Albert Hall was “obscured” by a fan filming on their phone.
She also noted that this modern phenomenon isn’t exclusive to the music industry, sharing, “I don’t bother go to exhibitions anymore after my nightmare experience at the Van Gogh retrospective.”
Hynde ended her lengthy post by suggesting, “If Jesus Christ were to walk into a room the first thing everyone would do would be to pull out their phone. Can someone please explain.”
Phone-free concerts have become more commonplace in recent years. Paul McCartney recently performed two intimate concerts in Los Angeles without smartphones allowed, and Phoebe Bridgers’ concert at Madison Square Garden tomorrow night will also not allow phones or cameras to be permitted.
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