Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde has launched a passionate criticism of concertgoers who spend live performances filming on their phones, arguing that the growing trend is damaging the experience for both artists and audiences.
The 74-year-old rock icon shared her frustrations in a lengthy social media post, questioning what she described as society’s growing obsession with documenting every moment rather than simply experiencing it. Hynde specifically targeted the use of phones at concerts and museums, asking why people feel compelled to record events instead of enjoying them firsthand.
According to Hynde, the subject came up during a recent dinner with country music legend Emmylou Harris before Harris’s performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The two artists reportedly discussed how common phone use has become at concerts and how frustrating it can be for performers.
Hynde said the issue is frequently discussed whenever she meets fellow musicians. In her view, many audience members ignore requests to put phones away and instead act as though they are entitled to film regardless of an artist’s wishes.
One of the strongest parts of Hynde’s statement came when she described the behavior as resembling an uncontrollable compulsion. She used a controversial comparison, saying it reminded her of “monkeys wanking,” arguing that many people seem unable to resist pulling out their phones the moment something interesting happens.
The singer also defended artists who prefer phone-free performances. She praised Bob Dylan for his strict no-phone policy, noting that his concerts often require audience members to secure their devices before entering the venue. Even then, Hynde said some fans still attempt to sneak cameras or phones into the shows.
To illustrate her frustration, Hynde compared the experience of performing in front of a sea of phone screens to trying to sleep while a mosquito buzzes around your head. From her perspective, the constant glow and movement of devices can be distracting and disruptive for performers trying to connect with an audience.
Her criticism was fueled by a personal experience at Harris’s Royal Albert Hall concert. Hynde recalled that a man seated in front of her spent the entire show filming on his phone, with the bright screen blocking her view. When someone eventually asked him to stop because it was distracting others, the man reportedly replied, “Mind your own business.”
The problem, according to Hynde, extends beyond live music. She also described a frustrating visit to a major Vincent van Gogh exhibition where visitors raised phones in front of artworks, preventing others from seeing the paintings properly. The experience was so disappointing that she said she has largely stopped attending exhibitions altogether.
Hynde ultimately concluded that modern culture has become overly dependent on recording experiences instead of living them. In one of her most memorable observations, she joked that if Jesus Christ suddenly walked into a room, many people’s first reaction would be to pull out their phones.
Her comments have reignited an ongoing debate within the music industry. While some artists encourage fans to capture moments for social media, others have embraced phone-free policies. Musicians including Jack White and Sabrina Carpenter have previously expressed support for limiting phone use at performances, arguing that audiences are more engaged when they are fully present.
The discussion has also generated significant reaction among concertgoers online. Many fans agreed with Hynde’s position, complaining that walls of phone screens often block views and diminish the shared experience of live music. Others argued that taking a few photos or short videos can help preserve memories of special events.
For Hynde, however, the issue remains simple. Live performances are meant to be experienced in real time, and she believes audiences lose something valuable when they spend more time looking at a screen than watching the artist standing right in front of them.
