“Hi everyone! One question: what problem do people have with phones? Why on earth do they need to know how many steps they take per day? What difference does it make? But above all: why do people need to film or take photos at concerts or museums? Why???”.
Thus begins a sort of letter to fans published on social media by Chrissie Hynde. Taking inspiration from an Emmylou Harris concert she went to and from various conversations with colleagues, the singer of the Pretenders (her latest album is Duets Special and contains duets with Mark Lanegan, Dave Gahan and many others) explains what it feels like when you are on stage and find yourself in front of people taking photos and videos with their smartphones. Telling people not to do it isn't enough, even if you're a legendary musician like Bob Dylan.
«You can even plaster a room with “No Cameras” signs, but people don't respect them. It's as if she feels entitled to do so even though the artist has clearly asked to avoid it (keep in mind that I'm not talking about pop singers who encourage this practice because they want to end up on social media). Bob Dylan has his phones sealed in a case before the concert starts. One thinks that for an artist of his caliber it is enough to make a simple request and that the public will respect it… like a dream. People still manage to smuggle in cameras and phones.”
For the rocker, it is a «strange compulsion that people can't control. It reminds me of monkeys masturbating in front of people gathered around their cage… and frankly in that case people deserve to witness the scene, because monkeys shouldn't be in a cage… but an artist on a stage? And apparently no one seems to understand why artists don't like this. If you've ever had a mosquito buzzing around your head while you're trying to fall asleep, you'll have a rough idea of what it's like to have people film your concert or take photographs while you're on stage.”
Hynde mentions the Emmylou Harris concert he saw at the Royal Albert Hall. «A guy in front of me started taking videos with his phone and so the whole concert was hidden by the light of his screen (in the end someone told him that he was rude and that his videos were distracting, to which he replied “mind your own business”)». Hynde complains that this happens everywhere, even in museums. «I hardly go to exhibitions anymore after a nightmare experience at the retrospective dedicated to Van Gogh. Idiots held their phones up in front of the masterpieces, preventing others from seeing them. I felt like crying…”
«My conclusion is this: if Jesus Christ walked into a room today, the first thing everyone would do is take out their phone. Can someone explain it to me, please?”.
