In a recent interview, former Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell expressed his frustration with fans who spend entire live shows glued to their phones, recording the performance instead of engaging with the music.
“As soon as we get on stage, you see all the phones coming up,” Campbell shared. “I don’t mind if someone films a little bit — maybe half a song — but I see people who remain expressionless throughout the entire show. They haven’t moved a muscle. That kind of stuff really pisses me off.”
Campbell believes fans should be fully immersed in the live experience. “You should live in the moment,” he said. “It’s off-putting. I much preferred it when people couldn’t just film everything. And honestly, the quality’s crap anyway. I’d rather see people tapping their feet or doing anything to show they’re enjoying themselves. You walk on stage and immediately, the cameras go up, the phones come out. You’ve got to be in the moment. It’s important.”
Other rock musicians have voiced similar concerns and taken steps to address the issue. For example, the band Ghost has implemented a no-phone policy at several of their shows, encouraging fans to fully immerse themselves in the performance.
Corey Taylor also weighed in, criticizing the constant need to film. “It’s one thing to film it, but another thing to just stare at your screen while doing it,” Taylor said. “Are you so terrified of real life that you can’t do anything unless it’s on that little four-by-four screen? It’s very weird.”
Back in 2015, Sebastian Bach urged fans to put their phones away and simply enjoy the moment. “Be in the moment,” he said. “You’re distracted, and it’s distracting to the performer as well. Put your damn phone away! You’re never even going to watch that footage.”
Phil Campbell and The Bastard Sons are currently on tour with Accept and will perform in Munich, Germany, tomorrow night. After finishing their tour with Accept, the band will play in the Netherlands before embarking on their UK tour in February 2025.
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