Maynard James Keenan on Concert Phone Ban: “What You Get on Your Phone Sucks”

Maynard James Keenan joins a growing roster of artists who have outlawed mobile phones at their concerts, and he’s now elaborated on the rationale behind this rule.

The frontman of Tool and Puscifer has long discouraged audiences from recording shows on their devices. His other project, A Perfect Circle, even made headlines after reportedly removing dozens of attendees for snapping photos in defiance of the ban.

“Have you ever been to a play or a film screening?” guitarist Billy Howerdel mused in 2018. “You wouldn’t hold up your phone and film the actors—why treat a concert any differently? It’s distracting for everyone behind you.”

In a recent conversation on the Serious Clownversation podcast, Keenan spoke with host Clownvis Presley about the polarizing issue, expressing frustration at the ubiquity of phones at live events.

“These days, whipping out a phone at a gig has almost become reflexive—people barely think about how it obstructs the view for others,” he explained.

“It not only detracts from the live atmosphere but also rarely captures the true essence of the performance. You’re not going to sit down and rewatch that shaky footage.”

Interestingly, both Tool and Puscifer reserve the final song of their sets as the sole moment when fans may photograph or film. Puscifer is gearing up for two intimate album-preview shows in Los Angeles on August 11, where this policy will be in effect.

“We want to foster genuine connection—encouraging everyone to immerse themselves in the performance,” Keenan noted.

“After three hours, we allow a quick window for cameras during the last song so you still get a keepsake—one you might never watch, but it’s yours.”

The debate over phone bans at concerts continues to heat up as artists strive for an engaged audience, while fans clamor to document their experiences.

Back in 2015, Jack White implored attendees on his Lazaretto tour to stow their phones, and by 2019 The Raconteurs had fans lock their devices in Yondr pouches.

“We believe stepping away from screens enhances the communal joy of live music,” read the band’s statement at the time.

More recently, Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood publicly urged fans to honor phone restrictions, later praising those who complied and joking that rule-breakers would end up with sore arms.

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter also endorsed the approach, telling Rolling Stone she would consider phone-free shows after attending a Silk Sonic concert in Las Vegas.

“It felt like traveling back to the Seventies—everyone present, singing, dancing, genuinely connecting. It was magical,” she said.

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