Ex-Queensrÿche singer Geoff Tate recently addressed the issue of fans using cell phones during live performances. He shared his perspective on how mobile devices impact the concert experience in an interview with This Day In Metal.
Tate discussed the growing trend of audience members filming shows instead of fully engaging with the live performance. He expressed his views on the balance between personal choice and concert immersion.
“The live experience is so unique and so different, that it’s a shame to miss it by looking at something you can look at for the rest of the day,” Tate said. “Come to a show and immerse yourself in it.”
However, the veteran rocker acknowledged that artists cannot control how their audience chooses to experience a performance.
“But then again, it’s up to the individual. You can’t just dictate to everyone in your audience, ‘Okay, everybody, we’re gonna think these thoughts. We’re gonna listen this way. We’re gonna put the phone down. We’re gonna…’ You can’t do that,” he continued.
Tate concluded by recognizing that people have different ways of enjoying live music. He also shared his personal preference for full engagement.
“People wanna experience what they wanna experience, and people experience what they can experience too. Some people don’t wanna immerse themselves in it. They wanna stay somewhat distant. Peace. I particularly like to immerse myself in it and jump up and down and scream and sweat,” he said with a laugh.
This isn’t the first time Tate has expressed frustration with cell phone usage at concerts. The issue has been a recurring theme throughout his career.
BLABBERMOUTH.NET reported that Tate’s recent comments were part of a May 11, 2026 interview where he specifically lamented fans filming entire concerts through their phones. He emphasized the unique live experience over endless replays. His stance reflects a broader concern among veteran musicians about the changing nature of concert attendance in the digital age.
The singer’s frustration with phone usage reached a controversial peak in 2013. Ultimate Classic Rock documented how Tate grabbed a fan’s cell phone during a Queensrÿche concert in St. Charles, Illinois, and threw it into the crowd. This sparked significant backlash from fans and the music community. The incident became a defining moment in discussions about artist-audience boundaries and concert etiquette.
In subsequent interviews, including a 2018 conversation with Pittsburgh Music Magazine, Tate maintained that the phone-tossing incident was accidental. He described such occurrences as common while continuing to defend the importance of live immersion over recording. His consistent messaging over the years demonstrates his unwavering belief in the sanctity of the live music experience.
Tate’s concerns align with a growing movement in the music industry to address phone usage at concerts. BLABBERMOUTH.NET noted that Swedish band Ghost has taken more drastic measures by enforcing phone-free concerts using Yondr pouches for their 2025-2026 tours. This followed successful trials in 2023 for their film screenings. This approach echoes Tate’s philosophy about preserving the authentic performance experience and reducing the distraction of filming and selfies during live shows.
