Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5 recently shared his perspective on the phone ban movement that many artists have implemented at their live shows. He took a stance that differs from colleagues like Tool’s Maynard James Keenan and Ghost’s Tobias Forge, as reported by Louder Sound.
The guitarist explained his supportive approach toward fans recording concerts on their mobile devices. This contrasts with the growing trend of phone restrictions at live performances.
“Many bands object when the fans film the show on their phones. I don’t mind,” John 5 said. “Record the show, put it online. It’s your phone. There are a lot of people that won’t be able to see it, so let’s give them a little joy.”
This perspective stands in contrast to other prominent musicians who have voiced concerns about phone usage during performances.
Maynard James Keenan previously expressed his opposition to phones at live shows. He stated: “It’s annoying and it’s distracting and the thing you’re getting on your phone sucks. It’s not a good representation.”
Similarly, Ghost’s Tobias Forge has criticized the prevalence of phone recording at concerts. He noted: “I just know one thing, and that is that over the years it’s gone absolutely insane. If you have 10,000 people at a concert and 8,000 of them are holding a phone, there’s something deeply disconnected.”
The debate over banning phones at rock concerts has intensified in recent years, with artists like Keenan and Forge openly supporting restrictions to preserve the live experience.
Keenan argues that constant filming is ‘annoying and distracting’ and unfair to other fans, emphasizing that it’s ‘about the person behind you’ whose view is blocked, while Forge has implemented full phone-free shows, saying it helps audiences feel more present and creates a ‘better time’ by removing digital distractions.
Supporters see these policies as a way to restore immersion and crowd connection, but critics argue they limit personal memories and freedom, making the issue one of the most divisive modern concert debates.
