The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins has spoken about the growing debate around phone bans at live concerts. He shared a personal story about a stage dive gone wrong.
Hawkins revealed how fans filming on their phones once left him without anyone to catch him during a stage dive. He also weighed in on whether a phone ban — as implemented by bands like Ghost — would be practical for The Darkness.
“We talked about doing this [banning phones] for The Darkness stuff, but it’s a little bit impractical,” Hawkins said. “I know it’s actually quite expensive to do that.”
Reflecting on the impact phones have on the live experience, Hawkins recalled a specific incident where the habit directly affected him on stage.
“But it would make a huge difference to the atmosphere of the performance itself,” he continued. “I remember one time I played a gig in Luxembourg, I think it was, and I did my usual… I was doing antics, and I think I was up on the barrier, and I was gonna do some stage diving, such as my want on occasion. And people were sort of filming me like that. And then because they were filming, they didn’t catch me, so I just sort of fell.”
Hawkins also addressed how phone use disrupts the energy during The Darkness’s performances, citing a specific moment in their set.
“We’re fabulous live, and I think that it’s important that people see that,” he said. “But in terms of the actual atmosphere there, when we play, like [The Darkness track] I Believe In A Thing Called Love, then all the phones come out, and so often I have to stop the song because it’s, like: ‘F*cking hell, where’s the vibe gone?’ Actually take part in the experience of it, connect with the band that you’ve paid that money to go and see.”
The comments come as the debate around phone use at live shows continues to grow across the music industry.
The frustration is particularly pointed given how central live performance is to The Darkness’s identity. The band has built its reputation on theatrical, high-energy shows packed with glam-rock flair. That kind of experience depends on crowd participation rather than passive observation through a screen.
Recent concert reviews have consistently highlighted the band’s electrifying stage presence. Performances have been described as sweat-soaked and unapologetically theatrical. That reputation makes the phone issue more than a minor annoyance for Hawkins — it cuts directly against what The Darkness are known for delivering night after night.
The band is currently in the middle of one of its most ambitious touring periods in years. The Darkness are set to play seven arena shows across the UK in December 2026, including their first-ever performance at London’s O2 Arena. That milestone underlines just how much is riding on the live experience they put forward.
With stakes that high, Hawkins’s concerns about atmosphere carry real weight. A crowd full of raised phones during a climactic moment like I Believe In A Thing Called Love doesn’t just dampen the energy in the room — it undermines the very thing that has driven the band’s live legacy for over two decades.
The phone ban debate shows no sign of slowing down across the wider industry. Several major artists have already moved to enforce strict no-phone policies at their shows, citing similar concerns about atmosphere and audience engagement. For Hawkins, the cost and logistics may make a formal ban impractical for now — but his message to fans is clear: put the phone down and be part of the show.
Source: Justin Hawkins Rides Again
