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Damon Albarn Thinks People On Phones At Concerts Is A Performer Problem, He Explained In Response To Bob Dylan's Policy

Since the dawn of cellphones, there have been those who have used them to film videos at concerts, and there have been those who have complained about it. Uproxx's Steven Hyden previously argued that filming at shows is good, but Bob Dylan appears to disagree.

Dylan has a tour coming up, and on that tour, he has banned attendees from using their phones during the show. This is a policy with which Gorillaz and Blur leader Damon Albarn disagrees.

In an interview with BBC, Albarn said of Dylan's phone-free tour, "If you start banning things, where does it end? I think you've just got to turn up and do your thing. People won't want to be on their phone if you're engaging with them correctly."

This comes not long after at a concert last week, Fantasia called out her fans for being on their phones, saying, "So I wanna tell you now: We're living in a world where y'all can't have fun because you've been too busy trying to film stuff. So wack now. And we as performers, we be up here working and y'all [gestures holding up phone]. You know the money that you pay in here tonight you could've done something else with it. So if you paid the money, you might as well get your [money's worth]."

Damon Albarn Vs Bob Dylan: Should Phones Be Banned At Gigs?

There's beef between Damon Albarn and Bob Dylan, as the Blur and Gorillaz frontman has said he disagrees with Dylan's mobile phone ban from his tour.

In an interview with BBC, Albarn has shared his views and argued that fans having phones during gigs adds to the atmosphere of live performances.

"If you start banning things where does it end? I think you've just got to turn up and do your thing," he told the outlet. "People won't want to be on their phone if you're engaging with them correctly."

He added, in reference to the Wembley Stadium shows Blur performed last year, that shows can be enhanced by fans with phones. Speaking about Blur's Wembley Stadium shows chronicled in the new Blur documentary To The End, he recalled fans holding up their phones in lieu of cigarette lighters during their performance of of the song 'Tender'.

The topic of discussion arose following Dylan's announcement that he'll be performing 10 shows in the UK this winter, as part of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour, and that a phone ban would be implemented on all dates. Attendees will be made to switch off their phones and place them into a Yondr pouch that would be locked by staff at the venue. Visitors can keep the pouch throughout the gig, but it can only be re-opened when they leave the show.

According to Dylan's press release, the policy is intended to "make the occasion even more unique."

Bob Dylan - Chris Pizzello/AP

Dylan joins likeminded artists such as Alicia Keys and Jack White, who also require their fans to place their phones in pouches during concerts.

White's statement for his phone-free tour in 2022 read: "We think you'll enjoy looking up from your gadgets for a little while and experience music and our shared love of it IN PERSON."

Other artists who have banned phones from gigs include Prince, whose 2013 concerts advertised "Purple Rules" (a set of guidelines that included a ban on all photography, video cameras and mobile phones); Björk, who previously posted signs encouraging fans to "enjoy being part of the performance and not preoccupied with recording it"; Wilco, whose lead singer Jeff Tweedy has gone on record saying that phones ruin a musical performance; Placebo, who played some phone-free gigs in 2022 so that the audiences could "be in the moment"; and Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson, who has stated: "I personally think you should be too high to operate a machine at our concerts."

Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs - who speaks the truth - Amy Harris/Invision/AP

There is a strong case to be made for banning phones, in order to allow more engagement with live performances. After all, live music is galvanizing and often emotional, an experience that you live in the present rather than one you distance yourself from through a screen.

When you look at the sheer number of fans who pay impressive amounts of money to see their favourite artist in person and don't actually watch them but the image of them via their phones, it can be deeply depressing.

Take Taylor Swift and her Eras Tour - documenting the event for posterity by taking a few pics is fine, but when everyone films throughout and immediately posts the footage online, mostly for social clout on Instagram, as well as bragging rights, you do feel like you're having a Cruel Summer.

Removing oneself from a live event seems ludicrous, and using your phone throughout a concert can also be incredibly disrespectful to fellow concert-goers – the ones who actually want to watch the show and feel something in the moment. It's a lot like the haze of light that pierces dark cinemas during a film. How can you be connecting – at best immersed - with an artist and their work if you're on your phone?

Then there are those who film the entire performances or live stream the gig. This should be illegal, surely. While sharing is caring, there's nothing quite as infuriating as those concert-goers who are so obsessed with an online presence that they've completely cancelled their actual real life.

That being said, Albarn does have a point when he says that the prohibition is an overstep, and paying fans deserve the right to capture a souvenir and immortalizing a moment with a few pics here and there.

The way to do this should always be without a flash, and while remaining mindful of others by not being intrusive. And certainly not recording the gig. Especially not with an iPad.

Yes, those idiots exist, and no. Just no. The only thing you're doing if you're filming a whole gig or extended segments on an iPad is disproving Darwinism and highlighting that Jean-Paul Satre was right: "Hell is other people."

One band has got it right: Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Karen O - Scott Roth/Invision/AP

At a 2013 concert, the band posted a flyer, saying: "Please do not watch the show through a screen on your smart device/camera. Put that shit away as a courtesy to the person behind you and to Nick, Karen, and Brian. Much love and many thanks!"

Then, during the show, lead singer Karen O repeated the request but gave audience members a chance to take pictures and get it out of their system. After that, however, fans had to "put those motherfuckers away."

Perfect.

Take some pics – preferably with your screen brightness lowered - during the first few songs, and then be present. And if you must capture a particularly meaningful moment later on in the gig, be discreet about it and don't block the view from some other fan.

Trite as this may sound, it's great to capture moments, but it's far greater to live in the moment. And concert etiquette isn't hard.

So, no – phones shouldn't have to be banned at gigs, and pouches do feel a tad excessive. However, a "Don't be a moron about it" policy should be top priority at communal experiences like live shows.

Karen O and her words should be gospel – take a few snaps, then "put those motherfuckers away."

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Damon Albarn Criticizes Bob Dylan's Concert Ban: "Where Does It End?"

With technology rapidly changing over the last decade, bands watched as fans used their phones to capture their favorite songs or to simply document their time at a show. While thrilled about fans traveling to watch their band perform, several groups criticized fans using their phones during a concert. Some even took it a step further when Tool, Alicia Keys, The Lumineers, and even Guns N' Roses tried to implement a phone ban at their shows. Recently, Bob Dylan announced a phone ban during his upcoming tour, causing Blur's Damon Albarn to speak out against the growing trend. 

As Dylan prepares for his upcoming UK Tour, the iconic singer decided to release some details for those looking to attend. While much of the details seemed reasonable, Dylan instituted a ban on phones. For any fan attending one of his 10 concerts, they will have to put their phone in a Yondr pouch, which can only be unlocked by a member of the staff. Fans can retrieve their phone only when leaving the venue. 

Speaking with the BBC about the decision to ban phones, Albarn appeared confused by the whole idea, blaming it on the lack of entertainment. "If you start banning things where does it end? I think you've just got to turn up and do your thing. People won't want to be on their phone if you're engaging with them correctly." 

[RELATED: 4 Songs You Didn't Know British Hitmaker Damon Albarn Co-Wrote for Gorillaz]

Damon Albarn Recalls Favorite Concert

Recalling his time performing at Wembley Stadium last year, Albarn explained how the concert was one of his favorites. And the reason why – because fans used their phone to create an energetic atmosphere. 

Back in 2022, Jack White of White Stripes also placed a ban on phones. Trying to give an explanation on why it was a good idea, the singer said in a statement, "We think you'll enjoy looking up from your gadgets for a little while and experience music and our shared love of it IN PERSON."

While bands continue to discuss the issue, Albarn is content knowing fans enjoyed his music enough to want to remember it forever. 

(Dave Hogan/Hogan Media/Shutterstock)

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