Justin Hawkins Hates Phones at Shows

Justin Hawkins of The Darkness is sounding the alarm on phones at live shows, calling it “boring to sing to a load of lenses” and lamenting how constant filming kills the magic of the live experience. He’s even stopped songs mid-performance when the vibe crashes under the glow of screens, arguing that fans pay to feel connected—not to record. Inspired by Phoebe Bridgers’s phone-free tour and GHOST’s tech-free shows, he’s joined artists like Jack White in embracing a screen-free concert culture. With Yondr pouches and similar policies gaining traction, Hawkins believes a phone-free crowd would restore the soul of live music—a sentiment born from three decades watching audiences shift from being present to passive viewers. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ed34c8748fbed6c3