Chrissie Hynde hits out at fans who take photos at concerts
3 June 2026, 12:02
Chrissie Hynde doesn't understand why people want to take photos at live shows.
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Chrissie Hynde has again written an open letter to her fans hitting out at those who take photos and videos at live shows.
The Pretenders frontwoman wrote a lengthy letter on Instagram comparing the act to the buzzing of mosquitos and monkeys pleasuring themselves in zoos.
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"Question: What is it with people and their phones? Why do people have to know how many steps they take every day? What difference does it make?" Chrissie started, before getting right to the point.
"Why do people have to film or take pictures at concerts or museums? Why???"
She added: "This is a subject that comes up every time I meet any artist. It's become like an unpleasant fug hanging over the head of all artists.
"You can plaster a venue with signs requesting 'NO CAMERAS' but people don't respect it. It's as if people feel entitled even though the artist has clearly asked them not to do it.
"(Bear in mind I'm not taking about pop artists who encourage this practice because they want to be on social media)."
Chrissie said it was like "a weird compulsion that people can't control" and added: "It reminds me of monkeys w**king in full view of the people standing around their enclosure.
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"And frankly, in that case, people deserve to be w**ked at because monkeys should not be in an enclosure in the first place.. However, an artist on a stage?
"And no one seems to be able to understand why artists don't like it. If you've ever had a mosquito buzzing around your head when you're trying to go to sleep, you will get a vague idea of what it's like to have people filming your show or taking photos while you're on stage."
She went on to complain about people with their camera phones out at the theatre and museums before finishing: "If Jesus Christ were to walk into a room the first thing everyone would do would be to pull out their phone. Can someone please explain?"
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It's not the first time Hynde has hit out at fans, including her own.
Back in October 2024, she said that her super fans shouldn't stand or sit in the front row of all the shows on her tours, and instead let local fans take those spots.
"We appreciate those of you who follow us and buy tickets for multiple nights, so please don't be offended if we request you to move out of the front row," she said.
Following a backlash she maintained her stance and also spoke about her dislike of camera phones at live shows.
"I’m sorry that I’ve never adjusted to the phone / filming / picture taking culture," she said.
"I’ve sworn and berated the very audience that is there for us. There’s no way to explain how distracting it is and why I have a meltdown when I see a phone.
"Every night I come off stage scolding myself and saying it’s just not worth it and maybe it’s time to hang up the guitar and find another vocation. But I love the band and I love playing live for you. I just don’t’ like being stalked."
She added: "We post signs around the venues saying please do not use your phones, but some people just cannot resist.
"Anyway, I do feel baffled and bad about it. I know pop acts encourage phones because they want to be on social media. But we are not a pop act. We’re a rock band ( in case you didn’t notice )."
