Maynard James Keenan Has More Harsh Words for Fans Who Use Phones at His Shows

Maynard James Keenan has maintained his strict stance against fans using phones during his performances, reiterating his disapproval during the ongoing Sessanta birthday celebration tour.

Keenan bluntly expresses his disdain to the PHOENIX NEWS TIMES, emphasizing that disobeying the no-phone policy results in removal from the show. He adamantly defends his position, asserting that he feels neither remorse nor regret for enforcing this rule.

“It’s rude,” Keenan plainly says.

“There’s no way you can actually capture what’s happening in that live moment on a phone,” the singer continues, “You’re missing the opportunity of actually absorbing in real time what’s happening.

The art of storytelling. Being able to actually recount what you saw without having to record it. Training your brain to live in the moment and see the thing, but more importantly, stop annoying the person behind you.”

The singer articulates his reasoning, highlighting the rudeness of capturing live moments on a phone instead of fully experiencing them in real-time. Keenan emphasizes the importance of living in the moment, absorbing the art of storytelling, and refraining from disturbing fellow attendees.

Acknowledging the communal nature of concert experiences, Keenan emphasizes the importance of considering others and avoiding distractions.

He admonishes fans to “put it the fuck away” and admonishes them to “grow the fuck up,” emphasizing the brief duration of the show and the opportunity for recording a song as a souvenir afterward.

Keenan explains that he has, on occasion, refused to allow fans to film songs at the end of sets as a consequence for disruptive behavior. He equates this enforcement to the etiquette expected at other live artistic performances, where disruptive attendees would similarly be removed.

Despite the harshness of his remarks, Keenan’s stance is consistent with previous incidents where he publicly called out fans for violating the no-phone policy. He reiterates his intolerance for disruptive behavior, likening it to actions that would not be tolerated in other artistic settings.

Oh, and happy 60th birthday to Maynard James Keenan, incase you didn’t pick up on his age from the aforementioned quotes. 

The ongoing Sessanta tour, featuring A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, and Primus, commenced on April 2 and will conclude on May 4.