In a recent interview with Kyle Meredith, LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe discussed how concertgoers often use their cell phones to take photos and videos during performances, sometimes even recording entire shows, rather than fully immersing themselves in the experience.
“Put your fricking phones down and be present,” Randy said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “I haven’t done this yet, but I’m going to. As the phones come more and more and more, I’m going to walk out one day at a particularly phone-driven show and I’m gonna bring a stool, and I’m gonna set it down in the middle of the stage after a song or two, and then I’m going to turn on my phone, and I’m gonna point it at the audience, and I’m gonna sit there, and I’m gonna sing a whole song. I’m not gonna move. I’m gonna do what they do. And then at the end, I’m gonna say, ‘Did you people enjoy that? No? I didn’t either. So why don’t we be here together? Put your fricking phone down.’
“The memories that you’re going to have, because you’re experiencing this show through this digital filter or whatever of a crappy cell phone video… You’re not Steven Spielberg. Sit here and enjoy the show with me. Be here with me, because that’s how it was when I started going to shows. Except for — thank God — those people back in the ’80s who were photographer nerds. The weird people, there was always one or two with a camera who would take pictures, and thank God for them, ’cause they documented things. But everybody else was present. And people are missing it nowadays by viewing a show through a tiny iPhone screen. Be here with me.”
Blythe continued by explaining that there is a specific reason why he has recently begun to speak out against these behaviors: “I’m not asking for sympathy, like, ‘Poor Randy, he feels bad.’ But, yeah, the relationship is missing. And I want a relationship with the audience. Because the harder you go, the harder I’m gonna go. The more you look at the phone, the more I wanna sit on a stool and film you. And it’s gonna happen one day.”
When asked if he has thought about prohibiting the use of cell phones at LAMB OF GOD concerts, as TOOL has done, Randy responded: “I thought about it. My band probably wouldn’t be down with it. I’d be totally great if they were no cell phones. Because these things, they are warping the shape of our reality in a horrific way across the board.
“I’m not a Luddite, I am not anti-technology — clearly we are using it right now — but I think it would behoove us to step back and examine our relationship with technology and see what is being taken from us, the human aspect,” he continued. “And I’m just gonna discuss music here — it’s certainly removed that human aspect, in a lot of ways, from shows at times.
“I’m certainly not, like, ‘Oh, nobody can take a picture,’ I’m not that guy or whatever, but it’s really disturbing to me how much people are missing. You are, in fact, missing the show. You’re not here. You’re looking at your phone, bro. When I went to shows, I was looking around and I wasn’t looking at the band. I was looking around at the cute chicks who were there. You know what? You’re not gonna get that on your cell phone. There is no ‘swipe left’ or whatever in the middle of the show. Get off your phone. Be here with us. Meet people, talk, have a human experience.”
LAMB OF GOD kicked off its co-headlining “Ashes Of Leviathan” tour with MASTODON on July 19 in Austin, Texas. The tour, titled “Ashes Of Leviathan,” also includes opening acts KERRY KING and MALEVOLENCE.
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