Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders has spoken out against fans recording concerts on their phones. In a letter posted on social media, she described the behavior as a strange compulsion and compared it unfavorably to other public acts.
Hynde shared her views after discussing the issue with Emmylou Harris ahead of a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. She noted that the topic arises frequently among artists and said signs banning cameras often go ignored. She praised Bob Dylan for requiring phones to be stored in pouches at his shows. Hynde also recounted incidents where audience members continued filming despite requests to stop, including during a one-woman show by Sarah Snook. The Pretenders have not toured for nearly a year. Hynde recently finished recording a new album with guitarist James Walbourne and hopes to resume performances next year.
