by IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson has criticized excessive smartphone use at concerts, calling it a dehumanizing habit that kills live music’s emotional connection. He made this statement on the Appetite For Distortion podcast.
The veteran metal vocalist expressed his frustration with audiences who prioritize recording concerts over experiencing them firsthand.
“Look, in so many ways I wish the camera on those things had never been invented. But it has been invented. It’s now a kind of infestation, is the way I would describe it,” Dickinson said. “It’s like some terrible disease, that people feel the need to look at the world through this stupid little device.”
The singer went further to describe the phenomenon as a broader societal issue.
“And so it’s like a failing of humanity, basically. You’re surrendering your senses completely to this little fascist in your hand,” he continued. “And put it down, put it in your pocket and look around you. Look at the people, look at the joy, look at the band, feel the emotion, feel the music.”
Dickinson explained how smartphone recording affects performers and the live music experience.
“What a phone does, it cuts all of that off. And so I feel sad. I also feel pissed off, because as a performer, it’s, like, I want to perform for an audience of people that have some emotional feedback — not a bunch of like Android twerps,” he concluded.
Dickinson’s comments come at a time when Iron Maiden continues to draw massive crowds worldwide. This makes his observations about audience behavior particularly significant given the band’s extensive touring experience.
The Music Universe reported that Iron Maiden has sold over one million tickets for their 2025 Run For Your Lives World Tour alone. This demonstrates the band’s enduring appeal and massive live audience reach. This unprecedented ticket sales figure underscores the scale at which Dickinson witnesses the smartphone phenomenon he criticizes.
The band’s recent performance history supports Dickinson’s concerns about audience engagement. Metal Injection noted that Iron Maiden recently played to a record-breaking crowd of around 70,000 fans at a London stadium. This marked one of their biggest home country shows ever. Such massive gatherings provide Dickinson with firsthand experience of how technology affects the live music atmosphere.
Iron Maiden’s current touring cycle represents one of their most ambitious undertakings. The Run For Your Lives World Tour spans multiple continents and features elaborate stage productions that the band specifically designs for live audience interaction. The tour’s success highlights the irony of Dickinson’s frustration. While more fans than ever attend their shows, many experience the performance through smartphone screens rather than direct engagement.
These comments reflect growing concerns among musicians about technology’s impact on live performances. The balance between audience engagement and digital documentation remains a contentious issue across the music industry.
