During Tool’s recent show at Auckland’s Spark Arena, Maynard James Keenan drew attention once again for addressing the persistent issue of phone use at concerts, as covered by the NZ Herald.
He kicked off his remarks with a playful nod to the band’s earlier trip to New Zealand before shifting into his familiar message about staying present during live performances. “Sorry about that whole Covid thing,” Keenan told the audience, referring to the running joke about their 2020 visit. He then urged fans to stop filming and jokingly warned that he’d “give them all COVID again” if they continued recording with their phones.
Keenan has long pushed for audiences to fully immerse themselves in the moment, previously explaining why he discourages filming at shows. “It’s annoying and it’s distracting and the thing you’re getting on your phone sucks. It’s not a good representation. We just kind of force the issue of engaging with each other — watching the show — and just being present. Take a break from it. It’s only three hours.”
His dedication to keeping concerts phone-free reflects a larger philosophy about how live music should be experienced. Over the years, this stance has become one of the most recognizable anti-phone policies in the music world, setting Tool concerts apart from many modern live events.
Tool has been known for strict enforcement of this rule. According to Metal Injection, the band has even removed fans who ignored the phone ban. Keenan has justified this by pointing to similar expectations in other forms of performance art, maintaining that protecting the live atmosphere is worth the tougher approach.
Still, the band does provide a small middle ground for fans who want to bring home a memento. Metal Sucks reported that Tool usually permits filming of one song near the end of the show, giving attendees a brief chance to record without compromising the overall experience.
Keenan’s no-phone policy extends to his other projects as well. Exclaim! noted that both A Perfect Circle and Puscifer follow the same guidelines, showing that this isn’t just a Tool-specific rule but a core belief Keenan carries across all his musical endeavors.
His humorous warning at the Auckland concert underscored his ongoing commitment to creating a fully immersive environment, free from digital interference—a principle he has stood by for many years across multiple bands.
