English Beat Ban Phones From Australian Shows

Following their first performances in Australia over the weekend just passed, members of The English Beat have made a new request of those who are attending the shows and they are dead serious about it.

A statement received from OzTix this morning says that singer and band manager Dave Wakeling has taken issue with the use of camera phones on the tour, which, thus far, has seen the band play two shows at Sydney's Factory Theatre.

“In shows that have occurred already in Australia the first few rows of punters held up their camera phones the entire show and as such Dave Wakeling, the singer and manager, found this quite distracting and detracted from him being able to enjoy and connect with the audience.”

Speaking with theMusic.com.au this afternoon, Ben Thompson from the Corner Hotel, where the band are playing on Thursday night, confirmed the request had been made to not allow the use of camera phones at their show.

“The promoter of the show let us know that they had some difficulties at the show on Saturday night, they had some problems with people in the front couple of rows holding up their camera phones, which the band didn't like,” he said.

It's the first time he can recall such a request.

“I've never had a request for no camera phones, we don't really allow professional cameras into the venue without permission from the artist or promoter, but I don't remember in our history having a request that people can't be filming with mobile phones.”

The statement goes on to say some tough punishments will be dished out to those who don't play by the rules.

“Security will be briefed and patrons not following this course of action will be asked to leave the venue,” it reads. But Thompson says The Corner don't intend on kicking out patrons using their phones, instead hoping to appeal to fans of The English Beat that the request has come straight from them.

 “No,” he laughs. “I don't think so. We're going to put signage up for people to see upon entry and within the room and just letting them know that it's at the request of the band, rather than the venue or anything else. We find with this kind of thing that if you put signage up letting people know that something's at the request of the band they're usually pretty respectful. I think that will be enough to discourage people from doing it.

“We do everything we can to make the situation as good as we can for the artist, but we don't plan to be throwing people out.”

It's becoming more and more common to hear artists lament the use of cameras at shows, whether it be due to punters capturing loose versions of new material a band is road testing, or just because it affects the vibe in the room.

On his Australian tour earlier this year, Dallas Green of City & Colour made a point of requesting those in attendance leave their phones alone for a single song.

“Before playing Against The Grain, he urges the audience to put down their iPhones and cameras for this one song and give him, and his lyricism, their undivided attention,” theMusic.com.au's Brendan Hitchens reported at the time.