Tool’s Maynard James Keenan Enforces Phone Ban at Concerts to Reduce Distractions

Maynard James Keenan, frontman of Tool, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle, enforces a strict no-phone policy at his concerts to encourage audience engagement and presence rather than distractions from smartphones. He explains that filming at shows results in poor-quality recordings that fans are unlikely to watch later, and blocking views with phones disrupts the live experience. Keenan allows phone use only during the final song to give fans a 'souvenir that sucks,' reinforcing his philosophy of taking a break from devices during the roughly three-hour performances. This approach has been consistently applied across his projects, with violations sometimes leading to ejection from venues or public reprimands. Other artists in the heavy music scene, such as Ghost, have followed suit by implementing phone-locking measures to enhance audience participation. Keenan's upcoming intimate Puscifer concerts in Los Angeles will continue to observe this policy as they preview a new album set to release next year.