The Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde has issued somewhat of an apology to fans after sharing a set of rules for returning concertgoers.
READ MORE: Chrissie Hynde: “People die of loneliness – it’s an epidemic”
In October, Hynde drew the ire of fans when she asked that fans who purchase tickets to multiple concerts don’t take up space in the front row so “local” fans have a chance to be up front.
At the time, Hynde wrote: “When we go on tour, the whole point of it for the band is that we are playing to a different audience every night. That’s why we go on tour!”
Naturally, the post didn’t go down well with fans, who took to social media to argue that fans who pay for freestanding tickets should be able to watch the show from the front row if they so please.
Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders performs in concert during Les Nits de Barcelona festival on July 01, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Xavi Torrent/Redferns)
Now, Hynde has addressed her initial comments in a new Instagram post, where she partially apologised for asking fans to put their phones away: “First of all, I’m sorry that I’ve never adjusted to the phone/filming/picture taking culture. I’ve sworn and berated the very audience that is there for us. There’s no way to explain how distracting it is and why I have a meltdown when I see a phone. Every night I come off stage scolding myself and saying it’s just no worth it and maybe it’s time to hang up the guitar and find a new vocation.”
She then goes on to note that she’s not alone in her sentiment, and that she’s seen several venues imposing a no-phone rule at gigs.
Hynde then touched on her thoughts about repeat fans in the front row at gigs – she did not apologise, but instead doubled-down on her stance: “The other thing I said which seems to have caused offense in some quarters is when I asked that anyone who has seen more than a few shows, move back out of the front row and let the locals have the front.”
She continued: “I will reinstate that we love to see people come back for more, but we travel the world to play to a new audience each night, so it’s good to see the locals up front. Come one and all… but be fair!”
You can see Chrissie Hynde’s full post below.
Elsewhere, Hynde recently joined the likes of Queens Of The Stone Age‘s Josh Homme, Depeche Mode‘s Dave Gahan, Primal Scream‘s Bobby Gillespie and many more at a star-studded gig in tribute to the late Mark Lanegan earlier this month (December 5).
Hynde also recently explained the reasons why she and The Pretenders don’t play arenas, although though they could, saying they prefer to stick to shows in clubs and theatres because they’re “better for the audience and for the band”.
The post Chrissie Hynde issues partial apology for the rules she set for front-row concertgoers appeared first on NME.
